Shelf Life of Essential Oils
Estimated shelf life of some popular essential oils
Essential oil name and Latin name
Estimated shelf life
Basil (sweet) Ocimum basilicum
3 years
Bergamot Citrus bergamia
3 years
Cedarwood Juniperus virginiana
6+ years
Cinnamon Bark Cinnamomum verum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum
4 years
Chamomile, German Matricaria recutita
4 years
Clary Sage Salvia sclarea
4 years
Fennel (sweet) Foeniculum vulgare
3 years
Frankincense Boswellia frereana, Boswellia papyrifera, Boswellia sacra (Boswellia carteri), Boswellia serrata, Boswellia neglecta, Boswellia rivae
2 years
Geranium Pelargonium roseum x asperum
4 years
Ginger Zingiber officinale
6 years
Juniper Berry Juniperus communis
3 years
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
4 years
Lemon limon, Citrus limonum
1 year
Lime aurantifolia, Citrus x latifolia
2 years
Melissa Melissa officinalis
3 years
Myrrh Commiphora myrrha, Commiphora molmol
6 years
Orange (sweet) Citrus sinensis, Citrus aurantium var. sinensis
1 year
Oregano Origanum onites, Origanum vulgare, Thymbra capitata
3 years
Patchouli Pogostemom cablin, Pogostemon patchouly
10+ years
Pepper (black) Piper nigrum
6 years
Peppermint Mentha x piperita
4 years
Rose (otto) Rosa damascena
6 years
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis ct camphor
3 years
Sandalwood (East Indian) Santalum album
6+ years
Spearmint Mentha cardiaca, Mentha crispa, Mentha viridis
4 years
Tea Tree Melaleuca alternifolia
2 years
Vetiver Vetiveria zizanoides, Andropogon muricatus, Andropogon zizanoides, Chrysopogon zizanoides, Phalaris zizanoides
6+ years
Wintergreen Gaultheria fragmentissima, Gaultheria procumbens
6 years
Ylang Ylang Cananga odorata
4 years
Essential oil name and Latin name
Estimated shelf life
Basil (sweet) Ocimum basilicum
3 years
Bergamot Citrus bergamia
3 years
Cedarwood Juniperus virginiana
6+ years
Cinnamon Bark Cinnamomum verum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum
4 years
Chamomile, German Matricaria recutita
4 years
Clary Sage Salvia sclarea
4 years
Fennel (sweet) Foeniculum vulgare
3 years
Frankincense Boswellia frereana, Boswellia papyrifera, Boswellia sacra (Boswellia carteri), Boswellia serrata, Boswellia neglecta, Boswellia rivae
2 years
Geranium Pelargonium roseum x asperum
4 years
Ginger Zingiber officinale
6 years
Juniper Berry Juniperus communis
3 years
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
4 years
Lemon limon, Citrus limonum
1 year
Lime aurantifolia, Citrus x latifolia
2 years
Melissa Melissa officinalis
3 years
Myrrh Commiphora myrrha, Commiphora molmol
6 years
Orange (sweet) Citrus sinensis, Citrus aurantium var. sinensis
1 year
Oregano Origanum onites, Origanum vulgare, Thymbra capitata
3 years
Patchouli Pogostemom cablin, Pogostemon patchouly
10+ years
Pepper (black) Piper nigrum
6 years
Peppermint Mentha x piperita
4 years
Rose (otto) Rosa damascena
6 years
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis ct camphor
3 years
Sandalwood (East Indian) Santalum album
6+ years
Spearmint Mentha cardiaca, Mentha crispa, Mentha viridis
4 years
Tea Tree Melaleuca alternifolia
2 years
Vetiver Vetiveria zizanoides, Andropogon muricatus, Andropogon zizanoides, Chrysopogon zizanoides, Phalaris zizanoides
6+ years
Wintergreen Gaultheria fragmentissima, Gaultheria procumbens
6 years
Ylang Ylang Cananga odorata
4 years