Fragrance oils are made from synthetic chemicals that are similar to those found in nature.
However, they are not biodegradable and therefore cannot be discarded with your regular household waste.
Instead, you need to find a way to properly dispose of these products so that they do not contaminate the environment.
There are plenty of steps to dispose of fragrance oils. Which one should you do?
Let me show you my experience to dispose of fragrance oils!
Contents
Why you should dispose of fragrance oils properly?
1. They contain toxic chemicals
The major reason you should properly dispose of fragrance oils is that they contain toxic chemicals.
The most common fragrance oil ingredients are benzyl acetate, limonene, and linalool.
If these chemicals are inhaled in large quantities over time, they can harm the central nervous system and the respiratory system.
They are also harmful to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes if they come into touch with them.
2. They are not biodegradable
Fragrance oils are not biodegradable. They are made from petrochemicals and these types of chemicals do not break down easily.
They can take many years to decompose and may never fully degrade in the environment. This is why they need to be disposed of properly when they are no longer needed.
How to Dispose of Fragrance Oils
1. Take them to your local hazardous waste disposal facility
You can dispose of fragrance oil by pouring it into a sealable container and taking it to a local hazardous waste disposal facility.
This facility has the equipment and resource to dispose of the oils properly. They will do the recycling process or reuse them into another material.
You can also check a drop-off point at your local hazardous waste disposal site. Usually, these are placed at strategic points such as parks, main roads, etc.
2. Pour in a safe place and let it evaporate
You can dispose of fragrance oil by pouring it into a safe place and letting it evaporate. The fragrance will eventually be absorbed into the air. Do this outside or in a well-ventilated area.
It is wise to dispose of fragrance oil on your back porch or patio. It should not be placed near any open flames or sources of heat as this could cause a fire.
You need to be careful about the area where you dispose of these oils, though. Pick an area that doesn’t have a lot of people around and isn’t easily accessible by children or pets.
3. Mix with an absorbent material, and throw it into the trash
You can get rid of fragrance oil by diluting it with an absorbent material and throwing it away.
The scent oils will be trapped and prevent them from evaporating.
If you have a small amount of expired fragrance oil to get rid of, fill a glass jar halfway with cat litter and pour the oil. The kitty litter will absorb any scent and liquid.
To get rid of a big amount of fragrance oil quickly, put it with cat litter or sawdust in a garbage bag. Tie the bag and put it in your trash container.
4. Contact your local waste management facility
Another option to dispose of your fragrance oils is by contacting your local waste management facility.
Waste management facilities will have specific guidelines for how to properly discard your product, but most likely it will involve taking it to a special collection center located near where you live.
They will dispose of the oil in an environmentally safe manner.
However, it is best to use this option if you have a large number of fragrance oils.
Most facilities will only accept large quantities because it’s not cost-effective to process small amounts.
5. Give them away
If you have some fragrance oils that you no longer want, try giving them to your friends or family.
They will be happy to take it off your hands, and it can help you avoid throwing away perfectly good products.
You could also donate the fragrance oils to a local charity or school. This is a great way to give back to the community.
6. Reuse them
Reusing fragrance oils is a proper way to dispose of them. This will save money, reduce waste, and help the environment.
If you have any extra fragrance oil, you can use it as a room freshener and add a few drops of it to water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on furniture, curtains, carpets, and other fabrics to make them smell good!
Sprinkle them near your garden pot and you can use them as an insect repellant.
You can also use fragrance oil as an air deodorizer. Just add 5-6 drops of the oil to one liter of water and spray on carpets and surfaces that need to be cleaned.
7. Sell it
To dispose of fragrance oil, you can simply sell them. You can sell them to other people who are interested in using them for their own purposes.
If you need to sell your fragrance oils, here are some tips on how to do it.
1) Make sure that the fragrance oil is in a good condition. You don’t want to sell something that will not be useful to others because of its state. The packaging should also be intact if you plan on shipping the product through mail or courier services.
2) Choose a platform where you can sell your fragrances online. There are many websites out there that allow sellers to post their products for sale and make some money in return. You can also create an ad in a local Facebook group.
8. Take them to the recycling center
A recycling center could help you to dispose of fragrance oils. They will process it into new useful objects without harming the environment.
You can also check the drop-off point of the recycling center in your area.
This is a good option if you’re trying to get rid of small amounts of fragrance oil.
How to Dispose of Fragrance Oils Bottle
When you finish using your bottle of fragrance oils, it’s important to dispose of it properly so that it doesn’t harm the environment or pose a threat to your health.
1. Take them to the recycling center
The best way to get rid of fragrance oils bottle is to recycle them. You can drop them off at your local recycling center, where they will be reused or recycled into new products.
You can also check the drop-off point of the recycling center in your area.
2. Reuse them
If you don’t want to recycle your fragrance bottles, there are many other things that you can do with them besides throwing them away.
You can use them as a vase or candle holder. You can also use the bottles to store other things like makeup and nail polish etc.
Put some rocks inside these bottles and they can be used as decorations around your home or on your patio.
What you should not do to dispose of fragrance oils
1. Do not pour fragrance oil down the drain
Disposing of fragrance oils by pouring them down the drain can lead to clogs and other problems.
Fragrance oils are similar to oil-based products. They will clog up the pipes and cause problems with your plumbing system. Not only will this be expensive to fix, but it could also lead to other health issues within your home.
2. Do not dispose of fragrance oils in any way that will cause them to leach into groundwater
If you are disposing of fragrance oils, it is important that they do not leach into groundwater.
They could harm the water and endanger the environment. If humans or animals consume this contaminated water, it could cause a health issue.
If people use this water to water the plants, this will interfere with plant growth.
Conclusion
Are you not sure what to do with your fragrance oils that have been opened?
Do you not want them taking up space in your storage?
Are they just too much of a hassle that you don’t know what to do with them?
I can help!
Let me show you how to dispose of fragrance oils without harming your environment!
- Take them to your local hazardous waste disposal facility
- Pour in a safe place and let it evaporate
- Mix with an absorbent material, and throw it into the trash
- Contact your local waste management facility
- Give them away
- Reuse them
- Sell it
- Take them to the recycling center
Read my other tips to dispose of bad eggs, matches, and lighters!
