Your Guide to Choosing Top Quality Essential Oils
Essential oils are not uncommon in the realm of holistic wellness. These natural aromatic compounds, extracted from plants, have long been treasured throughout history for their diverse therapeutic and even medicinal properties. Celebrated in ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and Rome, these potent natural elixirs still hold significant weight in modern wellness practices. However, with their popularity comes a crucial caveat: the necessity of choosing high-quality essential oils.
These days, the market is saturated with essential oils from many different brands; however, the standards of these products can be difficult to attest to. Substandard essential oil products not only dilute the benefits but can also pose significant health risks, ranging from skin irritations to more severe allergic reactions.
Therefore, discerning the purity and source of these oils is not just a matter of preference but of safety and efficacy. In this article, we will delve into the art and science of selecting the right essential oils, ensuring that you harness their benefits without the risks.
What are essential oils?
While most of us are familiar with what an essential oil is, a deeper understanding of their nature and implications is often overlooked.
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts obtained through distillation or cold pressing. The process by which they are extracted depends entirely on the integrity of the plant material being used. For instance, more delicate flowers and leaves often undergo steam distillation, while hardier materials like fruit peels are typically subjected to cold pressing. An example of an essential oil extracted via steam distillation is Kunzea oil, whereas Blood Orange oil is obtained through cold pressing.
Uses of essential oils
The uses of essential oils are as varied as the plants they come from. They can be found in aromatherapy, where they are inhaled or applied to the skin. Essential oils are also used in personal care products, natural remedies, and even in cleaning products for their potent antibacterial properties.
Potential side effects
However, their potency does come with some side effects. Incorrect usage, such as undiluted application on the skin or excessive inhalation, can lead to adverse reactions. These may include skin irritation, allergic reactions, and even hormonal imbalances in severe cases. For example, Eucalyptus oil can cause irritation if used on the skin without dilution with a carrier oil because of its cineole content.
So, before using a new essential oil, it is also important for you to test it by conducting a patch test on a small area of skin.
A breakdown of how to choose essential oils
Selecting the right essential oil is a multifaceted process, encompassing several critical aspects below:
Evaluate the company
The first step is to investigate the company’s transparency. This can be regarding their distillation processes or their certifications.
A great way to find the information above is by looking at the FAQ pages of companies.
For example, with Buckley & Phillips, a brief look at their FAQ page reveals that:
*They are certified by Australian Certified Organic (ACO)
*They do not test on animals.
*Their extraction processes, where a majority of their essential oils, are extracted via steam distillation, and citrus oils such as Lemon, Lime, and Orange are extracted using a cold press of the peel. Also, clear labelling of each essential oil’s extraction method is listed in its product description.
*Their stance on ‘Therapeutic-Grade’ labelling, which they have stated is somewhat misleading as there is currently no government agency or independent organization that provides a standardized grading system for essential oils.
Look at the label
When purchasing a bottle of essential oil, you should ensure the label includes the Latin name of the plant, information about purity or other ingredients added, and the origin of the plant.
For example on the bottle and page of the Buckley & Phillip’s Lemon myrtle oil the following information is explicitly stated:
*Botanical Name: Backhousia citriodora
*Ingredients: 100% Lemon Myrtle essential oil
*Note: Top
*Source: Leaves
*Origin: Australia
*Extraction Method: Steam distillation
*Blends Well With: Fennel, eucalyptus, sandalwood
*Scent: Intensely fresh lemon aroma with crisp, sweet and citrusy notes.
*Properties: Uplifting and purifying. Helps with concentration and clearing the mind.
Dark Colored Glass Importance
The packaging is as important as the oil itself. Essential oils should be housed in dark-coloured glass bottles. This protects the oil from UV light, preventing degradation and maintaining the oil’s integrity and efficacy.
In conclusion, choosing the right essential oil is a delicate balance of understanding its nature, recognising quality indicators, and aligning with ethical and sustainable practices. By being informed and cautious, you can safely and effectively integrate the profound benefits of these essential oils into your wellness routine.
