Introduction: Why Tea Tree Oil Shelf Life Matters
Every essential oil, carrier oil, or natural ingredients come with an expiry date. Many people wonder if essential oils like tea tree have an expiry date or not. Well, to answer your question easily, the essential oil does have its own set of pros and cons, which include expiry date as well. Tea tree essential oil contains potent active compounds that make it a versatile oil among others. It is widely used in aromatherapy practices, the beauty industry, and other diffuser blends. Let’s explore more about why the shelf life of tea tree essential oil matters.
You may also like:
On a broad level, tea tree essential oil has botanical extracts and other compounds that fuse over time. Yes, you heard that right. It degrades if kept open. Suppose the essential oil is used within its shelf life. It offers benefits that an expiry oil does not.
- It has immense therapeutic and aromatic benefits.
- It can be used for skincare disorders like pimples, acne, and hyperpigmentation.
- It serves as a natural remedy for insect repellent, bug bites, spider mites, and more.
- It offers other health care and emotional benefits.
While tea tree essential oil is quite strong and does not destroy on its own, the expiry date still matters.
Does Tea Tree Oil Actually Expire?
Yes, tea tree oil actually expires after a certain period. It manages to show its shelf life or expiry date. However, in some cases, it also oxidizes before its given expiry date.
When the essential oil is exposed to air for a very long time, a chemical reaction happens that oxidises the oil and reduces its potency. This further destroys the active elements in the messages, essential oils, and makes it unsuitable to use.
- If you are wondering about the average shelf life of essential oils, then here’s everything you need to know.
- If the essential oil is sealed, packed, and unopened, then it can last for a maximum of 2-3 years.
- If you have opened the essential oil and used it consistently, then the shelf life is 1-2 years.
- So, it all depends on your usage, storage method, essential oil packaging, exposure to sunlight, air, and oxygen.
Essential oils are volatile compounds of plants. So, they are highly reactive. So let’s understand the signs behind tea tree essential oil going bad, and how.
How To Tell If Tea Tree Oil Has Gone Bad?
If your tea tree oil has gone bad or expired, you might see various changes in terms of texture, viscosity, color, aroma, and more. Let’s go into the depths.
A. Visible Color changes
The essential oil instantly changes its colour if it has expired or been exposed to sunlight quite often. A highly volatile and concentrated tea tree oil has no color or a slight yellow tint to it. However, if the colour has changed and become cloudy brown or mustard yellow, it’s high time you stop using it. The slightest change in the color of an essential oil makes it harmful for the skin and other uses.
B. Texture Differences
Did you know that when an essential oil has expired, or the shelf life is over, the texture also changes? The essential oil has a runny or medium consistency. However, when it goes bad, you’ll see that it turns quite sticky and gum-like. Expired essential oil shows changes in texture. You’ll see fungus or a cloudy texture developing around the cap of the bottle. This is mainly due to evaporation or oxidation.
C. Shift In Aromatic Profile
No more soothing or herbal aroma. If your tea tree oil has expired. The aromatic profile of the essential oil changes like the sun and the moon. A fresh bottle of tea tree oil smells concentrated, crisp, and herbaceous. However, when it expires, the aroma becomes musty and sour. It doesn’t smell herbal or something that is fresh or pure.
D. High Level Of Sensitivity
An expired product or oil usually shows its results by increasing the sensitivity of your skin. If your skin has a normal texture and applying oils doesn’t lead to any problem, then it’s a pure one used before the shelf life. However, when the same oil leads to extreme skin irritation, redness, inflammation, or a burning sensation, it has gone bad.
E. Slow Or No Results
The above factors are important and signify that the essential oil has expired or oxidized. The last thing you notice is the results, and when an oil shows feeble or no results, it may have expired. You will see no changes or reduction in the size of pimples, acne, or marks.
Factors That Make Tea Tree Oil Go Bad Faster
Tea tree oil can go bad or expire due to several factors. Some of them are your regular usage habits that degrade its quality and turn it bad. The other ones are the environmental factors that reduce tea tree oil’s shelf life significantly. Let’s have a look at both of them.
1. Excessive UV Heat Exposure
Tea tree oil can go bad or expire due to several factors. Some of them are your regular usage habits that degrade its quality and turn it bad. The other ones are the environmental factors that reduce tea tree oil’s shelf life significantly. Let’s have a look at both of them.
2. Constantly Open To Lights
Essential oil compounds are highly volatile and must always be stored in a dark room. If you do the opposite, it oxidizes very easily. Keeping essential oils in sunlight, near sunlight, and even in artificial warm lights can reduce their shelf life. This is the reason why all the top-quality essential oils are available in dark glass bottles.
3. Air Is Going Into The Oil
If you are constantly exposing the essential oil to oxygen, it can increase its degradation. If the essential oil bottle is open, the air goes inside it. Further, it reduces its effectiveness and potency.
4. Low-Quality Packaging
If you’ve purchased essential oils from a non-trusted source, you will notice low quality and poor packaging of oils. They usually come in cheap plastic or clear glass bottles. This signifies that it is already low-quality and has a smaller shelf life.
5. Additives In The Oil
If the essential oil is a diluted one, it spoils at a faster rate.
6. Contamination
Constantly touching the nozzle or the dropper of the essential oil can lead to contamination.
How To Store Tea Tree Oil Properly?
After opening the tea tree oil, a very crucial step follows. No, it’s not about how to use it, but how to store it properly. So let’s see how to keep essential oils safely and properly to increase their shelf life and potency.
- Always store essential oils in a dark place with the temperature ranging between 1 °C and 25 °C.
- Do not keep them in bathrooms, as they are humid and the temperature keeps fluctuating.
- Store them in a dark cabinet or drawer.
- The best quality essential oils are always available in dark glass amber bottles. So, always choose them over any other oils.
- After using the essential oil, close the lid very tightly to avoid air exposure.
- If you are purchasing an essential oil, make sure not to go for fancy options like dropper bottles. While they look aesthetic and are easy to use, they might expire earlier.
- Never store essential oils in a place where they are exposed to children, pets, or elderly people. Essential oils are highly volatile, and if they are kept near them, the storage safety can be compromised.
- During the rainy season or humid weather, keep essential oils in a safe place and regularly check their texture. That time of the year can lead to moisture in essential oils and might further contaminate it further.
Can You Still Use Expired Tea Tree Oil?
As per experts’ advice, one should never use tea tree essential oil if it has expired, especially on the skin. It can lead to skin irritation and a burning sensation. Here is why.
- Essential oils that have expired might trigger skin sensitivity and various skin disorders.
- It also triggers swelling, inflammation, and redness in the skin.
- Expired essential oils do not heal wounds, pimples, or acne. Instead, it provokes it to a further level.
While using expired tea tree oil can be a wrong decision, you can utilize it in other ways to make use of it.
Use expired essential oils only if they have mild oxidation and the colour is slightly dark. Here is how you can use it –
- Add it to a bucket of warm water and clean the surfaces.
- You can naturally freshen up the dustbin or trash cans by pouring a few drops of oil.
- While cleaning your shoes, use a drop of essential oil for a subtle hint of freshness.
- To battle foul smell, use expired oils.
How To Extend The Shelf Life Of Tea Tree Oil?
Wondering how to keep your essential oils safe and extend their shelf life for longer usage? Here are some tricks that might help in the long run.
- Always buy small bottles of essential oils of 10ml or 20ml.
- If you have a large bottle, consider transferring it into a smaller one to prevent oxidation.
- Avoid touching the lid of the bottle frequently, as it contaminates and leads to bacteria spreading left, right, and center.
- You can store the essential oils tightly packed in a refrigerator to avoid chemical reactions.
- Do not open the bottle of essential oil if not in use.
- Choose quality over quantity while buying tea tree oil. An adulterated essential oil has additives that reduce its shelf life.
You may also like:
Conclusion
We are nearing the end, and it is incredible to see how safe storage of essential oils matters. Every oil or natural ingredient expires after a specific time period. However, it is your duty to keep it safe and maximize its shelf life. At Moksha Lifestyle, you’ll find your choice of essential oils that are free from additives, hence longer shelf life.
FAQ’s
1. Is tea tree oil good for toothache pain?
Tea Tree essential oil is excellent for toothaches. It is a natural remedy that provides an instant cooling sensation.
2. How long can tea tree oil last?
Tea tree oil can last for 2 years if unopened. However, always check the labels and details mentioned on the back of the product.
3. Can we use expired tea tree oil?
Yes, of course. You can use expired tea, tree oil only for cleaning and household purposes. Never use expired oil on skin.
