How do you store your essential oils?

[Jenne]

Forgive me if this has already been addressed here at MW. I was wondering how you who deal with them store your essential oils in between use. I did like 4 doz bath bombs, 4 lbs of bath salts and 2 lbs of bath scrub this weekend. I have lots of oils left over, but storing them in my pantry is making the pantry stink, lol.

Thanks you guys!

:colorful:

[Calyx]

Hey hon, sounds like we did much of the same things this weekend! :colorful:
I have a big tupperware storage bin that I keep all of mine in--plus my soap molds, carrier oils, dye, etc. The whole bin reeks but it's better than having it all out somewhere, like the pantry :)
You can get them at Target, Wal-Mart etc. for about 4 bucks.

I haven't worked up to the bath bombs tho. They hard?

[Jenne]

Thanks Calyx! I was thinkin' along those lines.


Bath bombs are EASY! But the citric acid is $$$. You need it for the fizz, and now that I've done it, I know why bath bombs are so $$ themselves. That citric acid needs to be found cheap in BULK before you start (my friend saw a 32 oz jar of it for $3, and that is cheap as I paid 61 cents an OUNCE!). We were dumb and just knocked around town the day before we made it all getting the ingredients any old place. From now on, I'll shop around more!

It was fun, though. I saved a bomb back for myself for later this week! ;)

[Mnemosyne]

Ooohh, I want to make those fizzy bath bombs, Jenne. Could you possibly post how to make them or PM me about it. It would really make my day. :sunny:

How many essential oils do you have? I've never had any problems with storing some in the fridge. I do so to promote them staying fresh longer. But if you have a lot, perhaps you might want to take Calyx's idea. Gotta love those organization bins found at Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond. :d

[Calyx]

Jenne,
I want to learn how too! :lol:
First, obviously I have to get some citric acid. Have you checked out Camden-Grey's website or the Soap Goat's for pricing? How much should I be paying anyway?

[Hoot]

Yes, Jenne, me too - please share the recipe!

[Mnemosyne]

I'm actually really eager to make some fizzy bath bombs. I just looked up some recipes on google. Check out this site. It has pictures to go with each step.

http://megan.scatterbrain.org/notmartha/tomake/bathbombs.html

Another recipe.

http://essentialoil.com/bathbomb.html

[mothwench]

:boing: what a cool thread! count me in! :boing:

[FeatherGoblinglimmer]

I realise this is a bit of an ad i guess, and if someone wants to delete it then fine. But i love this shop. They do bath bombs and bubble bar slices and solid shampoo and conditioner and stuff.. I am quite addicted. Just thought i would share it cos they rock in my opinion. They use all natural ingredients and don't ever test on animals...Oh, they're soaps are gorgeous too.

www.lush.com (http://www.lush.com)

[Calyx]

I realise this is a bit of an ad i guess, and if someone wants to delete it then fine. But i love this shop. They do bath bombs and bubble bar slices and solid shampoo and conditioner and stuff.. I am quite addicted. Just thought i would share it cos they rock in my opinion. They use all natural ingredients and don't ever test on animals...Oh, they're soaps are gorgeous too.

www.lush.com (http://www.lush.com)

Honey, I would NEVER delete an ad for Lush!!! Their stuff is sooooo awesome!!! You are right, they do rock! Now, if only they would build stores in the states.... I have to order from Canada, but I also picked up a lot when I was in the UK last year. The airport security looked very suspicious of all those bath bombs!
Amandapondo rules! :colorful:

[Calyx]

I'm actually really eager to make some fizzy bath bombs. I just looked up some recipes on google. Check out this site. It has pictures to go with each step.

http://megan.scatterbrain.org/notmartha/tomake/bathbombs.html

Another recipe.

http://essentialoil.com/bathbomb.html


I am going to check those out this weekend! Let me know if you try them and how they turn out! :floating:

[FeatherGoblinglimmer]

Calyx, Lush has a online order site for the US. Just check out my link:)

[Hoot]

Oh yay! Thanks for posting that, Mnemosyne! And the Lush link, too, FeatherGoblinglimmer.

Getting back to Jenne's original question, I store scented oils with clothing and linens in my bedroom, bath, and linen closet - they smell great, and some of them (like lavender) even help to repel moths, silverfish, etc.; generally I do keep almond, orange, peppermint, etc. - those that I use very sparingly in cooking - with spices in my kitchen pantry.

[Brenna Fey]

Do you have to store oils in the 'fridge? I keep mine in a dark cabinet. Does refrigeration keep them longer?

[Mnemosyne]

Do you have to store oils in the 'fridge? I keep mine in a dark cabinet. Does refrigeration keep them longer?

You don't have to store oils in the fridge, but it does help them last longer.

Oohhh, I want to go to Lush so bad. I saw the store featured on the Style Channel about nine months. It looks like so much fun.

[Jenne]

Sorry Guys...I spaced! LOL Forgot about this thread!

LOVE Lush! Bought TONS of their stuff while in BC about 5 years ago.

Ok here's my bathbomb recipe:

Bath Bombs

1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 cup citric or ascorbic acid
1/8 cup epson salt
1/2 cup olive oil
20 to 28 drop fragrance oil


Mix very well. Add UP to 1/2 of a cup of olive oil, until the
consistency of pastry dough. Add 20 to 28 drops
fragrance oil if you want them scented. Put on cookie
sheet and put wax paper down. Form into small, golf-
sized balls, and Store in cellophane wrapper, and then
put in glass jar for each scent you make.

*******************************************
And here are the other 2 recipes I used this past weekend--Enjoy!:

Do It Yourself Bath Salts

1 cup Epsom salt
1 cup Sea salt
1/2 cup Baking soda
Fragrance optional, 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon essential or Fragrance Oils as desired
Combine all ingredients with wire wisk. If your salt is a large crystal type, grind your salt first in a food processor until it is finely grained.

Store in a large zip-lock bag



Directions for use: Use about 1/3 cup per bath


Cleansing Body Polish

1/2 cup fine sea salt
1/4 cup Jojoba Oil or other body oils(olive oil works fine)
1/4 cup handcrafted soap( finely grated)
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon essential or Fragrance Oil
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. store in a small plastic jar that you can keep in the shower.

This scrub acts as a cleanser, scrub and moisturizer all in one.

Directions for use: Use this in the shower on dry skin(otherwise the salt melts instead of scrubs). Rub and scrub anywhere you need to exfoliate and moisturize.



*********************

As for prices for citric acid, I have no clue! I just know that the prices *I* paid were horrendous! 61 cents an oz!!

Someone recently gave me some links to some mail order online stores for this stuff...here they are:
http://www.naturalselectionbathandbody.com/soap_supplies.html

and

http://www.mystifyyoursenses.com/

HTH guys!

[Hoot]

:hugz: Thanks Jenne!

[Mnemosyne]

Thanks for the recipes, Jenne! :)

[Calyx]

Calyx, Lush has a online order site for the US. Just check out my link:)

Will do, Feather! I may make my own stuff but I can't resist Lush products..... :floating:

[Calyx]

Jenne,
Thanks so much for the recipes! I will see if I can dig up some to "trade" you! :lol:

I think I can get citric acid at Hobby Lobby and I am going there tomorrow. Hooray! :colorful:

[serenarian]

I store mine in a dark wood box under my bed. :)

[MoonRaven]

I only have one bottle of essential oil, and it's rosemary, and it sits on the counter in the bathroom for whenever I want to drop some in the bath. I have meant to buy more, but they're expensive, and we don't have the money for it right now.

The last time I bought citric acid, I got it from the drug store, and it wasn't all that expensive... I used it in grade school when we were talking about the whole molecular makeup of crystals and how you could grow salt cubes and stuff - I grew a little citric acid crystal (they look like rupees from Zelda, but clear).