How to use up old essential oils

There are times when we all get a bit over-enthusiastic about something new. I remember many years ago when I subscribed to an aromatherapy publication that offered a free bottle of (low quality, diluted) essential oil with every issue. I ended up with dozens of bottles of the stuff, many with fragrances I didn't like and purposes I had no need for.

Many of them, of course, ended up being binned (though now I look back, it would probably have been better to have at least recycled the bottles, which were good quality brown glass).

I've also bought individual bottles of essential oil - this time the real 100% pure essential oil that you need if you're serious about aromaTherapy - not used them up before they were past their best, and then not really known what to do with them.

Now I know.

The more pleasant smelling ones can just be used as an ambient fragrance in an oil diffuser (this much I worked out for myself). Though they may not have much in the way of therapeutic value, they can raise your mood just by making the place smell nice. But some oils don't smell nice enough to be used in this way, unless you LIKE your home to smell like a hospital or a church.

When I was researching some detail for my article on the uses of tea tree oil recently, I came across a mention of a treatment to remove that musty smell you sometimes get on fabrics that have been stored in a damp place: Add 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil (old oil is fine) to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Use to spray the smelly item, and leave it to air for 2-3 days. When you come back, you should find the smell is gone for good - at least unless you put it back in the same damp cupboard.

You can use a similar mixture as a general disinfectant, only this time use 25 ml of tea tree oil to each 2 cups of water. This is approximately a 5% dilution, and is strong enough to tackle even MRSA! Lavender aromatherapy oil can also be used in a similar way, though I've seen no research on its effectiveness with this particular bug.

If you're interested in other home made cleaners, you might find this article interesting: Avoid Toxic Household Cleaners by Making Your Own for Pennies