Aromatherapy Carrier Oil Shelf Life & Storage Tips

By Caryn Gehlmann, Clinical Aromatherapist

Do you have any carrier oils on hand? What is a carrier oil? And is there a standard carrier oil shelf life to ensure we get the best from them? Carrier oils are oils extracted from various types and parts of plants, including nuts, seeds, leaves, and flowers. The ones that we, at e3, love the most are: Sweet Almond Oil, Calendula Oil, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Organic Fractinated Coconut Oil, Golden Jojoba, Organic Rosehip Oil, e3’s Super Carrier Oil. and Tamanu Oil.

These carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils and make them safe for use on the skin. Did you know, they are called carrier oils because they “carry” the essential oil onto the skin? They play a crucial role in ensuring essential oils’ safe and effective use. So it’s important to know how to correctly store them and how long they last.

This leads to the question for this month’s Q&A with Caryn from Courtney. “How do you store carrier oils and how long is their shelf life?”

So to recap…

How Do I Store My Carrier Oils?

For almost all carrier oils it’s important to store them in a cool, dark place, preferably in the refrigerator. The exception to this rule is FCO (fractionated coconut oil) because it is extremely resistant to rancidity. Refrigeration isn’t necessary for FCO but it should still be stored in a cool environment, out of direct sunlight.

If possible, carrier oils should also be stored in dark glass bottles, such as amber or cobalt glass, this is especially important for carrier oils with a shorter shelf life. Also, exposure to oxygen can shorten the shelf life of carrier oils so make sure the caps are always tightly sealed.

What Kind of Carrier Oil Shelf Life Can I Expect?

Carrier oils mainly consist of fatty acids or lipids, so their shelf life is much shorter than that of essential oils. Carrier oils that are high in unsaturated fatty acid content usually have an even shorter shelf life and may only last around 6 months. On the other hand, carrier oils with a longer shelf life can last up to 3 years or longer. It is useful to keep a record of the date purchased and the expected shelf life for each oil.

Here is a Carrier Oil Shelf Life Chart of all e3 carrier oils and their expected shelf life under correct storage conditions.

For more tips about carrier oil dilution and blending recommendations, download our free workbook, The Art & Science of Blending Essential Oils. You’ll also get a coupon you can use for your next order!