Choosing a trustworthy supplier for essential oils is crucial. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when making your selection:
Names
The label should prominently display both the common and scientific (Latin) names of the plant from which the oil is derived. If the oil is diluted, this must be indicated, along with the name of the carrier oil. For blends, all essential oils included should be listed with their common and scientific names, as well as any carrier oils used.
Usage Instructions
Each bottle should include clear guidelines for how to use the oil: aromatic (A), topical (T), or internal (I). While some bottles may have detailed instructions, they often just feature these abbreviations.
Quality Grade
The grade of the oil should be clearly stated or advertised. This indicates the presence of the oil’s key constituents in their proper form and highlights its health benefits. Reputable companies that produce high-quality essential oils typically have their own internal quality standards to ensure their products are pure, potent, and effective.
Essential Oil Grades
Therapeutic: these oils are carefully distilled at low temperatures over extended periods and meet specific quality standards. However, therapeutic grade oils can differ between brands, so it's important to do your homework. Ideally, they should be organically cultivated, distilled, fair trade, and sustainably sourced.
Pure or Organic: these oils may be organically grown and meet quality standards, but they might not contain the same therapeutic properties as the highest grade oils. Additionally, some may be diluted.
Synthetic: while these oils may resemble and smell like essential oils, they are created in a lab, meaning their chemical makeup differs and they lack therapeutic benefits.
Fragrance: these are non-therapeutic and typically petroleum-based. The formulation is often a proprietary secret, so companies are not required to reveal the ingredients. They are usually low-cost and of inferior quality, and they do not qualify as essential oils. You can often find them in discount department stores and bargain shops.
Packaging
The essential oil should be housed in a dark glass bottle (amber or cobalt) to shield it from sunlight, securely capped, stored upright, and equipped with an orifice reducer (a plastic insert that seals the bottle and prevents oxidation from air exposure). Dropper tops should only be added after purchase.
Volume
High-quality essential oils typically come in sizes of 5, 10, or 15 mL, dispensed with an orifice reducer for easy dropping. A 15-mL bottle contains approximately 250 drops. While this may not seem like a large quantity, since only one to two drops are needed per use, the bottle tends to last a long time, making it more economical than medicinal alternatives. When you break down the cost per drop, essential oils are quite affordable.
Pricing
If you find oils that all share the same price, that's a significant warning sign. Each type of oil undergoes a distinct process for cultivation, harvesting, and extraction, which also requires varying amounts of plant material. Therefore, prices should differ accordingly. For instance, it takes around 105 pounds of rose petals to create just a 5-mL bottle of Rose essential oil, and we all know that roses can be quite pricey!
Expiration Date
Many premium essential oils come with an expiration date, which is often due to their approval as food-grade products, marked with the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) label in the U.S. for culinary use. However, this does not imply they are safe for internal consumption as supplements. At the very least, the expiration date indicates how long the oil has been stored.
Brand
Are you familiar with the brand? Have you done some research and feel confident about what you discovered? Does it meet the recommended criteria outlined on this page?
Sensory Evaluation
Take a moment to smell the oil; it should have a fresh, clean, and well-balanced aroma. Check the texture to see if it leaves any residue. Observe how quickly it absorbs into your skin, leaving only a pleasant scent behind. If the fragrance bothers you or the oil doesn’t absorb well, it’s wise to be cautious.
Effectiveness
Consider how much oil you need to use to achieve your desired effects. If it requires more than one or two diluted drops, the quality may be subpar. If you find yourself using a lot without seeing results or experiencing negative reactions like skin irritation, it’s likely that the oil is of lower quality.
For recommendations on where to purchase high-quality, therapeutic-grade essential oils, check out the Resources section.
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