If you’re like me, then you don’t like to waste anything. So when I go through an entire glass bottle of oil (which happens often) I instantly start thinking of what I can do with that empty little bottle! Here are 7 Ways to Reuse Essential Oils Bottles.
But, first, we need to wash them:
How to Wash Empty Essential Oil Bottles (+ How to Easily Remove the Label)
Before you reuse your essential oil bottles for a new purpose, make sure to clean them out. I was so surprised the first time I washed one of my bottles to find that the label comes off very easily. Here are the steps I use to wash the bottles:
- Run some warm water into a clean bowl and use some gentle castile soap or your favorite hand soap.
- Remove the lid and orifice (reducer insert) and place those in the water to soak.
- Place the empty bottle into the water. Let it soak for 5 minutes.
- Remove the label by finding the seam and starting there. Use the soapy water to remove any residue. (If any residue remains then use a drop of Lemon essential oil on the bottle and rub with your fingers. Rinse completely.)
- Remove the bottle, lid, and orifice from the water, rinse and allow to dry completely before reusing.
Now that our empty bottles are clean, it’s time for the fun part!
7 Easy Ways to Reuse Essential Oil Bottles:
- Since you emptied the bottle it’s probably an essential oil you really like, so refill the bottle halfway from the new bottle you purchased and store the refilled bottle in your purse to carry with you wherever you go. Now you have two bottles of your favorites, one at home and one for on-the-go!
- Wash and remove the label from the bottle (see tips on this above) and make your own beauty blend for overnight trips. This would be great for the overnight facial moisturizer or other liquid blends you love.
- Clean the bottle and fill with your favorite essential oil blend mixed with fractionated coconut oil to make your own roller blend. All you have to do is insert an AromaGlide roller fitment (see how here!) and you have an on-the-go roller blend. My kids all have their own blend and they love to ask for them when we’re out of the house. So this is perfect for keeping them on hand when you really need them. See tips on making Bedtime Roller Blends for Kids here.
- Fill the bottle with 10 – 20 drops of your favorite essential oil, and give it to a friend to share the joy of essential oils. Or save the empty bottles for when you want to deliver a special mixture to a friend who needs an extra boost or deliver some essential oils to a friend who might be waiting for their next Loyalty Rewards order to arrive.
- Before washing the bottle, add a little bit of distilled water (or water appropriate for your diffuser) to the empty EO bottle, and then pour it into your diffuser. This is a great way to get the last little bits of the precious oils out and still be able to get some aroma benefits from them! Use 2 or 3 different bottles to create a great EO combo. We’ve got a number of amazing Diffuser Blend Recipes here!
- I’ve heard lots of people say that before they rinse and wash their bottles they like to store them open in a big jar of Epsom salt. The Epsom salt absorbs all the remaining essential oils in the bottle. Then remove the oil bottles to use the Epsom salt in a glorious bath with all your favorite oils all blended together. See our Peaceful Milk Bath recipe here.
- My favorite trick is to store empty bottles of essential oils open in a basket in my bathroom. (Because if there’s any room in my house that needs some more pleasing aromatherapy it’s the bathroom.) Then I switch that out when I have a new empty bottle and the room is always filled with a hint of oils. (And, if that’s not enough, then start using our homemade Bathroom Poo Spray!)
There are so many ways to reuse essential oil bottles when they’re empty. We hope that you use your imagination and find fun ways to repurpose your bottles.
How do you reuse your empty essential oil bottles?
New to essential oils? Learn more about how we use them and why you should use them as well.
Mona Angel Wells says
How to clean the sraying bottles. They don’t spray and still have oils in them?
Loved you comment that you shared above. Thanks
Beth K says
Hey there, Mona! I’m not sure which spray bottles you’re talking about, but it sounds like you might need to clean out those spray nozzles with some hot running water. Sometimes that helps unclog them.
Amy S says
Hi, just wanted to let you know I think I just discovered my go-to aromatherapy site! Keep up the great work 🙂
Beth K says
Thanks for dropping in, Amy! 😉
Chia says
Hi,
If I am refilling a 5ml empty EO bottle from a 15ml, same EO, can i just drop it in directly without washing the bottle?
(So glad I found your blog)
Thanks
Beth K says
Hi Chia!
I wouldn’t wash it if I were just pouring in more of the same oil. I do this all the time with my Peppermint and Lavender I keep in my purse. 🙂
SUZANNE HARE says
I am new to Essential Oils; this site has a wealth of information and is well laid out. Thank you.
It is one of my favourites!
cindy says
Agreed~ I’m always on and off the web looking up something about essential oils and this is the first time I’ve come across this site! It will be my first ‘go to’ in the future. Thank you