Preserving your INVESTMENT, Decanting

Filling a smaller bottle

Decanting

Decanting is not talked about much.  In my opinion, it should be.  If you buy in 15 ml or larger, adding decanting as a way to increase shelf life of your oils is something you should consider.

Decanting is the process of transferring your oils from one container to another.  For preserving purposes, you want to use a smaller container so there is less oxygen in the bottle to react with the oils.

Decanted Neroli

Let me give you some examples.  Neroli is a more expensive oil.  I do not use it a lot but I want to preserve my investment.  I purchased a 5 ml bottle but based on my experience, I know it will take me at least a year to use it.  The first thing I did when I received it was to transfer 2 ml into a 5/8 dram bottle for storage.  This bottle does not get opened and closed and has very little air space.  My 2 ml bottle will be used last as it will have the least chance to oxidize.  I then use the original bottle as normal.  I have had this for 10 months, and the 2 ml bottle was just opened again.  For 10 months, I reduced the amount of oxygen coming in contact with my Neroli, extending the shelf life.

Cone cap

For oils that are generally sold in 10 to 15 ml, depending upon how fast I use the oil, I will decant off 5 ml and keep it sealed until I use the remainder.  If I get a 15 ml bottle of an oil I use very slowly, I will decant two 5 ml bottles and store them in the refrigerator.  Many of my oils that are stored, are stored with cone caps.  These caps are designed to reduce air space while still sealing tightly.  These are also excellent for using with syringes as you do not need to remove the orifice reducer. 

For most oils, I reuse bottles that I have emptied and just by new caps.  I try to replace the plastics for 2 reasons: It reduces the chance of the plastic degrading and contaminating your oil.  The plastic parts are hard to completely deodorize.  Having a supply of cone and euro dropper style cops on hand gives me flexibility for how I intend to use the oil.  If I primarily am going to blend with it, I go with the cone caps.  If I primarily plan to diffuse it, I use a euro dropper. 

Euro dropper replacement caps

Bottles to decant into come in all shapes and sizes.  The amber is the most common if you are using dram style bottles.  I have dram bottles ranging from 1/4 dram (approximately 1 ml) to 1 dram (approximately 4 ml).  These come with orifice reducers that most pipettes fit through.  You can also get them with just a foil lined cap but since we are trying to reduce oxygen, I highly recommend the reducers if possible. 

The Euro style dropper bottles are generally available in 5, 10 and 15 ml sizes.  I purchased many 5 ml bottles as I do not order many essential oils in a 5 ml size.  These two can come in a variety of colors, although the most common color is still amber.  I have not purchased 10 or 15 ml bottles recently as I generally reuse my empties and just replace the caps.

It is a common belief that ALL oils are harmed by light.  In reality, only a few oils are effected by light.  I have no issue with storing my oils in clear glass when I can find it.  The oils most effected by light are the 'blue oils' which I store in the refrigerator anyway.  I find the beauty of the oils really shows with clear glass.  If your oils are stored properly, the color of the glass will matter little.  Pick a color you enjoy.

4 oz bottle decanted into 2 oz, 1 oz and 5ml

I order a few oils in a 4 oz size because it is more cost effective and I will use them (or share them) before their expected shelf life would end.  Blood Orange is an excellent example of decanting into a variety of containers to maximize efficiency and shelf life.  I decanted 2 oz for long storage in the fridge.  I have a 1 oz bottle with a cone cap that I use for blending and refilling my 5 ml bottle.  I also have the 5 ml bottle for diffusing.  The remainder found homes with my friends.  When the I oz bottle is empty, I will go to the fridge and have some fresh Blood Orange waiting for me.

You can find the sizes that work best for you.  I have found ordering based upon shelf life and how much I generally use to maximize my buying dollars as long as I take the time to store them properly and protect them from oxidation.

Resources:

Drams
2 dram

Real Aromatherapy Reviews and More

 http://amzn.to/1LSqkmZ
1 dram
 http://amzn.to/1LSq1IM
 http://amzn.to/1FrOTCq
 http://amzn.to/1ISqZ37
5/8 dram
 http://amzn.to/1LSsVNG
 http://amzn.to/1NcxdkF
1/4 dram
 http://amzn.to/1LStoj7
 http://amzn.to/1NcxRPd

Euro droppers
15 ml
 http://amzn.to/1XzyCXg
10 ml
 http://amzn.to/1NkkONl
5 ml
 http://amzn.to/1NkljGZ

Cone caps
 http://amzn.to/1NcvfRn

Euro dropper caps 
 http://amzn.to/1XzAgbm

Some of my links are affiliate links, if you choose to use them.  I am not funded by any of the companies I endorse.  

Preserving your INVESTMENT, Storage

A cool, dark corner

Preserving your investments.

The hunt for oils is the fun part.  Maintaining your collection for safe use is the less than fun part.  There is one great enemy of our beloved essential oils, OXYGEN.  We need it but the oils do not.  Oxygen combines with the chemical constituents of essential oils to slowly change and degrade them over time.  Oxidization speeds up with increased temperature.  Some oils will also be effected by UV from light.  So what can we as home users do to minimize the effects of oxygen?

Storing your oils properly can save you a lot of money and possibly a chemical reaction from an oxidized oil irritating your skin.

The simplest, most cost effective way to increase the shelf life of your oils is to store them in a cool place away from light.  Multiple options exist for this already in your home.  It just takes time to find the right spot or locate a good storage container. If you have young children, take into account their curiosity.  You can even look for lockable storage.

Taking the cool dark place one step further, we end up with refrigeration.  Keeping the average temperature of the oils lower, slows down the rate at which oxygen combines with the chemical constituents and increases the amount of time your oils will be as you expect.

My fridge box

If you do not have a separate refrigerator, the oils that benefit the greatest from refrigeration are the blue oils (yarrow, German Chamomile), citrus (tangerine, bergamot) and the evergreens (pines, spruces).  I buy some of my citrus in larger quantities and refrigerate all but a small bottle for everyday use.  I highly recommend sealing your bottles stored in the fridge in some kind of container to avoid having all of you food taste like grapefruit fir!

For some with large collections, or that buy in bulk a separate refrigerator becomes necessary.  Dorm style or mini fridges are often home users first choice.  They range in size and it is generally best to plan on enough room for your carrier oils too.  That is right, carrier oils oxidize as well. 

EOs, carriers waxes and butters

These are the most common ways to preserve your collection.  There is one additional way that is rarely talked about and much under rated.  It can be combined with both of these to maximize your investment.  It is a subject in and of itself so I will be discussing decanting next.



Storage ideas;  These are just ideas, examples of possibilities!  So many options!  There is only one word of caution, collections grow and shrink over time.  Flexible is a good idea. 

Spice racks
 http://amzn.to/1Uzs7j0
 http://amzn.to/1ip7IRK
Nail Polish racks
 http://amzn.to/1ip7Qkk
 http://amzn.to/1KT9o0Y
Tool boxes (lockable) 
 http://amzn.to/1VFXjzs
Craft boxes
 http://amzn.to/1ip8m1z 
 http://amzn.to/1KTaIkv 
Custom EO storage
 http://amzn.to/1VFXI4S 
 http://amzn.to/1VFZ4wD


One last word on storage ideas; ETSY!   Seriously, I do not recommend Etsy for oils but for storage, check them out!

Some of my links are affiliate links, if you choose to use them.  I am not funded by any of the companies I endorse.