Tips for Keeping Your Apothecary Neat

Tips for Keeping Your Herbal Apothecary Organized

A well-organized apothecary saves time, prevents waste, and makes your herbal practice safer. The goal is simple: you want to find what you need in seconds, know what’s fresh, and keep everything stored in a way that protects potency.

1) Organize by “how you think,” not how Pinterest thinks

Choose a system that matches how you reach for herbs. Common, practical options:

• By body system (digestive, respiratory, nervous, musculoskeletal, women’s health)

• By herbal action (nervines, carminatives, bitters, demulcents, diuretics, vulneraries)

• By form (dried herbs, tinctures, glycerites, oils, salves, essential oils, powders)

• By frequency of use (daily staples in front; occasional herbs higher/back)

Many people do a hybrid: form first, then action/system within each form. 

5) Store herbs correctly to protect potency

• Keep dried herbs cool, dark, and dry

• Avoid storage above the stove, near a dishwasher, or in direct sunlight

• Use airtight glass for most herbs; keep very aromatic herbs extra sealed

• Keep powders and resins tightly closed (they pull moisture)

6) Rotate stock with a simple “first in, first out” method

To prevent old herbs lingering:

• Put new jars behind old jars

• Or mark lids with a bold year

• Schedule a “freshness check” monthly or quarterly

7) Track inventory in a simple way (even if you hate spreadsheets)

Use whatever you’ll actually keep up with:

• A notebook with a running list

• A phone note with “buy again” staples

• A simple spreadsheet with: herb, form, amount, supplier, date, reorder point

Set reorder points for your core herbs to avoid running out mid-formula.

8) Keep a “daily staples” basket

Create a grab-and-go area for your most-used herbs and supplies:

• Your top 10–20 dried herbs

• Measuring tools, tea filters, labels, alcohol, glycerin

• Gloves and sanitizer for clean handling

This prevents you from having to dig through everything for the same items every week.

9) Create a formula log + a batch log (even for home use)

If you make blends or tinctures regularly, track:

• Formula name

• Ingredients and ratios

• Date made

• Notes on taste, effect, and adjustments

If you sell products, add batch numbers and label copies for compliance.

10) Use “kits” for specific purposes

This is one of the easiest ways to stay organized:

• Respiratory kit: mullein, thyme, elderflower, marshmallow, honey, tea filters

• First aid kit: calendula, plantain, arnica (topical), salve jars, bandages

• Sleep kit: lemon balm, chamomile, passionflower, tincture bottles

Kits reduce mental load and keep you consistent.

11) Don’t store everything together—separate by risk

• Separate external-use-only herbs clearly (e.g., arnica, certain essential oils)

• Keep “high caution” herbs on a distinct shelf with red labels

• Keep essential oils locked away from children/pets and clearly marked

12) Do a quick “apothecary reset” routine

A small routine prevents clutter from becoming chaos:

• 5 minutes after each session: close jars, wipe surfaces, return scoops

• Weekly: refill staples, empty trash, check moisture packets if used

• Monthly: inventory scan + discard anything questionable

13) Make it teachable

If you want your apothecary to be easy for someone else to use:

• Put a printed “map” of the shelf on the inside of a cabinet door

• Keep a master list of where things live

• Label shelves with category names

14) Decide on freshness standards and stick to them

Herbs don’t “go bad” in one day, but they do lose potency. A practical guideline many herbalists use:

• Leaves/flowers: best within ~1 year

• Roots/barks/seeds: often ~2 years (sometimes longer if stored well)

• Powders: lose potency faster; buy smaller amounts more often

Use smell, color, and vitality as your final check.