Since we get so many questions about essential oil quality, we thought we’d start off with some general information about the oils, and as we go along, dig a little deeper into what makes an oil ‘therapeutic’, why the quality of an oil is so important, and how to know what you’re buying.

So, first things first. What are essential oils, exactly?

In a nutshell, essential oils are mixtures of naturally occurring compounds that exist in plants which have fragrant flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, or seeds. From an organic chemist’s point of view, the active constituents of essential oils are composed of hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons which can be grouped according to their molecular structure. For those of you interested in the chemistry behind what makes an oil valuable for this or that, we’ll be blogging about that soon (hopefully without getting too technical or tedious).

Essential oils may be extracted from plants using a variety of methods but for aromatherapy purposes, the only acceptable methods are those that are non-toxic. This includes distillation, cold pressing, and, in a few cases, non-toxic solvent extraction. A good therapeutic grade essential oil is produced using non-toxic procedures that preserve the life-giving vital essence of the plant.

Don’t confuse essential oils with vegetable oils, which are also sometimes called “carrier” or “base” oils. Essential Oils are volatile, which means that they evaporate when exposed to air; they are very fragrant; they do not feel slick or oily, and do not leave an oily residue. Vegetable oils, such as almond oil, apricot oil, olive oil, or avocado oil are not really fragrant; they do not evaporate readily; they do feel oily and leave an oily residue. Vegetable oils are used in aromatherapy for the purpose of diluting essential oils so that they can be safely applied to the skin.


What’s the difference between an essential oil and a fragrance oil?

Fragrance oils are synthetically manufactured chemical mixtures that mimic natural plant aromas. They may smell just like the “real thing” but are not appropriate for aromatherapy. Read product labels carefully and avoid those labeled as “fragrance oils”, “essential fragrance oils”, or “nature identical”.

Know what you’re purchasing.

Some products sold as “essential oils” are diluted in cheaper carrier oils or are adulterated in some other way. Again, read product labels carefully but be aware that labels may not disclose full information. Become familiar with the botanical names of the oils you want to use and never purchase an essential oil that is not labeled with the botanical name, as well as the common name.

Finally, is Organic always better?

Not necessarily . . . to learn more about how we choose our oils, why organic doesn’t necessarily mean better therapeutically speaking, read Dr Power’s article on organic oils at our website.