I am often asked how long do oils last?
Different oils have different life spans – imagine a bowl of fruit – there is the banana that won’t last long through to the coconut, forever perhaps?
Traditionally, citrus fruit oils have the least shelf life owing to their extraction method making them still very sensitive to photosynthesis and the elements, following that are the ‘softer’ floral and leaf oils, our coconut here are tree oils, resins which may even improve with age.
Some oils arrive with a use by date on them. But how do you know the length of time the plant material sat around in the field, distillery, exporters and importer’s barrels until they were bottled? Nor do you know under what storage or transportation mishaps may have occurred. And, more importantly if they have been adulterated in any form.
While a professional is advised to replenish the stock about every six months, the best advice is to follow your nose and know your oils. If they smell or appear different one day – dispose of them.
