How to Choose Your Essential Oils Wisely
Hey there.
I am guessing you've heard all the horror stories surrounding essential oils. You know, the ones about pets suddenly turning seriously ill from Eucalyptus essential oil or family + friends reacting to the smell of Lavender.
I am also guessing you're here to learn - why these reactions happen and how they can be avoided. If I hit the nail on the head, grab your favourite cup of tea and curl up with me.
I'm about to take you through everything you need to know about selecting and purchasing the right essential oils to best serve both your body + your family.
When it comes to these horror stories, it’s best to take a practical approach and understand that all of the facts are not always at hand. Most of these situations can be avoided by ensuring you are using pure, therapeutic grade essential oils without any harmful fillers or additives. After this educational post, you'll know the ropes to avoid scary + harmful mishaps from happening to you or your family.
regulations
When using essential oils, it is imperative to understand that NO GOVERNING BODIES regulate the quality of essential oils. This means, you can pick up a bottle of Lavender essential oil from the shelf of your local natural health store that claims to contain 100% pure essential oil when really it contains few to no traces of Lavender at all.
Unfortunately, this type of marketing compromises the effectiveness of the product and can lead essential oils to having a bad rep. The good news is, there are a number of indicators that can help you differentiate the real from the fake.
Before getting started, and as with any item you are going to invest your hard earned money in, do your research.
reputable brands
The first rule of thumb is to purchase items from a company that you can trust, otherwise you’ll never truly know what you’re in for in the long run. Purchase product only from trusted sources who specialize in the industry. For example: if you are purchasing from a grocery store, electronic store, thrift store, or third party online source (other than directly from the manufacturer) then you can be sure the products you’re using will most likely carry additives and fillers that impact the effectiveness and therapeutic benefits of the oil.
sourcing
Second, understand that the purest essential oils will come from their natural habitat as intended by Mother Earth. This means, they will be extracted from plants that are grown in the geographical area in which they are native to - in the soil and through the climate that serves them best. Companies that care about the quality of their oils, and their customers needs, will disclose the geographical location in which the plants and essential oils are sourced.
If you’re still unsure, you can always revert to the purity and potency of the essential oil. If the company you are exploring does not disclose their sourcing methods, the purity of the essential oil can easily be determined by picking up the bottle, cracking it open, and experiencing it first hand.
purity and potency
To validate the quality - purity and potency - of the essential oil, hold the bottle near your nose, slightly inhale, and ask yourself these questions:
Does it smell like the plant it claims to be?
Is it potent?
The greater the potency of the essential oil, the greater the purity. The greater the purity of the essential oil, the more likely it’s sourced from it's native region.
Using essential oils with greatest potency and purity will ensure you are receiving the most therapeutic health benefits from the essential oil. Products containing fillers or additives can be detrimental to your health, will offer zero therapeutic benefits (they simply won't work), and should not be used.
quality assurance testing
Lastly, testing. Any company that is confident in their product will invest in both internal and external testing regimes and offer their customers access to these reports. Since there is a lack of federal regulations, essential oil companies that set their own standards will ensure only products that meet certain purity levels hit the shelves.
To learn more about the purity and potency of an essential oil, check out our blog post on Ethical Sourcing Practices for greater peace of mind when selecting the right product for yourself and your family.