How To Reuse Empty Essential Oil Bottles & Cleaning Them

Updated October 2026

To reuse empty essential oil bottles, soak them in hot, soapy water to remove the labels and clean out the leftover oil, then turn them into scented cotton balls, personal inhalers, mini reed diffusers, roller blends, travel containers and more. Any bottle with a little oil left inside is perfect for scent-only uses. Below I share how I clean them, 10 ways I reuse them, and a free printable label sheet. Jump to the 10 ideas.

If you've been using essential oils for a while, you probably have a pile of empty bottles. Please don't toss them! There's almost always a little oil left in the bottom, and the bottles are too useful to throw away.

Clean It or Keep the Leftover Oil?

First, decide how you'll use the bottle, because that tells you whether to clean the inside.

How To Clean Empty Essential Oil Bottles

If I'm cleaning a bottle inside and out, I do the outside first with the cap still on, then clean the inside and the parts in a separate soak. That keeps sticky label glue from getting inside the bottle.

Cleaning the outside (removing labels)

1. Peel off any labels that come off easily. If the glue peels off with them, even better.
2. Soak the capped bottles in a bowl of hot, soapy water for 15 to 20 minutes. Set a timer, because the glue hardens again as the water cools.
3. Rub off as much of the label and glue as you can.
4. For stubborn sticky spots, rub on a drop of lemon or orange essential oil with a gloved finger or old toothbrush, then wipe clean. Citrus oils are great at lifting sticky residue.
5. Or soak the bottles in equal parts water and rubbing alcohol for about an hour, and the residue should wipe right off.
6. Rinse well and towel dry.

Cleaning the inside

1. Remove the caps and orifice reducers.
2. Swirl a little rubbing alcohol in each bottle to loosen the oily residue, then pour it out.
3. Soak the bottles and parts in hot, soapy water for 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Scrub away any remaining residue with a small bottle brush or pipe cleaner.
5. Rinse everything well and let it air dry completely on a towel before using.

Dishwasher option: Glass bottles can go in the dishwasher on a normal cycle. Wash plastic caps and reducers by hand in hot, soapy water. Orifice reducers and rubber dropper bulbs wear out over time, so replace them if they're stained, cracked or still smell strongly.

10 Ways to Reuse Empty Essential Oil Bottles

The amounts below are for a 15 ml bottle, which holds about 1 tablespoon. I save my 5 ml bottles for sharing samples with friends and for travel.

Scent-Only Ideas (leftover oil welcome)

1. Scented Cotton Balls

For: Adults and kids 2+, depending on the oil that was in the bottle

Push 2 to 4 cotton balls into a bottle with a little oil left inside, cap it and let them soak up the scent overnight. Pull them out with tweezers and tuck them into shoes, dresser drawers, your suitcase, a car cup holder or the bottom of a trash can. Oils can stain fabric and finishes, so keep them on a small dish or in a bag where they might touch something.

2. Personal Aromatherapy Inhaler

For: Adults and kids 6+ (10+ if it held eucalyptus)

Place 2 cotton balls in a bottle with leftover oil and cap it. When you want a scent break, uncap it, hold it a few inches under your nose and breathe in slowly. I like lavender for winding down and orange or peppermint when I'm dragging. Never put the bottle inside your nose. Find more ideas in my essential oil inhaler blends.

3. Mini Reed Diffuser

For: Rooms used by adults and kids 2+. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

• 15 ml bottle, cleaned or with leftover oil
• Carrier oil to fill (I use fractionated coconut oil)
• 8 drops essential oil
• 2 or 3 reed sticks or skewers trimmed to fit

Method: Fill the bottle with carrier oil, add the essential oil and swirl. Add the reeds, let them soak, then flip them every few days to refresh the scent. For a full-size version, see how to make a reed diffuser. Place it where cats and dogs can't knock it over.

4. Premixed Diffuser Blend

For: Adults and kids 6+ (contains peppermint)

Love a certain diffuser blend? Mix it in advance. I like equal parts lavender, peppermint and frankincense in a 5 ml or 15 ml bottle. Use a clean bottle, or one that held one of the oils in your blend. Put the orifice reducer back on and label it. Then just add a few drops to your diffuser.

Skin and Bath Ideas (start with a clean bottle)

5. Massage Oil

For: Adults

• 15 ml (1 tablespoon) carrier oil, like grapeseed or sweet almond
• 3 to 6 drops essential oil (1 to 2%)

Method: Add the carrier oil with a small funnel, add the essential oil and shake gently. It's a perfect travel size for yourself or to share. Want more blends? Try my 22 aromatherapy massage oils.

6. Bath and Body Oil

For: Adults. For kids 6+, use 3 drops of a gentle oil like lavender or sweet orange.

• 15 ml (1 tablespoon) carrier oil, like jojoba
• 3 to 5 drops essential oil, like lavender for bedtime or sweet orange for a cheerful morning

Method: Combine, shake gently and swap on the orifice reducer for easy pouring. Smooth onto damp skin after a shower. For a bath, stir it into the water before you get in, and step out carefully, because oil makes the tub slippery.

7. Roller Blend

For: Depends on your oils. Check each oil's age guidelines.

Fill a clean bottle with carrier oil and essential oil, then press in a rollerball insert. Make sure the insert fits your bottle's neck snugly. For a 15 ml bottle, use 3 drops for 1% (face and sensitive skin), 6 drops for 2%, or 9 drops for 3% (everyday adult use on small areas). See my roller bottle recipes for blend ideas and my dilution chart for other sizes.

8. Single-Use Bath Salts

For: Adults

• 1 tablespoon Epsom salt
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil or castile soap
• 3 drops essential oil

Method: Stir the essential oil into the carrier oil or castile soap first, then add the salt with a small funnel and shake. Salt alone doesn't spread essential oils through water, so the carrier oil or soap is what keeps the oil from landing undiluted on your skin. Pour it into a foot bath or a bath and swish well. Get in and out carefully, since the tub may be slippery. For more ideas, see my bath salt recipes.

Around the House

9. Mini Vase for Flowers or Herbs

This is my favorite way to reuse bottles. Clean them well, wrap a little twine around the neck and add a cute label. Fill with water and add a few small flowers or herb sprigs. They look sweet on a windowsill, desk or bathroom counter.

10. Travel Containers

Clean bottles are just the right size for traveling with carrier oil, toner, a little lotion or your own blends. I always pack a bottle of jojoba oil. Label each bottle so you know what's inside.

Free Printable Essential Oil Bottle Labels

Dress up your reused bottles with my free label printable. No email required! I'd love it if you'd share this page on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram or X so others can enjoy it too. Download the free labels here.

When It's Time to Recycle

If a bottle is chipped or you just have too many, check your local recycling rules. Most programs accept clean glass. Plastic caps and orifice reducers often need to go in the trash, so separate them from the glass first.

Safety Tips for Reused Bottles

• Label every reused bottle with what's inside and the date.
• Use clean bottles and fresh oils for anything that touches your skin, and do a skin patch test with new blends.
• Follow age guidelines: no peppermint or rosemary under 6, and no eucalyptus under 10.
• Keep reed diffusers and scented cotton balls away from pets, especially cats.
• Never ingest essential oils, and store all bottles out of reach of children and pets.

Wondering whether that old bottle is still good? Here's how to tell if essential oils have expired.

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More Posts You'll Love

• Can I Use Expired Essential Oils?
• How to Choose Quality Essential Oils
• Glass Roller Bottles: Colored vs Clear Guide
• Roller Bottles vs Dropper Bottles
• 20 Essential Oil Cleaning Recipes

Need fresh bottles, rollerball inserts or labels? My Aromatherapy Supply Kits have everything you need, and my free essential oil guides are full of blend ideas.