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