Buying a quality RSO product is only part of the process. How you store it can also affect its condition, appearance, consistency and overall shelf life.
RSO products can be sensitive to factors such as heat, light, moisture and air. Whether you have purchased a bottle of oil, a concentrated product or another oil-based formulation, following sensible storage practices can help you keep the product in good condition.
In this guide, we’ll look at some simple ways to store oil products properly at home.
One of the simplest storage rules is to keep RSO products away from direct sunlight.
Extended exposure to light can contribute to the degradation of certain compounds in oil products. For this reason, storing your product somewhere dark is generally preferable to leaving it on a windowsill, countertop or other location exposed to strong sunlight.
A kitchen cupboard, drawer or another suitable dark storage area can be a practical option.
If your product comes in dark or opaque packaging, keep it in its original container whenever possible.
Temperature is another important consideration.
Avoid leaving oil products near radiators, heaters, ovens, hot appliances or in locations that become particularly warm during the day.
Excessive heat can affect the consistency, appearance and stability of some oil-based products.
A cool, stable environment is generally preferable.
You don’t necessarily need complicated storage equipment. In many situations, a normal household cupboard away from heat and sunlight can provide a suitable environment.
Air exposure is another factor worth considering.
Whenever you have finished using your RSO product, make sure the product is properly closed. Leaving a product open unnecessarily can expose its contents to air and potentially introduce contaminants.
A tightly closed product also helps prevent accidental spills and keeps the product protected between uses.
Bathrooms may seem like a convenient place to keep personal products, but they can experience significant changes in temperature and humidity.
For oil products, a dry storage location is generally more appropriate.
Keep containers away from sinks, showers and other areas where water or excessive humidity may come into contact with the packaging.
Whenever possible, store your product in its original packaging.
The original packaging may contain useful information such as the product name, batch information, ingredients, storage instructions and best-before information where applicable.
Keeping this information available can be especially useful if you own several different RSO products.
Avoid transferring products into unlabelled containers, as this can make it difficult to identify what is inside.
