Did you know that I love my Essential Oils? No? They changed my life and {more importantly} my beauty routine ;) But procuring an essential oils collection presents a certain challenge when it comes to storage. This is my proposal for the Ultimate Essential Oil Storage question. Keep reading for details on how you can make one too!
I’ve seen a lot of great answers to the storage dilemma from converted utensil drawer inserts to spice racks and even some great custom counter racks on Etsy. But none of them have really been just right for my concerns: protection from light (evaporation), protection from the glass clinking together, and a place big enough to store everything, including all the peripherals like glass dropper lids, empty bottles, sample bottles and roll-ons. To me, the answer was clear that I needed Super Husband to customize something for me.
Up until now, I’ve had little hoards of bottles huddled together throughout the house. I had originally bought a travel bag that carries 30 bottles, but it was cumbersome and unwieldy to get bottles in and out all the time. I ended up not putting them back in the bag. And let’s face it, I have amassed way more than 30 bottles. This is one of my EO vignettes previously found in the house. For shame!
Luckily, I also had a little desk/vanity I used to make a lot of my potions that was missing a drawer. That’s right, I bought a piece of furniture with a middle drawer missing because I loved the skirted flourishes, curved legs and little bench. Nevermind that it used to be fire-engine red. You’ve probably seen it in almost all of my posts now that it’s blue. It sits in my foyer and gets this amazing afternoon light. It’s just perfect for picture taking, but not EO storage. That is until Super Husband built me a drawer and these awesome inserts! It looks original, right? I just love the little mint-green milk glass knobs I got for it. But on to the project I promised you!
First, Super Husband measured and built a drawer for the empty space. Judge our bursting at the seams garage all you want. This man gets stuff done! And his hair looks pretty good doing it too, right?
Then, we measured the interior space and I decided how many bottles I wanted of each size. A design was born. Most 5mL bottles are exactly 7/8″ on the drill press. Which means we should have spaced out and drilled with a 1″ drill bit, but I was insistent they would fit. They will wobble a bit in a 1″ whole, or you could use the 7/8″ bit and have to do a LOT of sanding inside multiple tiny wholes (guilty). Now the 15mL bottle fit perfectly with the 1 1/4″ bit, which means we learned from our mistake my stubbornness and spaced for 1 1/2″ holes. All these were drilled into 1″ thick MDF. Super Husband also made me a sweet little divider for my roll-ons, dropper tops, sample bottles, etc.
Now for a dry fit of it all before the final paint job and glueing/nailing/screwing necessary to keep it all together long term. The two assistants seem dubious and insecure about the new addition.
After getting the inserts out to paint, we decided it would be a good idea to keep them just inserts rather than to secure them to the drawer. They fit super snug and won’t be sliding around like adjustable inserts and that way I can pull them out if I ever need to clean something up. I’m sure you can count but to save you the trouble, the final number of bottles this will fit is 56 15mL bottles and 18 5mL bottles. Plus a ton of roller bottles, sample bottles, dropper tops and all my other stuff. Woop!
So what do you think? Are you ready to find somebody with a drill press and convince them to make this for you? What other storage ides have worked for you? I need to stock up on ideas now so I can be ready when I have 100s of bottles. MOST IMPORTANTLY, What are your suggestions for organizing my oils? Alphabetical, by frequency of use, grouping similar oils (citrus, floral, etc)? I am lost on the best way to do that. Let me know in the comments how you would do it!
I love this idea. Can I borrow your husband for my honey do list? LOL
LOL! He is really racking up the requests on the rent-a-husband list. I’m afraid I need him too much for all my projects. I am strongly considering starting a 2nd blog called “Look What my Husband Made”. LOL. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment!
That’s hilarious! You know. i saw on the news that there are actually “RentaHusband” businesses out there for handy-man work. lol But I think you should have him make these essential oil drawer sets and sell them on your website!!! or etsy!!!
You aren’t the first person to suggest that Shana! I just don’t know if I could commit him to such an endeavor.
Darn! Well you are a lucky woman :) I love this idea. Thanks for sharing :)
Christie @ Practical Princess Diaries recently posted…Meal Planning
Agreed! You’re welcome.
This is f*ing brilliant. I am going to make my husband do this for me. LOVE IT and you’re NOT WRINKLED essential oil PAMPERED FACE!! ;) xo
ashley recently posted…Estate Sales
Hahaha! seriously, EO’s have so totally changed my skin care routine! I put Helichrysum in E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!
That is really cool. I would love to start getting into essential oils for the many benefits they give.
Gail Akeman recently posted…A Breakfast food my son loves
You’d love them Gail! Feel free to all me amy questions you have. Thanks for visiting!
Love that idea! Come share it at the party if you like. What’s great is even if someone isn’t into essential oils they can use the tutorial for storing nail polish. But, essential oils are better for you. I think I’ll be waiting a while we are working on our kitchen right now. Pinning for later.
Theresa @DearCreatives recently posted…Inspiration Spotlight Party #Linkup 113 Crafts DIY Decor Recipes
Thanks Theresa! Nail polish is a GREAT idea. I just got through commenting on your chicken Lol! We seem to be all synced up on our timing. Thanks for visiting again!
This is awesome! I’m sure my hubby could rig something like this up for me!…Or I could just steal his tools and try it myself! My sis-inlaw puts all hers in those hanging accessory holders (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhgv7DAehCE/UhALpfH8lPI/AAAAAAAAAkg/gSpjPPOM6jw/s200/BCF524850359_L_2.jpg) But that doesn’t protect from sunlight…she does keep it in a closet though!
I’ve seen those and they seem like a great idea. It just wasn’t very convenient for me. I was already making all my potions atty this little desk so it just works prefect for me. It brings a big ol’ smile to my face every time I open the drawer! Thanks for visiting and commenting. :)
Love, Love , Love! I think I need to borrow Super Husband;) My hubs is pretty handy, but we are lacking the tools for this particular project;(
Corrie recently posted…Miracle Acne & Scar Reducing Toner
Lol Corrie! Well a drill press is a pretty big tool to borrow, but I’m not quite ready to lend out my Husband. I need him to make me more stuff! Thank you for visiting and commenting.
Wow that turned out really good!! Super husband indeed :)
http://neatly-packaged.com/
Nancy recently posted…OBC: Day 2- Favorite Place
Thanks Nancy! He does a great job, I think I’ll keep him! Thanks for visiting.