Many use therapeutic grade essential oils (EO) to enhance the flavor of foods and beverages. While some EOs make great flavoring agents, it is important to know that they can be highly aggressive towards certain types of plastics many of which are frequently used in the very bottles and containers we use for storage. Recently, we did an experiment to show just how corrosive essential oils can be if not paired with the right storage material. We will also show you great alternatives that can help you avoid the ingestion of harmful chemicals.
Setting Up the Experiment
Our experiment involved doTERRA's lemon essential oil and a generic party cup we purchased from Albertsons. Lemon EO is one of the cheaper and more widely available essential oils. It is frequently used in cooking or for enhancing the flavor of beverages. It's basically a byproduct of the citrus industry, and is usually either expressed mechanically or cold-pressed, both of which are methods far more cost-effective than distillation or solvent extraction.
We matched doTERRA's oil against a disposable cup mainly because these two could potentially interact with each other in a real life situation. The cup featured a category 6 recycling stamp on the bottom as well as a PS marking signaling that it was made from Polystyrene. Polystyrene, even before we made it interact with the EO, has had a poor track record of safety. According to Life Without Plastic, food containers made from PS can leach styrene, which is a human carcinogen, that has shown adverse effects on genes, lungs, liver, and the immune system. Lots of bad stuff that we expected to be only amplified during the experiment.
doTERRA Lemon V. Party Cup
For the sake of visuals we did not dilute the EO. We do understand that this may not represent a real life scenario, however it does demonstrate the kind of chemical reaction and accelerated degradation that occurs between a potent EO and Polystyrene. A diluted solution would have had similar results except it may have taken longer and may have been less spectacular, however, the same chemical reaction would have occurred at the molecular level.
Now, for the experiment, we turned the cup upside down and put 16 drops of doTERRA's lemon essential oil into the small indentation of the cups bottom letting it completely saturate the coin-sized surface. Our camera was rolling, and we just let the EO and gravity do their job. After only 30 minutes we started seeing significant degradation and the beginning stages of liquefying of the plastic, and in a little less than 1 hour and 10 minutes the bottom completely caved in. The reaction also produced some gasses similar to when Polystyrene is overheated to the point when it starts melting.
How to Consume Essential Oils Safely
Having seen the potency of essential oils users may rightfully ask what precautions they should take to ensure that infused meals and beverages are safe for consumption. First and foremost, read the labels! Only ingest essential oils that are meant to be taken internally. A full list of FDA-approved EOs for internal consumption is available here, and as David Wolfe points out on his blog:
“The biggest mistake someone can do is to use too much or consume them too often. It is important to treat essential oils as antibiotics or over-the-counter medication. Use sparingly and consult a doctor.”
Second, make sure you use a container that can safely store essential oil infused foods and beverages: glass and silicone are a good start, both of these materials have been known not to react with essential oils.
Our Bottles Work with EOs
Many beverage bottles, even the ones that are made from glass, may have plastic caps, lids, and straws. We designed the Meshbottle to be a completely plastic-free, non-metallic bottle that is capable of storing beverages in a glass environment up to 99.9%. It is built from only two materials: glass and food safe silicone. The Meshbottle is a great alternative for those who are trying to move away from plastics and plastic chemicals, and yes, it works with essential oils.
Model Nr.: MB125BOE ǀ UPC: 760412714536
Our most advanced Meshbottle featuring CocktailMode(TM): Tiny neodymium magnets will help you secure the straw top while you enjoy your favorite beverage, just like you would from a cocktail glass. Elegant, sturdy, and plastic-free, this Meshbottle sports a super high quality borosilicate glass straw, vertical carrying handle, and an air-valve for pressure regulation. Perfect as a casual hydration vessel for the office or as a sports bottle at the gym.
Features:
CocktailMode(TM): Tiny magnets secure the straw top while you sip your favorite beverage, similar to a cocktail glass.
High quality, thick borosilicate glass straw for purity and safety.
Food-safe silicone straw bumper to protect the glass straw inside the bottle.
FREE straw cleaning brush included.
Signature silicone mesh sleeve for impact resistance and color options.
Glass bottle made in USA.
Compatible with cup holders equal or larger than 4.1" in diameter. Check measurements: This bottle might be too wide for your standard cup holder!
Specifications:
Capacity: 32 fl. oz.
Weight (empty): 22.95 oz.
Dimensions: 3.45" x 3.45" x 10.50”
Small Parts Warning / Choking Hazard: Not for children under 3 years.
Ships to the following countries:
Model Nr.: MB115PPE ǀ UPC: 650045837187
Upgrade to the Glass Top and you will be ready to enjoy your beverages in their purest form. Thanks to a small glass insert, this bottle has the ability to lock your beverages in pure glass from top to bottom. The glass piece can be removed, which makes the cap easy to clean (see video below). The cap has a non-threaded, twist-free construction.
Features:
Glass/silicone cap design ensures superior purity for beverages, prevents contact with common plastics.
Mesh cozy features 360-degree, full body, interlocking pattern for increased elasticity and easy removal for cleaning.
Silicone handle snaps back to horizontal position when not in use.
Glass bottle made in USA.
Compatible with cup holders equal or larger than 4.1" in diameter. Check measurements: This bottle might be too wide for your standard cup holder!
Specifications:
Capacity: 32 fl. oz.
Weight (empty): 21.6 oz.
Dimensions: 3.45" x 3.45" x 9.25"
Download our Printable Quick Start Guide for Useful Tips and Tricks.
Ships to the following countries:
Model Nr.: MB105OGN ǀ UPC: 760412714345
This bottle allows the beverage to be stored in a plastic-free environment and is a champion when it comes to cleaning. The cap can turn inside out, making it amazingly easy to get rid of residue (see video below). Silicone is inert and water repellent, which helps prevent the cap from becoming moldy. The cap has a non-threaded, twist-free construction.
Features:
Silicone cap design prevents beverage from contact with common plastics.
Mesh cozy features 360-degree, full body, interlocking pattern for increased elasticity and easy removal for cleaning.
Silicone handle snaps back to horizontal position when not in use.
Glass bottle made in USA.
Compatible with cup holders equal or larger than 4.1" in diameter. Check measurements: This bottle might be too wide for your standard cup holder!
Specifications:
Capacity: 32 fl. oz.
Weight (empty): 21.2 oz.
Dimensions: 3.45" x 3.45" x 9.13"
Download our Printable Quick Start Guide for Useful Tips and Tricks.
Ships to the following countries: