I use essential oils every day. They’ve done amazing things for my health and for my overall well being. Also, I love to shop online. This creates a situation where it’s tempting to buy too many bottles of essential oils, which don’t get used before they expire.

That’s why I rarely recommend that anyone else buy a large bottle of essential oil. Most of the time. There are exceptions, which I’ll tell you about in a minute. But, for the most part, you’re better off getting a 10 or 15 ml bottle, instead of the larger 30 ml size.

Essential oils don’t last forever. So you don’t want to buy more than you’ll use in about a year to 18 months. Different essential oils have different shelf lives. It also depends on how they’re stored. Oils kept in a cool dark place will generally last longer than oils exposed to heat and sunlight.

Citrus oils tend to expire after about a year. Other oils may last longer. Here’s an earlier blog post I wrote about how long essential oils last.

How Much Essential Oil To Buy

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One of the reasons I use essential oils is for natural pain relief. Another is to help me sleep. I’ve found that in both cases, I need to rotate my oils. This is especially true for sleep. For instance, I might use lavender essential oil for a few nights in a row. Then it stops working.

So I need to have enough essential oils on hand, so I don’t have to use the same one too often. What I do is buy them in 10 ml bottles, so there’s a better chance of using them up, before they go bad.

In many other instances, if you buy a bigger-sized item you save money. But this isn’t necessarily the case with essential oils. You get a better deal only if you’re going to actually use the aromatic inside, before it goes bad.

Depending upon the kind of essential oil, you may be able to easily use all of it before it goes bad. With other types of oils, though, you definitely want to scale down. For instance, peppermint and lavender essential oils are the ones I repeatedly order the most. So getting a big bottle shouldn’t be a problem.

On the other hand, carrot seed essential oil is great for the skin. But I don’t tend to use it for cleaning or other household projects. So the smallest size is the best. That’s why I recommend the Edens Garden carrot seed oil. It comes in a small 5 ml size option. It should still last a long time because carrot seed essential oil needs to be diluted in a carrier oil before putting it on your skin.

Peppermint Essential Oil Shelf Life

According to Plant Therapy, where I buy a lot of my oils, you can expect peppermint essential oil to last four to five years. This, of course, also depends on how you store it.

Given the relatively long shelf life, coupled with the many and varied uses of peppermint essential oil. So it often makes sense to buy the larger 30 ml bottle. Peppermint oil is one of my “go-to” home remedies for headaches and other aches and pains.

Peppermint essential oil also works great for natural pest control. During the warmer months, I often put a little bit of peppermint oil on a wet sponge, to wipe down my kitchen counters. It really does seem to keep the ants away.

I’ve also used peppermint essential oil for rodent control. Rats, mice and other rodents detest the smell of peppermint. (Don’t feel as if you even have to buy a name brand oil if you plan to use it for that purpose. Rodents aren’t that fussy.) Here’s an earlier blog post I wrote about peppermint oil and mice.

How Long Does Lavender Essential Oil Last?

A bottle of lavender essential oil should last about three to four years. So, in this case, it may also make sense to buy a big bottle. Lavender oil has so many uses. You can use it to help you sleep. It also works really well in natural DIY cleaning solutions. You can use it for natural pain control, and also as skin remedy.

Lavender oil is often added to high-end natural cosmetics. That’s because lavender is believed to contain compounds that help with skin renewal. It’s a favorite home remedy for women who are trying to fight wrinkles and other visible signs of aging.

Shelf Life of Lavender Essential Oil

Another thing to know about lavender oil is that it’s earned reputation as a natural burn remedy. This happened in the wake of a well publicized accident involving a famous French chemist named Maurice Gattefosse. After badly burning his hands, he immersed them in a vat of lavender oil. The healing was faster and more complete than anyone could have imagined. Lavender oil is what I use for kitchen burns. I love it, because it also seems to work for me.

Lavender essential oil is something I tend to run out of. I’m always ordering it. So I’d be very comfortable buying a 30 ml bottle of lavender oil. I know I’d use it all.

Disclaimer

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.