Why this matters
Essential oils don't go "off" like milk — but they do oxidize. Oxidized oils:
- Lose their scent complexity (the top notes vanish first).
- Can become sensitizing — even an oil you used safely for years can cause a rash once it's oxidized.
- Citrus oils and pine/fir oils are the worst offenders — they can shift to skin-irritating compounds within 12–18 months of opening.
Shelf-life categories we use
Based on current Tisserand & Young guidance, stored properly (cool, dark, bottles closed):
| Category | Shelf life once opened |
|---|---|
| Citrus (lemon, bergamot, orange, grapefruit, lime) | 12 months |
| Conifers (pine, fir, cypress, juniper) | 12 months |
| Herbal & floral (lavender, geranium, rosemary, basil) | 2–3 years |
| Spicy (cinnamon, clove, black pepper, ginger) | 3–4 years |
| Woody & resinous (sandalwood, cedarwood, frankincense, vetiver) | 4–6 years (often improves with age) |
How the tracker works
- Log each oil — name, category, purchase date.
- Your collection saves locally to this browser's storage. No account, no email, no server-side storage.
- Freshness percentages update every time you open the page.
- "Past prime" alerts flag bottles you should smell-test before using.
A note on storage
You'll get the upper end of these shelf lives if you:
- Keep oils in amber glass bottles (never plastic — citrus oils eat it).
- Store in a cool, dark place — a drawer or closet, never a windowsill.
- Keep bottles tightly closed — oxygen is the enemy.
- Consider refrigerating citrus oils once opened if you use them slowly.
Smell test, always
Even with this tracker, trust your nose. If an oil smells sharper, sourer, or "off" compared to when you bought it, it's oxidized. Use it for cleaning blends, not skin.
Log your collection below.