Deborah Dolen's Blog

Monday, September 5, 2011

Aromatherapy Chapter I by Deborah Dolen

Aromatherapy Chapter I

INTRODUCTION TO AROMATHERAPY by Deborah Dolen

Intro to Aromatherapy– The term 'aromatherapy' was first used in the 1920's by the French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé who accidentally discovered in laboratory that lavender oil relieves pain and assists in healing of superficial burns. René had burned his hand in the lab and immersed it in the closest liquid he could find, which was lavender. He was fascinated by the benefits of lavender oil in healing his burned hand without leaving any scars. He started investigating the effect of other essential oils for healing and for their psychotherapeutic benefits. Aromatherapy had been used in many ways, by many cultures prior to this, but René helped isolate the phenomenon to its own science.

Now that's the gist of the story as it is told over and over again by Aroma therapists. Notice René was not “smelling” the lavender--he stuck his limb right in it. So, the story demonstrated that lavender had a medicinal quality above and beyond 'aroma.' All aromatherapy in most countries revolves around essential oils.

Most essential oils have healing properties above and beyond psychological olfactory impacts. It's quite possible that calling it 'aromatherapy' was a politically correct way to work with the power to heal and not be a licensed physician. The word aromatherapy is somewhat misleading, as it suggests that healing works using the sense of smell and on the emotions. However, aside from the scent, each oil has a combination of constituents that interacts with the chemistry of the body which then affects particular organs or systems as a whole. When oils are used externally as with a massage oil, they are easily absorbed by the skin (at different rates depending on the type of oil) and sent around the body. If you rub a clove of garlic on the sole of the foot, it can be smelled on the breath shortly after.

Essential oils have three modes of action as to how they interact with the human body. Firstly, the pharmacological effect is related to the chemical changes that occur when an oil enters the bloodstream and reacts with hormones and enzymes. Secondly, the physiological effect is related to the way that an oil affects the system of the body such as being sedated or stimulated and so on. Thirdly, the psychological effect which happens when an oil is inhaled and causes a response to the smell. As we journey through the power of essential oils, we will learn many amazing things--such as workers directly handling rosemary, basil, and/or oregano were not succumbing to the avian flu [bird flu] when relatives in their abodes were infected with it.

We will find in the story of the 'Toulouse Thieves' [a classical aromatherapy story in the next Chapter] people were fairly immune from the Plague--this wasn't as casual as smelling the scent of an essential oil. For now we will move forward with the classical definition. ~Revised by Group 7.18.2008 via Wiki.

Aromatherapy Chapter II by Deborah Dolen

AROMATHERAPY - Chapter II What is Aromatherapy?

The word “Aromatherapy” is a compound Greek word made up by the words fragrance (aroma) and treatment (therapy).

Aromatherapy means 'treatment using scents'. It is a holistic treatment of caring for the body with scents that causes a psychological reaction. An example of these scents are Lavender, Lemon, Neroli and Peppermint.

Essential oils, the most potent of aromatics, are delivered in many ways including but not limited to, the bath, massage, steam inhalations, direct inhalations or are diffused to scent an entire room.

Aromatherapy is used for relaxation, stimulation, depression, pain (whether physical or psychological), for skin care, to alleviate tension, combat fatigue, and/or to invigorate the entire body, as a few primary examples. Essential oils can also affect mood, alleviate fatigue, reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. When inhaled, they work on the brain and nervous system through stimulation of the olfactory nerves. Essential oils are not the only sources to deliver 'aroma', but they are the most common.

Essential oils are aromatic essences extracted from plants, flowers, trees, fruits, bark, grasses and seeds with distinctive therapeutic, psychological, and physiological properties, which can improve and at times prevent illness.

The story of the 'Toulouse Thieves' would be a good example of prevention. “As the bubonic plague decimated Europe in the year 1413, four thieves were captured and charged with robbing the dead and dying victims of Toulouse. When the thieves were tried, the magistrate offered leniency if they would reveal how they resisted contracting the infection as they performed their gruesome acts. The four thieves explained that they were perfumers and spice traders and told of a special concoction of aromatic herbs, including cloves and rosemary, that they rubbed on their hands, ears, and temples.” Like any good tale, the story actually has another version, and probably the more specifically true one! “During the gruesome days of the Black Death in France in 1628, the homes of the dying were being ransacked. At first the authorities did nothing, assuming that the foolish thieves would die of the plague. However the robberies continued and people began to wonder why the robbers had not become ill and died. It was then that the authorities began to pursue the thieves...to discover the secret of their immunity to the Plague. Four thieves were eventually caught and were condemned to be burned at the stake for their crimes. However the king of France offered to mitigate their sentence if they would reveal their secret in how they had been avoiding death by the plague. The thieves told all, revealing a secret blend of aromatic herbs steeped in vinegar. All four thieves were then hung. Their lasting legacy is this tonic which has powerful anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties and is still used in France today."

Note the basis of the real 'tonic' was vinegar, although it also consisted of an infusion of rosemary, thyme, sage, and lavender. Some accounts claim clove was a featured element. As you will learn later, modern day technology has shown that actual handlers of essential oils Rosemary, Basil, & Oregano did not tend to get the avian flu as it passed through, and affected others that lived with them. The 'why not' is still being studied. I dub these the 'Italian' oils because it is easier to remember and sounds like a salad dressing.

A few of the oils mentioned are extremely potent, so know your oils before you begin trying to make your own blends. “Essential oils are so potent--imagine dropping a drop of food color into a glass of water. Just one drop affects the whole glass. Well, essential oils tend to be far more potent than that." There are approximately 200 essential oils. Most of these oils have antiseptic properties; some are antiviral, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, antidepressant and expectorant. Other properties of the essential oils which are taken advantage of in aromatherapy are their stimulation, relaxation, digestion improvement, and diuretic properties. Essential oils are even used to repel bugs.

Historically, Citronella has been touted as the 'bug' repeller, but that could be just excellent marketing by growers of Citronella. Citronella is a “Cinderella" in my lab, hardly ever used. The truth is bugs do not like most essential oils. Lemongrass smells so much better, so that is my essential oil of choice for outdoor candle making or scent. It also has the strongest 'throw' of most any essential oil. Synthetically made oils do not work, they just seem to be missing 'energy'. Aromatherapy in general, is one of the fastest growing fields in alternative medicine. It's widely used at home, clinics and hospitals for a variety of applications such as pain relief for women in labor pain, relieving pain caused by the side effects of chemotherapy undergone by cancer patients, and rehabilitation of cardiac patients. Aromatherapy is already slowly spreading into the mainstream. In Japan, engineers are incorporating aroma systems into new buildings. In one such application, the scent of lavender and rosemary is pumped into the customer area to calm down the waiting customers, while the perfumes from lemon and eucalyptus are used in the bank teller counters to keep the staff alert. There are many impressive studies on increased productivity like this which we will discuss later on. ~Revised by Deborah Dolen & Group 7.18.2008 via Wiki.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Aromatherapy Chapter III by Deborah Dolen

AROMATHERAPY - Chapter III by Deborah Dolen
History of Aromatherapy
Excerpt How to Make Perfume and Aromatherapy Basics Copyright © Deborah Dolen 2011
Aromatherapy has been around for 6000 years or more. The Greeks, Romans, and ancient Egyptians all used aromatherapy oils. The Egyptian physician Imhotep, recommended fragrant oils for bathing, massage, and for embalming their dead nearly 6000 years ago. Imhotep is the Egyptian god of medicine and healing. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used aromatherapy baths and scented massage. He used aromatic fumigations to rid Athens of the plague.

The modern era of aromatherapy is dated in 1920 when the French chemist, René Maurice Gattefossé coined the term aromatherapy for the therapeutic use of essential oils. Rene started investigating the effect of other essential oils for healing and for their psychotherapeutic benefits.

During World War II, the French army surgeon, Dr. Jean Valnet, used essential oils as antiseptics. Later, Madame Marguerite Maury elevated aromatherapy as a holistic therapy. She started prescribing essential oils as a remedy for her patients. She is also credited with the modern use of essential oils in massage.

Aromatherapy works best when used on the mind and body simultaneously.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

Essential oils stimulate the powerful sense of smell. It's known that odors we smell have a significant impact on how we feel. In dealing with patients who have lost the sense of smell, doctors have found that a life without fragrance can lead to high incidence of psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression. Studies with brain wave frequency have shown that smelling lavender increases alpha waves in the back of the head, which are associated with relaxation. Fragrance of Jasmine increases beta waves in the front of the head, which are associated with a more alert state. Neroli is offered to women in labor to help calm the feeling of trauma. We have the capability to distinguish 10,000 different smells. It is believed that smells enter through cilia (the fine hairs lining the nose) to the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls our moods, emotions, memory and learning. Scientific studies have also shown that essential oils contain chemical components that can exert specific effects on the mind and body.

mistry of esential oils are complex but generally they include alcohols, esters, ketones, aldehydes, and terpenes. Each essential oil contains as much as 100 chemical components, which together exert a strong effect on the whole person. Depending on which component is predominating in an oil, the oils act differently. For example, some oils are relaxing, some soothe you down, some relieve your pain, etc. Then there are oils such as Lemon and Lavender, which adapt to what your body needs and to that situation. (These are called 'adaptogenic'). The mechanism in which these essential oils act on us is not very well understood. What is understood is their effect on our mind and emotions. They leave no harmful residues. They enter into the body either by absorption or inhalation. The studies below demonstrate the powerful psychological impact aromatherapy can have on work productivity: A fragrance company in Japan conducted studies to determine the effects of smell on people. They pumped different fragrances in an area where a number of keyboard entry operators were stationed and monitored the number of mistakes made as a function of the smell in the air. The results were as follows: When exposed to lavender oil fragrance (a relaxant) the keyboard typing errors dropped 20 percent. When exposed to jasmine (an uplifting fragrance) the errors dropped 33 percent. When exposed to lemon fragrance (a sharp, refreshing stimulant) the mistakes fell by a whopping 54 percent! ~Revised by Deborah Dolen & Group 7.18.2008 via Wiki.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Aromatherapy Chapter IV by Deborah Dolen Safety Issues

Safety Issues of Essential Oils

The best course of action is always prevention. Meaning, do not allow essential oils in the hands of inexperienced people. Keep your essential oils out of reach of minors. Some smell so good, there have been reports of minors determining it smelled good enough to drink. Orange essential oil would be a good example.

Transference is not hard. For example, you could get a micro amount of Cinnamon on your hands and not realize it until you rub your eye. If you live to talk about it, chances are you will never forget that experience. If you get the caustic type essential oils on your skin, all you really can do is rinse, rinse, rinse with cool water, or saline solution if it's in your eyes, and follow with milk. For this reason, most people working with essential oils keep an open bottle of saline within reach. This is because it is awfully hard to get a seal off when you are in pain and busy trying to see. Rinsing should continue for a good fifteen minutes.

Here is another great example. One night my babysitter decided to get into my lab and make bath salts with Lemon grass essential oil for her boyfriend. She made him bath salts. She never told me. I found out when I got a panicked phone call that her boyfriend felt like his body was burning off-with emphasis on some "parts." The liability could have been incredible, even though she basically stole the ingredients. I had a duty to keep them locked up since there was no warning on them.

Another prime example is 'complacency', the root of all evil. Getting carried away is easy to do, if you are used to throwing a liberal amount of Lavender or Rosemary essential oil in the bath. Grabbing the wrong bottle to use in my bath--I have done this at least THREE times in my life. In all cases I was exhausted and blindly grabbing from where the Lavender “should” have been. The color of the bottles were the same. I cannot begin to describe the agony of putting straight Fennel essential oil, by mistake, in the tub. Another time straight Lemon grass essential oil and I actually made the Fennel mistake twice. Flushing for over ten minutes with water was all I could do, although I did wobble off to make a baking soda paste in hopes to balance the PH. I cannot say the baking soda helped--but it kept me distracted. I still walked funny for a few days--it burned my thighs and any area submersed in the water, so they did burn me. Pay attention and do not get complacent or carried away with essential oils. Know what you are working with--usually very potent stuff, and they are all very different. Just because Lavender is 'user friendly' does not mean they all are. ~Revised by Deborah Dolen Group 7.18.2008 via Wiki.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Aromatherapy Chapter V by Deborah Dolen Essential Oil Toxicity

AROMATHERAPY - Chapter V Essential Oil Toxicity

The first thing you should about essential oils is which ones are toxic. Most students learn this last, such as myself--and they need to know it first. You may be surprised what is considered toxic. The web is overflowing with 'recipes' and 'formulas' that are fairly ignorant to what is toxic and why. Pennyroyal and Wintergreen are all too often seen in web recipes. They should not appear in any with great words of caution and dilution. This does not mean the author of any 'recipe' knows what they are doing. In fact, just the opposite. Some essential oils can overwhelm the kidneys and liver and shut them down.

If used as recommended, and under the care of a qualified practitioner, aromatherapy is very safe. Please remember that essential oils are very concentrated. Do not use too much. (Too much is not better in the case of essential oils). Also, please be wary of any allergies people may have to essential oils. (Try on a small spot to see whether there is any allergic reactions before exposing the whole body). Caution is particularly recommended for patients who are pregnant, have allergies, high blood pressure or epilepsy. Be careful with young children or babies.

If you accidentally spill the essential oils on your skin or get any in your eye, wash it off immediately with whole milk. Milk with some fat in it is best for reducing irritation and removing the oil actually in the eye. You may also use olive oil or other vegetable oil to resolve any issues if you are experiencing a burning sensation which would be possible with oils like Peppermint.

Watch out for inflamed skin if you use essential oils. If you consume the oil by accident, drink a lot of milk, eat soft bread, and go to the nearest poison control center for appropriate action. Oral consumption of aromatic oils are strongly discouraged unless you are under the care and supervision of an experienced practitioner. Many of these essential oils are very toxic. You should not apply the undiluted essential oil on your body as these are very concentrated and you may experience discomfort. The exception to this is Lavender oil which can be applied safely in the undiluted form for burns and insect bites.

It is a very good idea to keep your eyes closed while inhaling the aromatic oil. This helps build up your imagery which enhances the effect of the essential oil. It also prevents the "fumes" from irritating the eyes at close range. Don't apply any oils close to your eyes. Essential oils are very potent, some are only toxic at high levels. In general, here are the usual suspects, I have included the Latin names to avoid any confusion: Almond, bitter (Prunus amygdalus var. amara) Inula (Inula graveolens) Khella (Ammi visnaga) Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris) Pennyroyal (Mentha pelugium) Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) Thuja (Thuja occidentalis) Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) Bitter Almond is a delicious scent, my favorite scent of all essential oils.

That is until I learned that particular essential oil is essentially cyanide. In fact, it is better to say that Cyanide smells like almonds. The bitter almond, soaked first in water, is a common way authors poison their fictional characters. The bitter almond makes an irresistible Christmas cookie. The bitter almond is shorter and fatter than the sweet almond. The sweet almond does not create cyanide.

Sassafras is another beloved essential oil adults will say they cherished as a child, but it is toxic. Wintergreen, another refreshing scent--is also toxic. Sweet Birch smells very much like Wintergreen, or Ben Gay, and is highly toxic to the liver when absorbed through the skin. Both Wintergreen and Sweet Birch contain methyl salicylate. Methyl salicylate is a wintergreen-scented chemical found in various over-the-counter products, including muscle ache creams as an anti-inflammatory. A marvelous essential oil, we will use, but with caution. Overdose from methyl salicylate occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally take more than the normal or recommended amount of a product containing this substance.

Here is an example when people think "more is better." A seventeen year old athlete died in 2007 from applying far too much Ben Gay all over her body. Here are the symptoms of overdose. Click here for the story of the athlete. Pennyroyal is another essential oil you may hear used in recipes, is poisonous because it does not take much to shut the liver down. Fairly inexpensive, Pennyroyal is an attractive alternative to women seeking abortion because of the minimal cost; they can buy herbs to brew an infusion, drink it in the privacy of their own homes and in a maximum of a few days the pregnancy will be aborted. The dosage to abort is not far from the dosage to kill the adult, so it is very, very dangerous, beyond the fact it is illegal.

Other Essential Oil Top Considerations: Do not use the following essential oils if you have: High blood pressure: Do not use Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage or Thyme. · Epilepsy: Do not use Sweet Fennel, Hyssop, Sage, Rosemary and Wormwood. Skin Irritation: Allspice, Basil, Bay, birch, Bitter Almond, Black Pepper, Cassia, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Citronella, Clove bud, Costus, Cumin, Fennel, Fir Needle, Ginger, Lemon, Lemon Grass, Lemon Verbena, Melissa, Myrrh, Oak Moss, Orange, Peppermint, Oregano, Parsley seed, Pimento Berry, Pine, Tagetes, Red and Wild Thyme and Wintergreen. Most of these require large amounts to burn--but Cinnamon and Cassia only take a drop to irritate. The following essential oils will make your skin more sensitive to sunlight: all Citrus oils, Angelica, Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin, Orange and Lemon Verbena. If essential oils get into your eyes immediately flush with cold milk or vegetable oil to dilute. If stinging persists, seek medical attention. If undiluted essential oils get onto your hands use cream or vegetable oil to dilute and wash with soap and warm water. Repeat this process if necessary. Essential oils that are safe in pregnancy include: chamomile, jasmine, lavender, Neroli, Rose and ylang-ylang. Notice they are all floral, so this can be an easier way to remember essential pills safe for pregnancy. ~Revised by Deborah Dolen & Group 7.18.2008 via Wiki.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Aromatherapy Chapter VI by Deborah Dolen

AROMATHERAPY - Chapter VI Adulteration & Dilution of Essential Oils by Deborah Dolen

Adulteration and dilution of essential oils to increase profit, like anything in today’s society, brokers are looking for a way to save a buck and stretch a penny. The area of essential oils is no different, and in fact, not regulated. All you can do is buy from a reputable 'house' who is published and would risk their reputation if they were ever caught cutting the product. When a company has a large customer base, you know those customers are educated and would just 'know' if standards began falling. I do buy from such a company who services the big name Perfume & Flavour houses. Flavour cannot be adulterated with low end chemicals or it would be obvious very fast. It took me several years to secure that supplier, because few people want to reveal their source. I also secured a few more back-up suppliers in 2007 so I am not dependent on the great price fluctuations of my first supplier. Even if a vendor did not lower standards, often they have no clue if the broker they bought from did dilute. The country of origin is typically the first consideration.

Natural health food stores? You can forget it. Most are 10% EO and the rest carrier oil. The following are some examples of what has gone on in the industry circa ten years ago: Today much of the lavender oil sold in the US is from the hybrid called 'lavadin', grown and distilled in China, Russia, France, and Tasmania. It's brought into France where it is cut with synthetic linalyl acetate to improve the fragrance. Then, propylene glycol, DEP, or DOP (solvents that have no smell but add volume) are added. From there it's sold in the US as lavender oil. Often lavandin is heated to evaporate the camphor, and then is further adulterated with synthetic linalyl acetate. Most consumers don’t know the difference and are happy to buy this type of lavender oil for $7 to $10 per half ounce in health food stores, beauty salons, grocery and department stores, and through mail order. This is one of the reasons why it's very important to know about the integrity of the company or vendor from which you purchase your essential oils. Another great example of a commonly adulterated oil is Frankincense. The Frankincense resin that is sold in Somalia costs between $30,000 and $35,000 per ton. A great deal of time, 12 hours or more, is required to properly steam-distill this essential oil from the resin, making Frankincense essential oil extremely expensive.

Frankincense essential oil that sells for $25 per ounce or less is cheaply distilled with gum resins, alcohol, or other solvents, thus leaving the essential oil laden with harmful chemicals. Sadly, when these cut, synthetic and adulterated oils cause rashes, burns, or other irritations, people wonder why they have not gotten the benefit they had expected and then conclude that essential oils don’t have much value. Some commercial statistics show that one large US corporation uses twice as much of a particular essential oil than is grown and produced in the entire world! Where are these 'phantom' essential oils coming from? In France, production of true lavender oil (Lavendula angustifolia) dropped from 87 tons in 1967 to only 12 tons in 1998. During this same period the worldwide demand for lavender oil grew over 100 percent. Where did essential oil marketers obtain enough lavender to meet the demand? They probably used a combination of synthetic and adulterated oils. There are huge chemical companies on the east coast of the US that specialize in creating synthetic chemicals that mimic every common essential oil. For every kilogram of pure essential oil that is produced, it is estimated there are between 10 and 100 kilograms of synthetic created.

Adulterated and mislabeled essential oils present dangers for consumers. One woman who had heard of the ability of Lavender to heal burns used 'lavender oil' purchased from her local health food store when she spilled boiling water on her arm. The pain intensified and the burn worsened, so later she complained that lavender oil was worthless for healing burns. When her lavender oil was analyzed, it was found to be lavadin, the hybrid lavender that is chemically very different from pure Lavendula angustifolia. Lavandin contains high levels of camphor (12-18 percent) and can itself burn the skin. In contrast, true lavender contains virtually no camphor and has burn-healing agents not found in lavadin. Adulterated oils that are cut with synthetic extenders can be very detrimental, causing rashes, burning, and skin irritations. Petrochemical solvents, such as dipropylene glycol and diethylphthalate, can all cause allergic reactions, besides being devoid of any therapeutic benefits. Some people assume that because an essential oil label states that the essential oil is '100% pure' that it will not burn their skin. This is not true. Some pure essential oils may cause skin irritation if applied undiluted. Like Oregano, when applied to the skin of some people, may cause severe reddening. Citrus and spice oils, like Orange, Clove, and Cinnamon, may also produce rashes. Even the terpenes in conifer oils, like Pine, may cause irritation in some people. Some writers have claimed that a few compounds, when isolated from the essential oil and tested in the lab, can exert toxic effects.

Even so-called 'Nature Identical' essential oils (structured essential oils that have been chemically duplicated using 5 to 15 of the essential oil’s primary chemical compounds in synthetic form) can produce unwanted side effects or toxicities. Isolated compounds may be toxic. However, pure essential oils, in most cases, are not. This is because natural essential oils that are properly steam-distilled contain hundreds of different compounds, some of which balance and counteract each others effects. Another example is the following: Many tourists in Egypt are eager to buy local essential oils, especially lotus oil. Vendors convince tourists that the oils are 100 percent pure, going so far as to touch a lighted match to the neck of the oil container to show that the oil is not diluted with alcohol or other petrochemical solvents. However, this test provides no reliable indicator of purity. Many synthetic compounds can be added to an essential oil that are not flammable, including propylene glycol. Or flammable solvents can be added to a vegetable base that will cause it to catch fire. Some natural essential oils that are high in terpenes can be flammable. A great example is Orange essential oil which in amounts over 32 ounces are considered hazardous. More flammable than in amounts under 32 ounces. These cases do not mean every company in France dilutes. Certain brokers get a 'name' and are not around long. In purchasing we generally know who is doing what and it is an ever revolving door. We actually prefer Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, and the U.S.. Ways to Test Essential Oil Quality Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS) is the most frequently used technique for analyzing essential oil composition. This method of testing requires an analytical component, a gas chromatograph, coupled with a detection component, a mass spectrometer. Since this is quite costly, let’s explore some other ways to test the quality of essential oils. Reviewing the “source” is the first thing to consider. Some countries are infamous for putting out low end essential oils. If it is coming from a local health food store, you can be 90% sure it is diluted. Knowing what they should look and smell like is the second most viable way to assess. Our students can secure little sample vials of the most popular just to keep on hand as a point of reference. ~Revised by Deborah Dolen Group 7.18.2008 via Wiki.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Aromatherapy Chapter VII by Deborah Dolen Storage and Life Span of Essential Oils

AROMATHERAPY - Chapter VII Storage & Life Span of Essential Oils by Deborah Dolen

Like a fine wine, some oils get better with age! These include clove, rose, patchouli, sandalwood, spikenard, myrrh and vetivert improve as they age, but others, notably the citrus oils, oxidize and can become irritating and toxic with age.

Vetivert, I've had for several years, has a gorgeous deep sandalwood scent. At the time of this writing, Sandalwood is $1,500 a pound and Vetivert $100 a pound. Essential oils high in antioxidants, such as carrot and black cumin--should also last for many years. Fading is the only affect I have noticed over many years. Some essential oils are more delicate than others. Lemon and clary sage seem to fade a little after a year, but lavender, tea tree, and clove for instance seem to hang in for two or three.

Most important to the life span of essential oils is the quality you buy in the first place, and then how you store it. Tightly sealed dark glass bottles stored in a cool dark place. Metal bottles, I really like--do tend to corrode inside after 3 years. I am sent professional grade metal containers that are treated and do not do that. Glass is the ideal vessel as it does not absorb the oils. Plastic is not going to work unless it is a non-petrochemical composition and there is one I like and used only for small amounts. Essential oils when stored in fully topped up, tightly sealed, light impervious containers in a cool place 68 degrees Fahrenheit (under 20 degrees Centigrade), preferably under nitrogen, can last from 6 months to 2 years.

Oxygen degrades oils - causing some to lose beneficial properties and causing some constituents to become irritants or sensitizers (especially citrus & conifer oils), so keep bottles tightly closed and out of direct light. It may be advisable to rebottle to smaller bottles as oil is used to minimize the headspace (thereby minimizing contact with oxygen).

Bottles do not need to be colored or dark, that is more of a myth. What color is your bottle? Unfortunately many people have succumbed to the fear mongering and propaganda put forth by the makers of colored glass when it comes to storing essential oils. The amber glass makers will tell you that amber is best, the green glass makers will tell you that green is best, etc. The truth is that most essential oils are photochemically inactive in the visible region and reactive in the ultra-violet (UV) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Since UV light of high enough energy to cause photochemical reactions in most organic molecules is absorbed (not transmitted) by normal glass, regardless of color, it makes no difference if the oils are in brown, blue, green, purple or whatever color glass. Of course there are a few exceptions, like with the chamazulene containing oils (blue chamomile, blue yarrow, blue tansy, etc.) that you would not want to store in colorless bottles for long periods under heavy lighting conditions. This is because chamazulene has strong absorption in the VISIBLE region of the spectrum (thus the intense dark blue color of these oils) and so it is the lower energy visible light and not just UV light that can significantly effect these oils. But even so, thermal degradation and reaction with oxygen are the biggest enemies of these blue oils, which is why all of our chamazulene containing oils are refrigerated and stored under nitrogen, maintaining the nice dark blue color when you receive your shipment (many times you will find that other suppliers selling these oils will ship them after they have turned dark green due to oxidation from improper storage).

I know many people will still believe they have to keep their oils in drab brown bottles, even after reading this, but I can tell you that based on the research I have done and famous chemists I hang with, it makes no difference what color the bottle is for most the oils. You can extend the life of your oils with ROE, Rosemary Oleoresin extract--which is not to be confused with Rosemary Essential Oil. ROE slows down the oxidation process dramatically, as well as a pinch of Dendtritic salt. ROE is a dark green, syrupy looking ingredient and can be used at under half a percent (max) to your total. These days I like just adding vitamin e and dendritic salt. I am no longer really crazy about ROE.

I store my more precious essential oils in a wine cooler. This ensures a dark and cool place and stays at about 62 degrees F, about 62 celsius. Plus they can be on "display."

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