Every Plant Extracts International product carries information indicating the date of manufacture (for example, “Made 06.16.21”) rather than the date of expiry; and our product stock number (for example, # 642). In addition, bottles of undiluted essential oil are marked with the Lot (Batch) #. While expiry dates are not always absolute or consistent because of differences in materials, use, and storage, we offer these guidelines:
BOTTLED ESSENTIAL OILS Unopened bottles of undiluted essential oil are given a minimum of one year expiry date. When a bottle of undiluted essential oil is opened for use, relevant hospital policy regarding expiry, safe use, and disposal of unused contents applies. The product is delivered by PEI with a tamper-evident seal, hence expiration can be set by your organization’s safety office, with a notational start date beginning with unsealing of the product, exposing it to air. From this point onward to emptying of the bottle, the manner in which the product is treated is outside the control of any supply chain entity (apart from the nurse/nurse practitioner or other entity in charge of administering the therapy), as is the time taken to use all the contents. Therefore, we would suggest that an arbitrary use-by date of, say, one month from the date of opening be set. After that time period, although the remaining contents are most likely unimpaired, there is no practical way to verify that the contents have not been exposed to excessive oxidation, temperature, or fluorescent light.
FORMULATED PRODUCTS Formulated products in a carrier base, such as massage oils, bath salts, and multi-purpose sprays, are given a minimum of one year expiry date when unopened. When a formulated product is opened for use, relevant hospital policy regarding expiry, safe use, and disposal of unused contents applies.
AETHEREO®STICKS Aethereo®Sticks are given a minimum of one year expiry date when sealed and unopened. When Aethereo®Sticks are unsealed, opened, and in use, trials indicate that a product life of about three months can be expected, depending upon frequency of use. 
Due to variations in aroma intensity, some will be effective for much longer than three months, and some for less. The variables to which the product may be exposed after opening will influence the length of time the essential oil in the Aethereo®Stick remains available.
STORAGE For safe storage of any of our bottled products (Essential Oils, Massage Oils, Sprays), bottles should be properly capped and kept upright at normal room temperature and away from heat and light, both sunlight and fluorescent light. Refrigeration is not necessary, as the major advantage in refrigerated storage is that the essential oils are protected from heat and light.
We recommend purchasing our products in quantities that give you a few weeks’ supply at most. Our just-in-time manufacturing practices make it unnecessary to overstock, assuring that your inventory is always as fresh as possible. This eliminates situations where newer stock may get put in front and older stock continues to age. Ordering frequently will ensure that you have the freshest and most efficacious products.
