Essential oils have grown in popularity in the past several years, and many use them in various ways to aid in common ailments and boost their health in a more natural way. They offer major benefits for skin care products, as well as natural beard oils and balms. In a world where essential oils are purchased everywhere, it is necessary to spot a fake or low-quality essential oil, especially for first-time buyers. Unfortunately, there is no grading system for essential oils. Looking for essential oils is similar to looking for diamonds to purchase. However, there is a way to go about it to ensure what they buy is the best quality.
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Look at the Bottle
The bottle of essential oil will tell a lot about the quality of the product. Most suppliers will sell their oil in a dark, amber-colored, tightly sealed glass bottle like one would find when looking at Young Living Essential Oils; they are known for their quality bottles that store their oils. Dark-colored bottles are used because light and heat can easily damage essential oils. They also do not mix well with plastic since they are a highly combustible chemical compound.
There are usually around four ounces of product, but most commonly, they are about fifteen milliliters. Most bottles also come with a rounded plastic topper that aids in only allowing one drop of oil to leave the bottle at a time. This is called an orifice reducer. Other bottles may come with an eyedropper attached to the cap.
Read the Label
Reading the essential oil label can show clear evidence if they are good or bad quality. When looking at the label, they should list the name of the plant, what state it was processed, and the specific part of the plant that was used to make the oil. Not only should they have the plant’s name in English, but it should also appear in Latin. For example, when looking at lavender oil, it should not only say “lavender,” but it should also say that this lavender was extracted from Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula latifolia. If the Latin name is not on the label, then there is a high chance it is a mix of synthetic perfume.
The label should also verify that it is one hundred percent pure essential oil, along with a list of its net contents. If all it says is “essence oil,” then it is best to avoid purchasing that since that is a clear sign that it is mixed with carrier oil. On any label for essential oil, there should always be a list of ingredients in the formula, and for those looking for pure oil, the label should only have one ingredient.
It should also be easy to look up the source of the oil simply by looking at the label. If there is no mention of the country the oil originated from, that is a red flag. The essential oil should be easy to look up and have a lot number for someone to do so. If a person purchases an oil on a website, all of this information should be there and easier to read since the information does not need to fit on a tiny glass bottle.
Check the Price
Comparing prices of various essential oils is another way to ensure the oil is of good quality. Although, it is not as simple as the lowest price being the worst product and the highest price being the best. If the price is ridiculously low, that is something to be wary of. Still, it does not automatically mean one needs to buy the most expensive product out there since sometimes people mostly buy the brand instead of the product. Some oils out there may be cheaper but are of greater quality because they are not selling their brand, just their product.
The price of oils also tends to fluctuate depending on crops and what is yielded during harvest time. For example, vanilla, most of which is grown in Madagascar, has been suffering from bad weather in the most recent years. This has caused the price of vanilla beans to go up around ten times more than what they were in the past.
In the end, finding good quality essential oils is easy if one knows what to look for when examining the product and what to look for to ensure the best quality is being purchased.