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.  

How about a recipe?

How about a recipe for a change? 
That's right!  We have no rules here!  I agree with the need for rules in Facebook groups but here I can share things I cannot share in some of those groups.  

Before I discovered Honeyberrynaturals.com (I promise I will have a full report on them too!)and had the magical experience of no longer having an itchy scalp, I developed this formula to help!  I know not everyone has yet found the perfect combination of No-Poo Bar for their hair and water.  

So this is a simple, fragrant and nourishing formula for your hair and scalp.  The honey as it dried seemed to help lift off dead skin from the scalp and reduce the itching.

I always try to use local raw honey.  If you are going to cheat on not using local honey, this is the place to do it.  I still highly recommend the raw honey if possible.  I also find this a good use for honey that is starting to crystallize since you warm it slightly anyway.  

First you need a 10% dilution of the pomegranate CO2.  You can use it at 100% but I think the 10% works just as well.  1 teaspoon is how much I use in the recipe.  So you would blend 0.5 ml of the CO2 with another carrier of your choice.  I used almond oil since it also has some anti-itch properties.  

If you do not have Pomegranate CO2 you can substitute all kinds of thing that will nourish your hair and scalp; castor oil, Argon oil, cold pressed pomegranate oil, rose hip oil or CO2, cucumber seed oil, etc.  Really any oil will work to moisturize while the honey removes build up.

Pinnable recipe card

I slightly warmed 1 tablespoon of local raw honey and whisked in 1 teaspoon of 10% pomegranate CO2.  It will separate fairly quickly so  I always make it just before I am going to use it.  Do not apply if it is hot to the touch!  (It is best to not overheat it at all but it happens!)  I really always applied to my scalp first and foremost.  After the masque was well massaged into the scalp, I worked the rest into my hair.  

Now comes the best part!  You have permission to sit down and read a book, color, soak your feet or what ever you like while you wait for it to start to dry; about 45 minutes to an hour.  Then a nice fragrant shower and shampoo like normal.  My dear friend thinks it smells like Blueberry muffins.  Others think it is tinged with a chocolate scent.  Even after washing, the fragrance will linger. 

I have very short hair so my proportions may need to be doubled or tripled depending on the thickness and length of your hair.   

Resources for local raw honey:

http://www.abfnet.org/

Resources for Pomegranate oils;
CO2
Nature's Gift

Cold pressed
AV-AT

Resources for Almond oil;
http://amzn.to/1L9lBul
Plant Therapy

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

NOW brand product review

When I need it  NOW!

Essential Oils, carrier oils, Waxes and butters.

The Company!

NOW Foods

The Products!

Quality: This is the biggest debate about NOW.  NOW standardizes their oils.  What does that mean?  Standardization is a common practice among large companies as a way to ensure consistency over large batches and over time.  It is generally achieved by blending batches to reach a desired sent and chemical characteristic profile.  Some argue this is undesirable and others say it is realistic and expected.  The oil I purchase the most from NOW is peppermint.  In general I do not enjoy the scent of peppermint EO.  Many are very sickly sweet to me.  I like the fact that with NOW’s standardized product I get a consistent herb scent with peppermint instead of candy.  This is an example of standardization being a huge plus.  It can also be a huge minus.   By blending and always having a specific profile, you lose the chance to have an individual batch that just WOWs you.  NOW oils will not knock your socks off.  They are a relatively inexpensive, decent quality option.  

Selection: NOW is available from many retailers and can often be found in your local natural foods market.  They are also widely available on Amazon.  Some oils come clearly labeled as being sold in dilution.  It is important to check for both the percentage it is diluted and what carrier oil is used.  (For shelf life, allergies, etc.)  Each retailer will have a different selection.  The carrier oils are frequently in my products and they are adding more organics all of the time.  Hubby really likes the Organic jojoba.  Unfortunately every now Carrier oil I have ever used has a lid that leaks slightly.  It leads to a drippy messy bottle.  I still use their carriers; I just transfer it into a different bottle.  Of the places I shop, Amazon has the most extensive collection available.

Value: The oils are sold in 30 ml instead of 10 or 15, so you are aware when comparison shopping.  Frequently you can buy them in higher quantities if you wish for bigger projects like soaping.  I frequently break a 30 ml bottle down into 2 bottles to minimize oxidation (a process called decanting that I highly recommend.)

Service!

Shipping and packaging: Primarily I purchase mine either through a local store or through Amazon.  Neither ends up with me paying shipping directly.  I trust Amazon to package it well, perhaps better than the clerks at the natural food stores I use.  Fast, 2 day shipping with Amazon Prime.

Customer Service:  I have never needed to contact customer service.  If you ever do, there is a batch number on each bottle allowing ease of tracking for this very large company.  I use NOW for very basic oils and almost exclusively peppermint.  I have never requested a GC/MS.

Education:  Not a company that spends resources on educating the consumers in general but they have changed their labels over the last few years to include Latin names and suggested uses; a big improvement!

What I love most about this company.  I love having a dependable, consistent product.  I love that if I need something quickly it is available locally.  The price per ml is very good.  The increased availability of organics is encouraging.

What I would like to see improved.  The redesign or selection of a new source for their 4 oz. bottles for carrier oils!  When selling diluted oils, I would like to see them diluted in a long shelf life carrier such as jojoba or FCO so rancidity is not an issue.  Many are currently diluted in grapeseed.  Increase the number of organics available.

My top 5 products from NOW for aromatherapy are:

Organic Jojoba Wax 

http://amzn.to/1UpnKfJ

 
Organic Argon Oil
http://amzn.to/1VzlpvS

Lanolin
http://amzn.to/1PNFjPN

Cocoa Butter
http://amzn.to/1Uppl5e

Organic Peppermint Essential Oil
http://amzn.to/1VzlHCU

I am getting most of my NOW products from Pure Formulas these days.  If you use the link above, you get $5 added to your account.  

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

Syringes for safe dilutions

 Oral syringes for an accurate dilution tool.

Decanting, blending, safety, dilutions.

As more and more oils are found to have a maximum safe dilution rate, I began looking for a simple, inexpensive way to ensure safe dilutions. 

My solution is oral syringes.  I have them in 3 sizes for measuring and transferring the various ingredients for liquid blends.  The ones I use the most are the 1 ml size marked to 0.1 ml.  I use the 5 ml and 10 ml for carrier oils primarily and not EOs. 

I LOVE them.  They are simple to use.  The ones with black lines are easy to read (compared to my 5 ml one with pale blue) and take the worry out of measuring and diluting.  If the max dermal rate is 0.5% and I am making a 10 ml roller, the math is EASY!!.  No more counting drops or waiting for a thick oil to drip. 

For Carriers, some I use at 10% so if I am mixing up 1 oz, I pull up 3 ml of carrier to put in the bottle; Simple, effective and less mess. 

If you wish to reuse them be sure to avoid any with rubber.  I do reuse mine when blending for my family if it was a thin oil I measured, like lemon.  Take apart and soak in alcohol, then run through the dishwasher in a mess bag.  For thick oils, I through them away.  This is similar to the pipettes but for me, more accurate, less wasteful and easier to see. 

Clean and Ready

Soaking in Alcohol

You can find them in glass and plastic in many sizes:
 

1 ml size
plastic
http://amzn.to/1PNCG0m

2 ml 
glass
http://amzn.to/1PNDTVx

3 ml size
plastic
http://amzn.to/1fXjeC7

5 ml size
glass
http://amzn.to/1Upmqti

plastic
http://amzn.to/1VzhNKh

10 ml size
glass
http://amzn.to/1PNDMsY
plastic
http://amzn.to/1UpmGIN

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

A-Rose-a-Therapy Why Now?

Photograph credit; Laura Ellen.  Tyler Rose festival, Tyler Texas, 2013

Why Now?

I have used essential oils for decades, been involved at the fringes of the community but never moved into center.  I quietly learned and practiced aromatherapy without joining the public realm. What has changed?  Why now am I venturing into this ugly, political, and divisive world?

• I am tired of the hate, lies and greed.
• I have found enough good people emerging in the field to give me hope.

Over the last several years essential oils have exploded!  They have literally blown up a quiet, subtle non-invasive form of herbal medicine that never sought much attention.  Now we have bickering, constant marketing, endless lies and threats of government interference.  Why?  Because of Greed.  There is no way to deny the willingness to lie to make a buck that can be seen all over some companies' sites.  Disgusted with watching it from the sidelines I have now waded in.

Through the wonders of the internet, I have met countless others who also are tired of the hate, lies and greed.  I have found hope in watching the constant effort to stop the lies.  I have embraced many working for companies that spread some of these lies in an effort to lessen the hate.  And I am pleased to be able to now talk about companies that no longer represent just greed.

I have indeed found hope.  Hope that united, we can make aromatherapy once again a kind, gentle and subtle mode of using plants to support health.

Blessings to you all

Laura Ellen