[aromaexchange] Distillation Dates / Use by Dates

[Guest guest]

>You purchase your essential oils, blends, etc. from people/companies that

>DO have either distillation dates or " best used by " dates.

>Personally, I wouldn't sell an oil to someone without them (unless of

>course I'm giving out a wee / free sample or some tiny amount!

 

I checked all the oils in my possession - from four different companies in

South Africa. Not one of them included a distillation date or a best used

by date. I phoned the company nearest me and asked. The response was

polite and as follows:

Their suppliers cannot usually provide them with accurate distillation

dates, and it appears that many of the more common oils, and nearly all of

the more expensive ones, are not " one source " oils (more or less like wines

where only the cultivar and year are guaranteed - the others being " estate "

wines). The example given was lavender oil, where the supplier may have

drawn the bulk supply from three or four distilleries in the area. A

secondary problem was mentioned in that some oils improve with age while

others deteriorate. The therapeutic effect of some oils dissipates while

the perfume is improved with age and vice versa. Storage variations was

also mentioned. The closest thing they can come to a guarantee is to promise

that they work on consignment basis with their distributors, and will

deliver the lesser used oils (such as the rose - because of its price - and

the clove bud - because of its toxity) fresh on request to every outlet, so

that this discourages outlets from keeping (and storing in the light and

heat) oils which they are not selling. They sell six and eleven ml bottles

of oil. The benefit of the phone call is that they have promised that if my

friend who has a recognised qualification in aromatherapy brings a certified

copy of her certificate she will be entitled to purchase oils at 67% of the

recommended retail price of those oils. They will deliver " larger " orders

of R300-00 or more (US$50) one she is registered as a distributor (outlet).

>

>As for " all oils going bad " or " losing their therapeutic properties within

>2 years ... well, that is simply not so. Life of oils varies from oil to

>oil.... and most importantly ... how it is cared for before you buy it

>*and* after you purchase it. THe biggest " killers of oils " are #1. AIR

>SPACE, #2. LIGHT and #3 fluctuations in temperatures.

>

>Store your oils without airspaces in the bottles (transfer from big to

>small bottles, etc.) .. protect from light (all) and avoid temp extremes.

 

 

Thanks for your advice. It has been most helpful. I am satisfied that my

oils are correctly stored and that they have been reasonably well cared for

before I acquired them.

 

Moira de Swardt

Using all God's resources.