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How Temperatures Affect Essential Oils

How Temperatures Affect Essential Oils

Mail BoxAs winter storms begin to affect us, don't worry if your essential oils are delivered in cold weather, even if they have to sit outside for a good while. Cold or freezing temperatures will not harm oils, whether they are distilled, CO2 extracted, expressed, absolutes or a carrier. If your oils are ever chilled to the freezing point, our suggestion is to keep the caps on and let them warm up gradually to room temperature. They should be fine.Temperature

While I'm covering the temperature topic, we have friends in the deep south who want to know about the effects of heat on the essential oils. While we make every attempt to protect our essential oils from excessive heat, there are some simple things we can do to minimize compromizing the therapeutic value. The flash point of some essential oils is between 100-140F (38-60C), which means that the lightest oil components may temporarily separate, vaporizing in the sealed bottle. The good news is that once the bottle has cooled back down, these components condense and become liquid again, leaving their chemical makeup unaltered. If your essential oils get too warm, keep the caps on until they have cooled back down to room temperature. If you must open a bottle that is too warm, the lightest compounds may escape and alter the balance of the oil. In that case, your oil will likely not be as effective as before the incident.

Citrus FruitExpressed oils such as Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime (although our Lime is distilled) Mandarin, Orange and Tangerine can be damaged by temperatures in excess of 100F (38C), and they need to be kept in moderate temperatures. Blends with these oils in them are included. We try to keep our citrus oils and blends that contain them in temperatures we feel comfortable in. If they have been subjected to temperatures over 90F, allow them to cool down before removing the caps. If damaged, they will smell different than when they were fresh, and the damage will reduce their therapeutic value and may cause skin irritation. Refrigeration extends shelf life.

Absolutes fragrances, such as Jasmine, are destroyed by excessive heat (90F or 32C). They are slightly more sensitive to heat than expressed oils. Normal room temperatures help them maintain their delicate chemistry. Refrigeration extends shelf life.

Carrier oils are typically cold pressed because heat makes them susceptible to undesirable alteration. When fatty oil molecules break down, we say they have become "rancid." Blends that contain carrier oils should be kept reasonably cool. Refrigeration extends shelf life.

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Reference
https://roberttisserand.com/2013/07/lemon-on-the-rockskeep-your-essential-oils-cool/

7 Newsletter Comments

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas (belated) and a Happy New Year to you and your family. May the Lord bless you in this coming year with much wisdom, grace, protection, joy and provision. Thank you for all your hard work and for providing great quality oils at such affordable prices. You are a blessing to us!
Anastasia.

Thank you for this very helpful information.
Claudia

Thank you Linda, this is very valuable information, especially since we deal with extreme heat during the summer and I am always leary of anything sitting on the mail truck or in my mailbox during that time of year (which can be up to 1/2 the year). We use jojoba oil as a carrier, which I believe does not go rancid, though I would still try and keep it from undue exposure to heat. The information on the cold temps is good to know too, in case I ever have to deal with that. :)
Debbie

Thanks so much for these INFORMATIVE e-mails, Linda! YOU and your team are a BLESSING to us! : )
Robert

Thanks for this information! It is very considerate of you.
Carol

Thank you for the great information!
Lynn

Thank you so much for this information! It's very helpful and you obviously know so much about what you do and care deeply. A friend recommend your oils to me and I ordered for the first time a few weeks ago, I have been very impressed with the quality and I always love supporting a local, family owned business. Keep doing what you do, it makes a difference!
Marcy

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May the Lord guide you continually, preserving your health and watering your life when you are dry. May you be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring full of hope for your future in His care.
From Isaiah 58:11 & Jeremiah 29:11