Are all essential oils created equal?

If you are using essential oils for your health and well-being, it is a good idea to know what to look for when buying. Not all oils are created equal and often times, the more expensive an oil, the better quality it will be. Price tends to dictate what someone will buy, but when it comes to essential oils, it is better to purchase the higher priced item. To reduce the cost, manufacturers will often dilute the oils. A great example of this is with lavender essential oil. Lavender is often diluted with either lavandin and/or an odorless solvent. Lavandin itself has important therapeutic uses, but when combined with lavender it negates the therapeutic affects of lavender.

So, what should you look for when purchasing an essential oil?

One of the best things to look for in essential oil quality and purity is if each new batch has been tested with a Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry test. These tests look at the chemical constitutes of each essential oil to verify the chemicals fall into a certain range. If they fall out of the set range, then they should not be used as therapeutic grade essential oils. If there is no indication on the bottle that the oil has gone through the Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry test, call the company and ask.

Also, don't be fooled if the essential oil claims to be therapeutic. Many of the oils that are being diluted say they are of therapeutic quality. Currently, there are no industry standards on the term "therapeutic," so anyone can claim this.  This is harmful to the industry of essential oils as a whole. Really, the best standard to look for is the Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry test. If the company you are considering purchasing from does this test AND has them available to view you can be sure the oils are pure with no alterations or dilutions of the product.

Bottom line: do your homework before purchasing.