In the last few years, essential oils have become super trendy. When I think of it, almost every second friend of mine uses them on a daily basis.
Their popularity is easily understandable, as they offer not only a huge range of truly amazing fragrances, but also some outstanding healing and therapeutic properties from the plants they come from.
However, with this essential oils trend among customers, some unscrupulous companies out there try to deceive buyers and sell fake essential oils. That is why, purchasing the right – real essential oil can be challenging at times.
How can you identify the good stuff? How can you know if the essential oil you’re buying isn’t fake?
The first thing you should check is the container. You should be suspicious if your essential oil is stored in a plastic or clear glass container. Storing the essential oil in a dark glass container is crucial, because the oil’s chemical compounds can break down and react with the plastic packaging. The dark colour of the glass is equally important, as it protects your oil from ultraviolet degradation.
Also, if you buy your essential oils in person and not online, make sure that you buy only those that are stored in a cool place, as heat promotes the oil’s oxidation. Be wary of buying straight off the shelf with plenty of sunlight exposure.
Next, you want to check the label for information and details. Honest companies have no problem sharing with clients all the information about their amazing products. They will proudly put all these details on the label. If your essential oil is a good quality one, its label should include the following information:
– Latin botanical name of the plant the oil originated from
– Country of origin
– Which part of the plant the oil was extracted from
– What kind of method was used to obtain the oil
– A statement that the product is “100% pure essential oil”
On the other hand, less honest manufacturers trying to make a quick buck, will simply omit some of the above details. For example, if their oils are made from poor crops they will not list the part of the plant from which the product was obtained. If the label is missing the 100% purity statement, there is a big chance it has been altered or mixed with something else.
If the label doesn’t include the Latin name of the plant, your oil may not be an essential oil; it could simply be a fixed oil with an added perfume as a scent, or it could be made from a similar plant that goes under the same common name (numerous botanical species can go under the same common name).
Also,mind the price. Although high prices don’t always guarantee high quality, in the case of essential oils you should be vigilant if you see a low price tag. The truth is that although your essential oil fits in a very small bottle, it takes a rather astonishing amount of plant material to produce it. When you add to it the fact that some of the oils you buy come from very rare plants, high prices shouldn’t be a surprise.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some oils that are fairly cheap, but you simply can’t expect, let’s say, rose otto essential oil to cost 15 or 30 MOP, when it takes petals from around 60 roses to produce just 1 drop. That’s 12,000 roses to fill a 10ml flask.
Lastly, you can perform a simple purity test. Simply take a sheet of white paper and place a single drop of your essential oil on it. Let it dry. If it leaves an oily ring behind, your oil isn’t pure essential oil. You can perform this test on any oil except those of heavier consistency and deeper colour like vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli and German chamomile.
There is really no point using fake essential oils as it is almost the same as using water diluted with perfume. It will smell amazing, but you can’t expect it to have the same properties as pure quality oils have. The good quality essential oils are potent liquids containing the true essence of the plants they were distilled from. If you want an essential oil that not only smells good but also exhibits some extraordinary therapeutic properties, consider buying from sellers that invest more care and money into their products.
