Whether you’re new to essential oils or use them regularly, it can be difficult to know what to look for when shopping for a pure, high-quality oil. To help combat the overwhelming number of brands and products to choose from, we’re giving a list of 5 things to avoid when buying essential oils.
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are extracted from aromatic species by distillation or by physical expression in the case of most citrus peels.
With a long history of being used through inhalation and topical application to the skin for medicinal use, aromatic therapies, and religious practices, essential oils can contribute to a healthy mind, body, and spirit.
Essential Oils and Our Health
“The benefits of using essential oils are highly convenient, budget-friendly, and quick to give us the effect we’re looking for”.
“It adds ambiance through aroma, but also impacts our nervous system quickly, so it aids in resetting our mood. You can shift your mood, relieve a headache, assist with some first aid, or get ready for a good night’s sleep all with a few inhales!”
When you buy an oil, you want to ensure you’ll experience the full health benefits of what that oil can offer you. Whether you use it with an essential oil diffuser, or to scent skin care products, buying a cheap or low-quality oil can create a poor experience.
But with so many choices out there, how do you know what’s good or bad? Here’s where we can help!
5 Things to Avoid When Buying Essential Oils:
1. False Marketing Claims
There are many companies out there selling essential oils, and they know what words consumers are drawn to, even though they don’t mean anything.
The Apothecary Shoppe specializes in certified organic and sustainably produced essential oils and other products. They have a great list of unregulated and deceptive marketing terms to be aware of, such as “all natural”, “therapeutic grade”, “genuine”, and more.
What you want is a company that is upfront about its products. If an essential oil is labeled as “organic”, it should be USDA Certified Organic, and you should have access to an Organic Certification upon request.
2. Clear Plastic Bottles
Essential oils are sensitive to sunlight, and exposure can cause oxidation, reducing the therapeutic value of the oils over time. That’s why clear plastic bottles are not recommended, as they don’t offer UV protection, and the plastic can break down and damage the quality of the oil.
Glass colored bottles are ideal to provide UV-light protection to maintain the oil quality. Brown bottles provide the best protection, with cobalt blue as a runner-up.
Steel containers also work well, as they offer light protection and won’t break down from the oils.
3. Synthetic Ingredients
Check the ingredient list of the oil you’re considering. If you see ingredients such as “fragrance” or “parfum”, those are synthetic ingredients that can be made from a concoction of many chemicals. That means poor quality and less therapeutic value.
The ingredients should list the Latin names of the plants, (or the botanical name) so that you know where they’re from and what they’re best used for. For example, Lavender essential oilcan come from different lavender plants and be listed as Lavandula officinalis, which is better for calming stress, or Lavandula latifolia, which is more effective for easing aches and pains.
Some products may not list the ingredients to prevent others from copying them. In that case, you can contact the company to find out what’s in them. Good companies are happy to discuss what they use in their products.
4. Cheap Essential Oils
With many options out there, why spend more than needed if you come across a cheap essential oil?
Oils can sell at different price points, based on what the plant is, how easy it is to grow, and how much of the plant is needed to make an oil. Jennifer notes, “A floral oil like rose geranium may require thousands of pounds of flowers to make a small amount, hence the expense”.
Avoid purchasing your oils from distributor stores, like HomeGoods, Walmart, or Amazon, where there’s a higher risk of oil being old, or stored improperly. Your product will lack the potency needed to be effective. The risk of adulteration also runs high in big store brands, meaning their composition has been modified for a larger yield and may not produce the therapeutic result you’re expecting.
Do some research and purchase your oils from reputable sources, ensuring they’re certified organic, if possible.
5. Uneducated Company
You don’t want to buy essential oils from a company that simply sticks its logo on an oil without knowing what they’re doing.
If not used properly, oils can have very dangerous side effects, especially for children, pregnant women, and pets. An educated company can guide you on best practices for using the oils.
You want to purchase from a seller who has formal education and training in essential oils and aromatherapy. This way you can trust that what you’re buying has been carefully formulated by someone with deep knowledge and understanding of what each oil brings and how it can benefit you.
Wrapping It Up
Essential oils can open a whole new world of mental, physical, and spiritual benefits. Knowing these 5 things to avoid when buying essential oils will help you navigate the many options available.
With a history of oils and aromatherapy helping humans for centuries, we can continue to use this knowledge to help ourselves. Having a pure high-quality oil will ensure that you can enjoy the holistic healing treatment that essential oils offer.
