ways to keep products from going off..

Very happy to have found this forum-there is enough reading on a host of fascinating subjects and topics to keep one engaged for ages!
I have always been interested in essential oils and used them for over 20 years...
I am curious if people have any good tips about how they keep their home made products from going off? From lotions and balms to salves to face creams and washes- I would love to get input from others who share this interest..thanks a lot..membal

[FruitLoop]

I tend to find that it's best to make products in small quantities and use them up in a short time frame, or make one-offs. Home-made products don't have the chemicals and preservatives that conventional ones have, so they just won't keep very well.

Salt and sugar based products keep for a while, but are more for body scrubs. Carrier oils can help preserve a little longer, due to the high anti-oxidant content (but still won't preserve MUCH longer) and citrus can also prevent oxidisation and prolong the shelf life a bit. Keeping in the fridge can also help!

[sea-dove]

I often will put a few drops of vit E in products I make as Ive heard that helps (as of cause vit E is an anti-oxidant).

Also as the other said, dont make a lot up at once.

Fruitloop and sea-dove thank you both for your responses and great suggestions...
I have used grapefruit seed extract, vitamin e, salt, jojoba and almond oil and apricot kernel oil for those purposes..
Do people think that in order to have a shelf life of up to a year or beyond then it is only possible with the use of some kind of preservative? And if so, what are some of the ones people have used? For along with a friend we are intending to have a small amount of products that we would like to sell and most grateful for any ideas or suggestions people have about this..

[FruitLoop]

Yes, chemicals and preservatives are what boost the shelf life of conventional products. The shelf life of a totally natural product could be anywhere from 1 day to a few months, depending on the type of product. A salt scrub will last longer than an egg or avocado based product (as an example).

The people who are looking to buy this type of product should know that it has a very short shelf life. You should state this very clearly if you intend to sell it though, some people may be ignorant to the fact

Oil-based and sugar/salt-based products will last the longest, so if you're looking at solid products, bath oil, bath melts, salt or sugar scrubs you will probably get a year out of those with careful preparation, keeping water out of their environment and using anti-microbial oils - bear in mind the use-by date of the original carrier oil and that oxidisation, water exposure and storing in clear bottles can cause faster degeneration.

Take a look at the brand 'LUSH' - nice products, short shelf life. They do use 2 preservatives though, methylparaben and propylparaben.

Thank you FruitLoop for your invaluable information and pardon my tardiness in getting back to you-You obviously know your stuff very well, it is much appreciated!
And as you suggested, of course we would be very upfront about a very short shelf life, people deserve to know this and it is only right..actually I don't even have much of a mercantile bent, it is more for the enjoyment of working with wonderful essences, the pleasure I get as I unleash my inner alchemist and to be able to give these things to family and friends that is my reason for wanting to do so-anything even slightly commercial would be a long way off...