Relax Therapy - Part 4; Essential Oils What is the storage life of essential oils?

What is the storage life of essential oils? 

It would be good to use up within 6 to 8 months after unsealing. Citrus essential oil can keep up to 6 months. It is recommended to store in the refrigerator. Since essential oils are highly volatile and flammable. Please ensure that the cap is properly secured and avoid storing in places where there is plenty of moisture as like in the bathroom. 

Attention to be taken when used by mothers-to-be and Infants!! As far as possible, infant less than 6 years of age should avoid usage. Mothers-to-be should consult an aroma therapist or a doctor on which oils are safe to use.

Related topics

Relax Therapy - Part 1; Essential Oils

Relax Therapy - Part 2; How to choose your essential oils?

Relax Therapy - Part 3; How to enjoy essential oil

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Relax Therapy - Part 3; How to enjoy essential oil

How to enjoy essential oil

Aromatic bath: the fragrance of essential oils is diffused into the air and the aromatic component is inhaled through the nose. The fragrance is diffused into the air by steam that has been warmed using an aroma pot or aroma warmer in which the essential oil and water or hot water has been placed. As a rough guide, 5 to 7 drops of essential oil would be sufficient for a room. There is also a method to enjoy the fragrance which has been dropped directly into a small unglazed dish. If you first timer, please do a patch test for each oil, there are instances where some might develop allergic reactions. The patch test is done by diluting base oil and the essential oils which one intend to use for aroma treatment or which would come in contact with the skin by way of aroma bath.

How To Do A Patch Test

#1 Put one drop of the essential oil you want to use to 10ml of pure oil

#2 Paint a circle about the size of a dime on the inner sides of both wrist

#3 Leave it on for 12 to 24 hours, it would be ideal to cover with adhesive bandage

#4 If there is no abnormal symptom, you can use the oil.allegric reactions differ according to the type of fragrance and manufacture. Please do a patch test for all the oils you intend to use

How To Use The Aroma Pot

Half-filled the dish on the top side with water and put a few drops of essential oil and light up the candle.

How To Use The Aroma Warmer

The lamp is the source of heat and the method of use is the same as the aroma pot.

How To Use The Small Unglazed Dish/ Coin

Drop the essential oil into the unglazed dish directly to enjoy the fragrance. The unglazed coin is an item similar to the small dish which used to soak with essential oil to enjoy the fragrance. 

For House Care

Use essential oils for house care. Make some aroma alcohol and use it for cleaning purposes. Put in this order 35ml of dehydrated ethanol, 15 to 20 drops of essential oil and 65ml of purified water into a spray container and mix well. Recommended essential oils are grapefruit, geranium, lemon, tea tree and so on.

For Deodorizing

Use as air freshener in the kitchen and other places. Put 50ml of purified water and add in 20 drops of essential oil in a spray container and mix well. As an air refresher can be made by mixing essential oil and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), about 20 drops of essential oil to 20g of baking soda. Recommended essential oils are grapefruit, lemon, eucalyptus and peppermint.

Related topics

Relax Therapy - Part 1; Essential Oils

Relax Therapy - Part 2; How to choose your essential oils?

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Relax Therapy - Part 2; How to choose your essential oils?

How to choose your essential oils?

Start by finding one’s favorite fragrances and select a few of favorites, use to suit one’s mood, as well as to enjoy them as a blend. There is a good chemistry with blend of fragrances of the same strain. And it is also good when blended with adjacent fragrances. Usually the essential oil classified to fragrances strain. Flora strain, Citrus strain, exotic strain, herbal strain, wood strain and spice strain.

The following table shown below; 

Strain of Fragrances	Essential Oil	Goodness and remarks	Country of Origin
Flora: gentle and sweet fragrance extracted from flowers. Lots of long lasting fragrances and most blended strain.	Lavender	Gentle with floral fragrance. It is said to be stress relieving and mood calming. Perfect for bathing with and using before going to bed.	France
	Geranium	Rose like sweet floral fragrance. Oil is said to be mood relaxing and good as a mosquito repellant.	Egypt
Exotic: sweet, rich and unique fragrances reminisce exotic lands. It is said to soothe the moods.	Ylang Ylang	Heavy and sensuously exotic fragrance. An oriental fragrance used in perfumes which is said to bring forth the romantic mood.	Madagascar
Citrus: clear fruity and refreshing fruit based fragrances that everyone is familiar with and said to be brightening up our moods.	Bergamot	Delicate with slightly sweet floral fragrance. It is said to clear and refresh the spirits and brighten up the moods.	Republic of Cote d’lvoire
	Lemon	Exhilarating and refreshing fragrance. It is said to brighten up the spirits. Blends well with other essential oils.	Spain
	Lime	Sharp and bitter sweet citrus strain fragrance. It is said to refresh and brighten up tired spirits.	Mexico
	Lemongrass	Green tone lemon-like fragrance. It is said to refresh the moods, clear one’s head and increase concentration.	India
	Grapefruit	Refreshingly sweet sour   fragrance. Calms and refreshes one’s feelings.	Israel
	Mandarin	Amongst the citrus strain it has a sharp floral strain fragrance. It is said to brighten up the spirits when one’s mood is heavy.	Italy
Herbal: fragrances extracted from herbs feel somewhat delicately bitter in the exhilaration one feel and are said to have refreshing effects when one is intent on enhancing one’s concentration.	Spearmint	Fragrance is spicy and slightly bitter taste. It is said to stimulate and refresh the senses when one is tired.	America
	Rosemary	Stimulating and refreshing fragrance. An herb which has been used since ancient times, it is said to improve the agility of one’s mind and memory.	Spain
	Sweet marjoram	Warm and slightly spicy fragrance. To soothe one’s feeling and lighten mood.	Egypt
Wood: basking with deep woody fragrances.	Tea tree	Cool and refreshing green fragrance. Refresh depressed spirits and excellent germicide.	Australia
	Eucalyptus	Stimulating and refreshing green fragrance. Said to soothe the spirits when one is feeling depressed and woolly minded.	China
	Rosewood	Woody and floral fragrance, to brighten up the spirits when one is feeling tired and depressed.	Brazil
	Cypress	Woody and slightly spicy fragrance. Clear and refresh one’s spirit.	Spain
Spice: sharp and stimulating fragrances. Motivates and energizes the spirits. It is also said to have a warming effect on the body.	Cinnamon leaves	Spicy and sharp stimulating fragrances. Refresh when one is feeling extremely exhausted.	Sri Lanka
	Black pepper	Spicy and sharp fragrance. Give one of stamina when tiredness builds up	Sri Lanka

Advice for newbie’s recommended blend

#1: Bergamot is said to have high relaxing effect and gentle sweet geranium which would brighten up the mood.

#2: Ylang Ylang and choice lavender from adjacent flowers strain. Both are said to have the effect of relieving the sense of uneasiness and bringing peace of mind.

#3: A blend from adjacent strains with a crisp and refreshing fragrance

Related topics

Relax Therapy - Part 1; Essential Oils

Savvy Mothers

Relax Therapy - Part 1; Essential Oils

Thank you Fan (Mummy Grace), for asking on Essential oil topics and willingly to share tips of usage on essential oil. Ok, Superbmothers done research on it via reading books and asking aromatherapist experts. Of cos, all mums can contribute by sharing via 'comment' space. (No rude, offensive and hurtful comment via 'comment' space. Thank you for co-operation).

Essential oils are highly fragrant, pure, concentrated and volatile oils which have been extracted from flowers, leaves, roots, skins of fruits, barks of trees and other plant matter. These natural fragrances are used for health and beauty since the times of ancient Greece. The aromatic component in essential oils is useful in maintaining bodily functions are refreshing the state of mind.

Generally, the varieties of essential oils can be classifies into 7 strains of fragrances. And there are 3 techniques for extracting these oils which are by using steam to extract the oil component (steam distillation technique), extraction by expression from fruits skins (cold press technique) and by using volatile medium for  extraction (solvent extraction technique). Amongst these, oils expressed by cold press technique deteriorate easily and it is important to use it up quickly. As essential oils are volatile and weak to light and heat, they are filled in green colored opaque bottles to block direct sunlight.


Once again, thank you Mummy Grace. Have a blessed Xmas 2011.

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