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This brings up the topic of proper storage and shelf life of our Aromatherapy products.

Customers sometimes ask about the shelf life of our First Aid Remedies, Skin Care, Body Care and pure Essential oils. Have you ever wondered why your 2-year-old lip balm tastes weird? The reality is, these products are made with fresh oils, pure essential oils, and real (gloved) human hands. That’s what makes them so great! But, it also doesn’t make them invincible like some of the preservative rich products in your local drug store. I think of them like the food in my refrigerator or my pantry, which all are subject to decline.

With conventional health and beauty products, we’ve been disillusioned – to believe that they don’t spoil. A really good cream, shouldn’t last indefinitely!

I could add artificial preservatives to our products, like many companies (even “natural” ones) do, but they have a propensity to be harmful to the skin, and to our health in general. Many of them are even carcinogenic! Because of my convictions, I decided to take the completely natural route, to make the cleanest and best products I possibly can, using only organic or wild crafted ingredients.

SHELF LIFE OF NATURAL PRODUCTS:

TINCTURES A tincture is an extract made with alcohol, it contains both water soluble and fatty oils (essential oils) of the plant and will last 2-5 years.

PURE ESSENTIAL OILS  if sealed properly and stored in a cool, dark environment

• Citrus Oils oxidize faster and are at its prime for about 1-2 years.

• Light Florals & Herbs last for 3-4 years

• Strong Florals (Rose, Jasmine…) have a shelf life of 4-5 years

• Woods, Spices & Resins thicker, base note oils typically last longer (up to 8 years) and can even improve with age, like vetiver, patchouli, sandalwood, myrrh…

CREAMS AND LOTIONS Once an essential oil is blended with a carrier, the stability reduces.

We always add anti-oxidants (vitamin E, Jojoba, Evening Primrose…) to help stabilize the blend and extend the shelf-life of the product. (besides the benefit to nourish and slow down the aging process…) All of our batches are small, this way the product you purchase is fresh.

• Salves and Balms have a base of oil and bees wax. Because the base is almost self-sealing (not containing any water), they should last 2-3 years

• Lotion and Creams have a base made up of oil and water (or aloe). Their consistency is creamy and light, they are rich in moisture and hydrate; the shelf life should be 1-2 years.

AROMATHERAPY SOAPS are the sturdiest of all. I have used some of our discontinued soaps that were several years old and they were just like new!

PROPER STORAGE OF NATURAL PRODUCTS

This brings us to a very important subject on how to prolong the shelf-life of our wonderful natural products, to ensure we can enjoy every little bit of it without having them spoil pre-maturely.

Natural products should always be kept in a cool,
dark place away from direct light and heat

As a rule of thumb, products that I use on a daily basis are just fine on your bathroom shelf or counter. If you are like me, these items are used up in a month, or maximum two months.

Any products, that you just use every once-in-a-while should be stored in a dry, dark and moderately cool environment (The steam and warm temperature of a bathroom can lead to premature spoilage). Some of my customers, especially those living out of state purchase multiples of for example skin care products. In this case it would be a wise to store the extras in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

*We have a system to keep track of our batches. If you have noticed the bottom of your jar has a colored sticker. In our product log, the sticker indicates the production date of that particular batch. In combination with your sales receipt we can easily determine when your product was made – just if you wondered…

TIME TO DO INVENTORY AND CLEAN OUT OLD PRODUCTS THAT ARE PAST THEIR PRIME

Just as much as we have to go through our pantry, our spices or even the freezer to make sure everything is still at its prime, it’s a good idea to take inventory once a year of your vitamins, and other natural products.

Sort them by kinds and check for freshness. If they have been sitting in your cupboard and for many years and have started to collect dust, it’s time to get rid of them and to replace them with fresh ones. Let your nose be your guide.