If you're into aromatherapy, you've probably heard how essential oils can work wonders, from reducing stress to boosting your mood. But here's a key point: not all essential oils are created equal.
When it comes to using essential oils for therapeutic purposes, quality mattersโa lot. You donโt want something thatโs been watered down or filled with synthetic chemicals as sold in the retail marketplace, right?
Letโs examine why only pure, natural essential oils online should be used and how to spot the difference between the good and the not-so-good.
What Does "Pure" Really Mean?
Youโll often see the term โ100% pureโ on essential oil bottles. But what does it actually mean?
In an ideal world, โ100% pureโ means the oil hasnโt been tampered withโitโs free from any additives, either natural or synthetic. Unfortunately, thatโs not always the case.
For example, oils like Frankincense might be extended with substances like turpentine (a natural distillate from pine resin), diluting the quality. Lavender is another example.ย
Many products marketed as โTrue Lavenderโ might actually be a blend of Lavender and Lavandin (a hybrid). This reduces their effectiveness in aromatherapy and could even introduce harmful elements.
If you want real, consistent results, go for oils that are truly pure. This means no sneaky fillers or diluted compounds that weaken their therapeutic properties. So, next time youโre shopping for essential oils, donโt just trust the label โ make sure youโre getting the real deal.
"Natural" Isnโt Always What You Think
Just because something is labelled "natural" doesn't automatically mean it's high-quality. When we say an oil is "100% natural," it should mean itโs free from synthetic additives.
Sadly, synthetic fragrances and emulsifiers (like polysorbates) often sneak their way into these products. Some even contain harmful petrochemical dilutants like mineral oil or, in extreme cases, solvents like white spirits or petrol! Yeah, you read that right.
Remember, oils cut with such things might seem cheaper, but trust me, youโre not getting what you paid for.
But there's another level of quality to consider โ essential oils that are not just pure and natural but also complete.
Complete oils are those that haven't undergone further treatments like rectification or redistillation
For instance, a single-distilled Eucalyptus oil retains all its original components, while redistilled versions lose some of the more complex and beneficial elements. These single-distilled oils, often sourced directly from small suppliers in places like France, are the kind of quality you should seek out for therapeutic purposes.
The Different Levels of Essential Oil Quality
So now that we know what โpureโ and โnaturalโ should mean, letโs talk about the different grades of essential oils available on the market.
The Basics: Pure and Natural Oils
When it comes to essential oils, "pure and natural" should be the minimum quality standard you're looking for. This means the oil youโre using is exactly what it says on the labelโwhether it's Peppermint, Lavender, or Eucalyptus.
For example, a pure and natural Peppermint oil will be just thatโPeppermintโwith no synthetic or natural additives.
But hereโs where it gets a bit tricky: even though itโs labelled pure, it might still have been slightly modified.ย
Some oils, like Peppermint, are "rectified" to enhance certain properties, such as increasing the menthol content. This doesnโt necessarily mean it's bad, but itโs important to know that these types of oils are best for everyday uses, such as adding fragrance to shampoos or bubble baths. They arenโt quite up to the therapeutic standards youโd want for true aromatherapy.
Pure, Natural, and Complete: A Step Up
Now, if you're serious about aromatherapy, you'll want to look for essential oils that are labelled "pure, natural, and complete." This extra word "complete" means that the oil hasnโt been messed withโitโs exactly what came out of the still during the first distillation. Think of it like getting fresh-squeezed juice instead of something from concentrate.
Letโs take Eucalyptus globulus (commonly known as Blue Gum Eucalyptus) as an example. If you buy a regular Eucalyptus oil from most commercial suppliers, chances are itโs been redistilled. This process removes some of the heavier components, which changes the oilโs aroma and composition.ย
But if you get a single-distilled Eucalyptus oil, the difference is like night and day. It's richer, more aromatic, and better suited for therapeutic use.
A good way to ensure you're getting high-quality, complete oils is to look for specialty suppliers who source directly from the producers. In countries like France, these suppliers buy the oils before theyโre sent off to big perfume companies for further processing.
Keep in mind, though, that even oils labelled "pure, natural, and complete" might not be organically grown unless specified.
What Oils Shouldnโt Be
When selecting essential oils for aromatherapy, there are a few things you should watch out for.
First, the oils should never be artificially decolourised or recoloured. Some suppliers do this to make the oil look more attractive, but itโs not something you want for therapeutic purposes.
Secondly, avoid deterpenated oils. This is a process commonly done to citrus oils to make them better for flavoring, but it actually removes some of the beneficial components. While this might be great for cooking, it's not ideal for aromatherapy. Back in the 1930s, deterpenated oils were even recommended for medical use, but modern aromatherapy has shown that this process reduces the oil's therapeutic value.
For example, thyme oil naturally contains terpenes, which help balance out its more potent components like thymol and carvacrol. Removing these terpenes makes the oil more concentrated but also more irritating and potentially toxicโdefinitely not what you want for a relaxing aromatherapy session!
What Makes Essential Oils โGenuine and Authenticโ?
The term genuine and authentic was coined by aromatherapy pioneer Professor Pierre Franchommรฉ to describe the highest-quality oils available. Prof Franchomme's work aimed to ensure that essential oils used for therapeutic purposes are top-notch. This means the entire journey of the oilโfrom the soil where itโs cultivated to the distillation processโis meticulously managed to produce the best possible product.
So, what guarantees are in place when you choose an essential oil that's labelled as genuine and authentic? Hereโs what you should know:
- Purity: These oils are pure, meaning they donโt contain any additives or synthetic substances.
- Naturalness: They are derived entirely from natural sources, without any artificial components.
- Completeness: The oil retains the full spectrum of its natural compounds.
Another key aspect is how the plants are grown. Essential oils can come from various growing methods:
- Certified Organic: These are grown using organic farming practices certified by official bodies.
- Traditional Methods: Sometimes, oils come from plants grown using traditional methods that arenโt officially certified organic but are still eco-friendly.
- Wild Harvesting: In some cases, plants are harvested from their natural habitats, away from pollution and environmental damage.
The specificity doesnโt stop at growing methods. Genuine essential oils are precise about their botanical identity. This means if youโre buying True Lavender, youโre getting True Lavender, not just any lavender or a blend with lavandin (another lavender species). This accuracy ensures you get exactly what youโre expecting.
The Harvesting and Distillation Process: Itโs an Art!
Did you know that even the time of day a plant is harvested can affect the quality of the oil?
For example, peppermint and savoury are best harvested before they flower, while lavender shines when picked during its bloom. Some oils, like clary sage, are actually better distilled after their flowering period.
And believe it or not, hand-harvested oils often turn out better than those harvested by machine. Itโs these little details that can make a huge difference in the quality of the essential oil youโre using.
As for distillation, itโs not just a science; itโs an art. Master distillers know the perfect length of time to extract every last drop of aromatic goodness from the plants.ย
For instance, while most of lavenderโs aroma comes out in the first 20 minutes of distillation, the remaining quarter of the oil requires another hour of slow, careful extraction. It's that last bit that really makes the difference in both aroma and therapeutic effect.
From Professor Franchommรฉ's โGuarantees on the Plantโ
ย โWild mountain plants have an odour as well as an extraordinary biological activity because of their exceptional richness in aromatic esters and bio-catalysts whose synthesis has been favoured not only by the altitude, the sunshine and the dryness but by the symbiosis of other wild plants.ย At the same time, they have not been seriously unbalanced by any treatment with chemicals, fertilisers, pesticides or weed killers, which are carried through to the distillation and affect the essential oil. One example confirms this: a manufacturer supplied a distiller with aluminium vessels to store his aromatic products. These vessels were corroded within two years, the distiller complained. The manufacturer, in turn complained to the suppliers of the aluminium who had the product stored in the vessels analysed. The analysis showed that corrosive chemical elements originating from killers, which should not have been in the essential oil, had corroded the vessel. One must feel sorry for the fragile mucous, pulmonary and digestive membranes that had been exposed to these dangerous products!โย ย
Again, from Professor Franchommรฉ's โGuarantees on the Plantโ
โCutting of wild Lavender begins only after the morning dew.ย A sickle is used in the difficult terrain of the โBaiassieresโ, slopes and hills at an altitude of between one thousand and sixteen hundred metres.ย In the same way a cultivated Lavender harvested mechanically as well as destructively takes as much time.
The cutting of wild Thyme which is long and tiring work is also done with a small sickle or secateurs preferably in the afternoon.ย The total lifting of the plant as practised in some countries using a harrow or pick axe amounts to a real ecological disaster.
Roses are picked when in blossom after the morning dew and before the greatest heat of the day.ย A considerable work force is needed as three and a half tonnes of petals harvested from two and a half acres of rose bushes are needed to obtain only one kilogram of essential oil.
The difficulties of harvesting as well as low productivity, make essential oils one of the most precious commodities.ย Judge for yourself: the common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), which grows extensively in Provence, is picked at the rate of 100 kilograms per day on average and by professional Spanish and Moroccan labourers at one thousand kilograms (or one tonne) in ten days. Its distillation yields seven hundred grams of oil per one thousand kilograms, i.e. a yield of 0.7%.ย In comparison, the Thyme from Spain (Thymus zygis) yields five times the amount, i.e. 3.5% and ten times more, i.e. 7.0%, with petroleum solvent extraction and twenty times more after โreadjustmentโ with turpentine. This is known as white thyme oil.
As well even locality can affect plant quality.ย There are special vintage plants and considerable differences in quality that may be observed in different locations only a few kilometres apart where soil and climatic conditions seem apparently identical.ย Throughout the world the aromatic essences based on the vegetation of the haute Provence are exceptionally renowned as they possess quite unique qualities.
A clear certification of the type of growth, as well as type of cultivation, is indispensable for the consumer who seeks energy revitalisation as opposed to exposure to insidious poisoning.โ
Understanding Distillation - Blending The Art and Science Together
When we think of distillation, it might sound like something straight out of a science lab. But did you know that itโs as much an art as it is a science?
At its core, distillation is a fascinating blend of art and science. You might have heard of โmasterโ distillersโthese are the experts who have perfected the craft over the years. The goal of distilling essential oils is to do it under normal atmospheric pressure using water steam.ย
Why? Because this method ensures that we extract the purest aromatic compounds from the plant.
Take lavender oil, for example. The first three-quarters of the aromatic compounds are released within the first 20 minutes of distillation. But donโt rush the process! To capture the remaining quarter of less volatile compounds, the distillation needs to continue for over an hour. This meticulous approach is crucial for getting the most out of the plantโs essence.
Some organic organisations, like Nature Et Progrรฉs, go a step further by not only ensuring proper distillation but also guaranteeing the conditions under which the plants are grown. This level of transparency helps you trust that youโre getting essential oils that are as genuine and authentic as possible.
What You Should Avoid in Essential Oils
To make sure you're getting a quality product, avoid oils that:
- Have been artificially decolourised or recoloured
- Are labelled as โdeterpenatedโ (especially citrus oils)
- Have been altered to remove certain natural components that are essential for their therapeutic benefits
For instance, some oils, like thyme, naturally contain terpenes that help balance the oilโs phenol content. When terpenes are removed, the oil becomes more irritating and can even be toxic. Not exactly what you want in your aromatherapy session!
Final Thoughts: Trust Nature
At the end of the day, the best essential oils are those that have been grown, harvested, and distilled with care, respecting the plantโs natural cycle and environment. As Professor Franchomme put it, nature itself, despite our best efforts to โmodifyโ it, holds the secret to vitality and longevity. Aromatic oils, in their purest form, are our allies in living a healthier life.
So, next time youโre shopping for essential oils, look beyond the label. Make sure youโre getting something thatโs truly pure, natural, and completeโbecause when it comes to your health and well-being, only the best will do.
To finish with a quote from Professor Franchommรฉย
โIt is a Nature herself in spite of our attempts at โmodificationโ for whatever reason who has the privilege of giving us strength for Life, Health and Longevity and in this the aromatic oils are our best alliesโ.