Choosing the Right Quality Essential OilEssential oils are highly concentrated liquids derived from plants. For centuries, it has been used to treat various health conditions, improve a positive emotional state, enhance physical wellness and create a deep spiritual awareness because it is naturally concentrated and distilled. Over a hundred chemical compounds are found in a typical essential oil however, there are manufacturer nowadays that are promoting standardized or adulterated essential oils.
What are Standardized Essential Oils? Standardized or adulterated essential oils are reprocessed essential oils that have synthetic chemicals added to it. This is done to meet the required flavor or fragrant profile of a certain essential oil, and to maintain its consistency over a long period of time. Standardization or adulteration is a common practice in flavor and perfumery industries, and this has been accepted lately for essential oils. However, if the essential oil is used for aromatherapy, standardization or adulteration should not be made. An adulterated essential oil will just cause irritation to the skin and other forms of allergies that can be a burden eventually to the user. Thus, it is advised to purchase essential oils from trusted and well established aromatherapy suppliers who are producing authentic products and not a standardized or adulterated one. |
How to choose authentic and high quality essential oils
The quality of essential oils is very essential in getting its finest therapeutic effect. However, there are several manufacturers these days that are producing commercially graded essential oils and claim to have the right products for aromatherapy. So to be 100% sure that the essential oil is pure and has no added chemicals, these three characteristics should be determined;
1. Purity
Essential oils can be standardized, adulterated or diluted with solvents, alcohol or vegetable oils. These extenders or substitutes are often added by the manufacturer in order to provide an affordable alternative to consumers while enticing them to buy their product. Unfortunately, it can be hard for first time users to distinguish a pure essential oil, especially if there is no label claiming it to be adulterated. Adulterated or standardized essential oils are not as potent as those that are purely extracted from plants. Some manufacturers do this to expensive oils like jasmine, Melissa and rose, but is uncommon to essential oils like peppermint, cedar and orange. The best way to determine its purity is to check the label or to perform a blotter test.
Performing a Blotter Test
A blotter test is a way of checking the essential oil if it has been adulterated or added with a synthetic fragrance oil. It is easy to perform because it only requires a perfume test strip or a clean white sheet of paper to prove its purity.
To start with the blotter test, placing a drop of essential oil in the absorbent paper and leaving it for 24 hours is required. Normally, a pure essential oil does not leave a grease spot to the paper because it tends to evaporate over time; but if a stain is found, it signifies that the oil is diluted or adulterated. Take note that placing a name of the essential oil on the paper should be done in case several oils are tested at the same time.
Nonetheless, a blotter test can be the easiest and cost effective way of checking the purity of an oil, but it does not always guarantee an excellent result. There are some essential oils that possess a natural tint. For instance, frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, ilang-ilang and even some of the citrus oils usually leave a stain on the paper, regardless if it is pure and naturally extracted from its source. This would mean that the blotter test is limited and not applicable to all kinds of essential oils. But if you really want to try to test the purity of the essential oil, a Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry analysis is the best way to identify an adulterated from a non-adulterated oil product. The only problem with this kind of test is it can only be done in a laboratory which is hardly available and expensive. Hence, a simple blotter test is still the most cost-effective way of distinguishing an authentic essential oil.
2. Grades
Most of the essential oils sold in the market are adulterated, but some manufacturers place “therapeutic grade” label to distinguish its authenticity. An essential oil with a therapeutic grade is an oil that has the same chemical constituents and natural vibrational frequency with its original plant material. Although there is no government standards for grading, companies use it to provide information to consumers that the essential oil is pure and not adulterated. Checking the essential oil for a “therapeutic grade” label can be great help to recognize that it has passed the standards or grading system of the manufacturing company.
3.Integrity
Checking the integrity of the essential oil is also an important characteristic if it is purely extracted or not. Pure and high quality oils are often processed carefully by reliable manufacturers who have proven themselves in the field of aromatherapy. Although price does not guarantee its quality, checking the packaging, recommendations and studies are helpful in determining its integrity.
Final Thoughts
Essential oils have great aromatic benefits if it is purely extracted from a natural source. Since its quality control is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it is important to check any product approvals from certain agencies like ISO or International Organization for Standardization and AFNOR or Association Francaise de Normalisation. These institutions will give you an idea whether the essential oil is purely extracted or laboratory made. Just be sure also to read the labels and consider the feedbacks given by customers in order to avoid getting the wrong product.
The quality of essential oils is very essential in getting its finest therapeutic effect. However, there are several manufacturers these days that are producing commercially graded essential oils and claim to have the right products for aromatherapy. So to be 100% sure that the essential oil is pure and has no added chemicals, these three characteristics should be determined;
1. Purity
Essential oils can be standardized, adulterated or diluted with solvents, alcohol or vegetable oils. These extenders or substitutes are often added by the manufacturer in order to provide an affordable alternative to consumers while enticing them to buy their product. Unfortunately, it can be hard for first time users to distinguish a pure essential oil, especially if there is no label claiming it to be adulterated. Adulterated or standardized essential oils are not as potent as those that are purely extracted from plants. Some manufacturers do this to expensive oils like jasmine, Melissa and rose, but is uncommon to essential oils like peppermint, cedar and orange. The best way to determine its purity is to check the label or to perform a blotter test.
Performing a Blotter Test
A blotter test is a way of checking the essential oil if it has been adulterated or added with a synthetic fragrance oil. It is easy to perform because it only requires a perfume test strip or a clean white sheet of paper to prove its purity.
To start with the blotter test, placing a drop of essential oil in the absorbent paper and leaving it for 24 hours is required. Normally, a pure essential oil does not leave a grease spot to the paper because it tends to evaporate over time; but if a stain is found, it signifies that the oil is diluted or adulterated. Take note that placing a name of the essential oil on the paper should be done in case several oils are tested at the same time.
Nonetheless, a blotter test can be the easiest and cost effective way of checking the purity of an oil, but it does not always guarantee an excellent result. There are some essential oils that possess a natural tint. For instance, frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, ilang-ilang and even some of the citrus oils usually leave a stain on the paper, regardless if it is pure and naturally extracted from its source. This would mean that the blotter test is limited and not applicable to all kinds of essential oils. But if you really want to try to test the purity of the essential oil, a Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry analysis is the best way to identify an adulterated from a non-adulterated oil product. The only problem with this kind of test is it can only be done in a laboratory which is hardly available and expensive. Hence, a simple blotter test is still the most cost-effective way of distinguishing an authentic essential oil.
2. Grades
Most of the essential oils sold in the market are adulterated, but some manufacturers place “therapeutic grade” label to distinguish its authenticity. An essential oil with a therapeutic grade is an oil that has the same chemical constituents and natural vibrational frequency with its original plant material. Although there is no government standards for grading, companies use it to provide information to consumers that the essential oil is pure and not adulterated. Checking the essential oil for a “therapeutic grade” label can be great help to recognize that it has passed the standards or grading system of the manufacturing company.
3.Integrity
Checking the integrity of the essential oil is also an important characteristic if it is purely extracted or not. Pure and high quality oils are often processed carefully by reliable manufacturers who have proven themselves in the field of aromatherapy. Although price does not guarantee its quality, checking the packaging, recommendations and studies are helpful in determining its integrity.
Final Thoughts
Essential oils have great aromatic benefits if it is purely extracted from a natural source. Since its quality control is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it is important to check any product approvals from certain agencies like ISO or International Organization for Standardization and AFNOR or Association Francaise de Normalisation. These institutions will give you an idea whether the essential oil is purely extracted or laboratory made. Just be sure also to read the labels and consider the feedbacks given by customers in order to avoid getting the wrong product.