How To Choose An Essential Oil
Disclaimer: The following information has not been approved by the FDA. This information should not be interpreted as medical advice and is not a substitute for a visit with a medical care professional. Always speak to your doctor about any health concerns.
Essential oils are quickly gaining popularity these days. Because there are so many new companies coming into the market, and so much conflicting information, it can be difficult to make safe and wise choices when choosing an oil for purchase.
When the word “oil” is used people typically think of plant sourced fats such as canola, corn, or sunflower oils. Actually, essential oils are fragrant, concentrated extracts that have been removed from either the roots, leaves, seeds or blossoms of a plant. They are produced by plants for two reasons: protection and attraction. The differences in the mix of chemical constituents are what give each plant its own distinctive aroma and therapeutic benefit.
As stated above, essential oils are concentrated! Most consumers have no idea of the vast amounts of plant material needed to produce a small bottle. This is a point worth emphasizing, so I have included some eye opening statistics for the production of rose essential oil. Also note that the rose blossoms used for this oil are handpicked!
- 1,400,000 rose blossoms = 1 liter of essential oil
- 40,000 rose blossoms = 1 ounce of essential oil
- 67 rose blossoms = 1 drop of essential oil
These figures apply only to rose blossoms. Plant material required to produce essential oils varies tremendously. This ratio is often reflected in the price of the oil. Obviously a plant that offers a smaller yield per pound will cost substantially more.
Choosing The Best Essential Oil Brand
Essential oils are a rapidly growing business. That makes selecting a brand confusing as there are so many companies to choose from. Beware of the false marketing claims used by some companies and their sales reps. An example of this is the use of the term “certified pure therapeutic grade”.
Why is this term deceptive?
- There is no agency that “certifies” essential oils. This is solely a marketing ploy.
- There are no legal requirements for an essential oil product labeled “pure” in the US.
- The term “therapeutic grade” is also misleading. No standards exist within professional aromatherapy organizations defining the authentication or performance of the oils.
This is one area where a low price doesn’t necessarily mean a good deal. Quality oils can be expensive. Remember that you only use drops at a time. Those little bottles will last much longer than you would think!
Check out our enormous array of pure, potent, top-quality essential oils. We carefully screen all of the brands we carry, so you can be sure you’re getting the best, every time!
Adulteration & Contamination
Look for an essential oil company that either does its own testing or has third party testing. The equipment needed for these tests is expensive so few companies provide this safety assurance. Why is testing important? Because of the distinct possibility of adulteration and contamination.
- Contamination is typically caused by pesticide and/or herbicide residues present in the oil. This is a good reason to only buy organic or wild crafted oils.
- Adulteration means a substance has been added that modifies the composition of the essential oil. Sometimes oils are adulterated with a cheaper oil that has a similar scent. Some companies add synthetic fragrances to standardize a product to meet the consumer’s expectation of that scent. It isn’t uncommon for a company to include jojoba oil as an extender for expensive oils. Because this can happen at both the production and wholesale level it is important to buy your oils from a company that provides batch testing of all their oils and is one you trust to protect the integrity of its products.
Check Out the Bottle
An essential oil company should have well labeled bottles that contain at least the following information:
- Common Name and Latin Botanical Name: The Latin name is important because there are often many varieties of each plant. The differences in those varieties can determine therapeutic use of the oil.
- Part of the Plant Used: roots, leaves, seeds, blossoms
- Country of Origin: This is not absolutely essential, but as you learn more about oils you will discover that the country of origin can affect the aroma and medicinal qualities of an oil.
- Farming Method: wild harvested, certified organic, non-certified organic, conventionally farmed
- Lot or Batch Number: A security measure to track the oils back to supplier and production date. A company that tests its oils will also use these numbers to provide this information to the consumer if requested.
Additional Information
The following information should be easily accessible on the company’s website.
- Method of Extraction: steam distillation, cold pressed, CO2 extracted, absolutes. *Please note that absolutes use solvents for extraction. Often chemical solvents such as hexane are used in the extraction process. It is important to know that absolutes always retain minuscule amounts of solvents.
- The People: Who makes up the company? What are their qualifications and training? Do they personally visit suppliers?
- Testing: Are the individual batches of oils tested for purity, authenticity and therapeutic value? This information should be available upon request.
The Healthy Place team works hard to provide you with information on things related to health and wellness. Visit our store located in Madison, Wisconsin or contact us via phone or email. We are happy to provide you with additional information on essential oils, vitamins, supplements or nutritional products to help you “Find Your Healthy Place”!
Download our free Essential Oil Dilution Chart
This information is provided for educational purposes only. It is not meant to be used as medical advice. Consult a qualified health care provider for advice on specific medical conditions.
*Disclaimer: All information and recommendations given on this site, in email correspondence, newsletters or other materials provided by The Healthy Place is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice nor be viewed as a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a healthcare provider. Consult a licensed healthcare practitioner before modifying, stopping, or starting the use of any medications, health programs, diets, and/or supplements, as well as regarding any health concerns you may have. Our statements and information have not been evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. As with any health-related program, product, or service, your risks and results may vary. We expressly disclaim responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the information provided to you here.”