How to Evaluate Purity of Essential Oils - Qualities to Verify Therapeutic Grade Oils

Evaluating Purity of Essential Oils

Essential oils have grown in popularity for their uses in aromatherapy, personal care products, cleaning solutions and more. But with this rise in demand, the market has become flooded with poor quality and adulterated oils. So how do you know if the essential oil you purchased is pure?

Understanding Essential Oil Purity Grades

Essential oils are often assigned grades to indicate their level of purity. Here is what each grade signifies:

• Therapeutic Grade - No contaminants, unaltered from original plant material
• Food Grade - Safe for ingesting in small amounts
• Perfumery Grade - May contain synthetics, not safe for ingesting

Any oil less than therapeutic grade would be considered adulterated or impure to some degree. However, there are no official bodies governing these designations in the essential oil industry.

5 Ways to Evaluate Essential Oil Purity

Since purity grades aren't well regulated, here are 5 characteristics to evaluate:

1. Organoleptic Testing

This involves using your senses of sight, smell and taste to determine an oil's purity.

Pure, high quality essential oils should exhibit the following organoleptic properties:

• Appear clear with no cloudiness or sediments
• Smell true to their natural aroma without off odors
• Taste characteristic when placed on the tongue

2. Gas Chromatography + Mass Spectrometry

GC/MS tests analyze the chemical breakdown of an essential oil. The resulting chromatograms will indicate if the oil contains only natural chemicals from the plant species it claims to be from.

3. ISO Standards

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sets standards for essential oil quality and purity. ISO certified oils must pass physical, chemical and sensory testing.

4. Batch Testing by Third Parties

Independent laboratories can test each new batch of oil from a supplier for purity. They perform gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, microbial testing and more to issue quality reports.

5. Supplier Reputation + Traceability

Reputable essential oil companies can trace their oils back to original field sites and distillers. They often submit their oils for third party testing and provide reports. Buying from trusted suppliers is key.

How to Choose High Quality Essential Oils

Now that you know how essential oil purity can be measured, here are some best practices for choosing oils ethically sourced from the correct botanical species:

1. Seek Organic + Wild-Harvested

The healthiest essential oils use plant material grown without pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. Wild-harvesting is best for sustainability.

2. Choose First Distillations

First distillation essential oils have volatile compounds most true to aroma of the natural plant. They exhibit qualities lacking in second and third distillations.

3. Look for Dark Bottles

Essential oils are sensitive to light and heat damage and oxidation. Oils packaged in dark cobalt blue or amber glass offer stability.

4. Buy Smaller Sizes

Buying oils in smaller quantities ensures they remain fresh. Once a bottle is opened, the volatile aromatic compounds start evaporating.

5. Read Oil Labels Closely

Oil labels should state: botanical species, country source, distillation method, batch number, storage advice, warnings and more.

6. Ask for GC/MS Reports

Quality suppliers will provide gas chromatography and mass spectrometry reports from independent labs upon request.

Evaluating Essential Oil Companies

In addition to evaluating individual oils, its wise to vet essential oil companies before making purchases by considering:

Founding Date + Experience

Long standing companies focused specifically on essential oils tend to have greater integrity, expertise and consistency.

Ethical + Sustainable Sourcing

Quality essential oil companies nurture partnerships built directly with distillers worldwide to source ethically and promote sustainability.

Purity Processes

Detailed information should be available from suppliers regarding testing of plants, soils and oils to back up purity claims.

Price Transparency

Higher prices dont guarantee higher purity. But very cheap oils likely underwent shortcuts or adulterations.

Access to Reports

Reports on gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, microbiology and other tests offer proof of purity from batch to batch.

Safe + Effective Essential Oil Usage

With the rising popularity of essential oils, improper use also seems to be growing. To use essential oils safely and effectively:

Consult an Aromatherapist

Work with a clinical aromatherapist or herbalist trained to design custom oil combinations and dosages for your needs.

Dilute Properly with a Carrier Oil

Most oils require dilution to 5% or less before applying to skin to prevent sensitization. Good options for carriers oils include coconut, jojoba, olive, sweet almond or avocado oil and lotions.

Research Contraindications

Certain essential oils are risky for pregnant women, babies and young children, seniors and those with health conditions. Understand usage guidelines first.

Perform a Patch Test

Rub a diluted essential oil blend on a small patch of skin first to check for allergic reactions or skin sensitivity before broader use.

Using properly sourced therapeutic grade essential oils and following usage best practices minimizes risks. But friends sharing oils or buying from vague online sources increases chances that oils are adulterated, misused or generally not optimized for health purposes.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.