Should I put essential oils in glass or plastic?

Essential oils are a natural way to infuse your products with aromatic and medicinal uniqueness. Essential oils are concentrated compounds extracted from plants and can pack a punch not only in aromatic intensity, but in your container. To prevent deterioration and permeation, it’s imperative that products containing essential oils are packaged in the right kind of container.

Use glass or aluminum for storing “pure” essential oils. Pure essential oils are very potent. Care should be taken to ensure they are stored in an airtight container. All oils have different properties and caution and experimentation should be used in determining what kind of container will work best. Most sources recommend a glass bottle with an airtight lid. Rubber and plastic containers and cap components can be damaged and deteriorated by pure essential oils.

Take care to prolong the life of your pure essential oils by storing in a cool, dark, dry place. Sunlight can accelerate the expiration of your essential oils. Some sources recommend using dark amber or cobalt blue colored glass bottles.

Use plastic or aluminum for products containing “diluted” essential oils. Plastic containers, specifically PET, have been shown to store some products containing essential oils remarkably well. In many cases, essential oils are added to lotions or other products. When mixed with a lotion, for example, the essential oil’s potency is diluted. Its capacity to infuse the lotion with aroma is not diminished, but its capacity to damage plastic and rubber is. Aluminum containers may also be good options for products containing both pure and diluted essential oils.