Last Updated on October 20, 2024
How can you tell if your essential oils are pure? We will be letting you in on some secret tips to help you detect the purity of your lavender, olive, citronella and other household essential oils.
For you to get the best out of your essential oil, you will need it to be in the best possible conditions. This includes been free from contaminants that can alter the efficacy of the oil. You will need to ensure that you employ the best handling methods when it comes to essential oils. This includes storing it properly in a cool dry place; so it can stay fresh for whenever you want to use it.
It can be difficult to ascertain the quality of your essential. This is because you can’t be certain of the methods used by the farmers in growing the seeds, harvesting the plants, and the manufacturing procedures used in extracting the oils.
The first point of contamination of essential oil begins from the planting stage. This takes into consideration the nature of soil, and whether or not pesticides and other chemicals came in contact with the plant.
The processing method is another thing you need to worry about when it comes to the issue of essential oils purity. This is because it is very possible for your essential oils to be diluted with other substances hence affecting its purity.
The manner in which your essential oil is packaged and stored can also affect its quality. Ideally, essential oils are not supposed to be exposed to heat, oxygen, or light after they have been processed. This is why you mostly see the warning on the labels about storing the product in a cool dry place. Most essential oils are prone to oxidation when they are not stored properly.
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How do you know if an essential oil is good quality?
While it is true that you can’t be 100% sure of the origin of your essential oil, there are some telltale signs to be on the lookout for to help you ascertain the purity of essential oils. We have provided you with a few tips below to help you tell if your essential oils are pure.
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Ask about the purity and the extraction process
Before you make payments on any essential oils, you want to ensure that you ask the supplier or seller about the purity of the product. It is best to always purchase from sellers who are distillers themselves or who have a close relationship with one. This way, there will be able to provide you with enough useful information about the product. They will also be able to give you a form of guarantee about the purity of the product.
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Buy Essential oils according to their plant derivatives
If you truly want to get a product that is truly pure, then you want to ensure that you buy the right product. This means that if you are in the market for Lavender essential oil; make sure you buy a product that is made from only lavender oil. This way, you can ascertain that the product is 100% Lavender oil (or according to the manufacturers). If you find a product that doesn’t have information on the package about the ingredients in the mix; you certainly want to avoid it, and purchase the ones you can easily identify the ingredients.
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Check that it says 100% pure
You shouldn’t buy an essential oil that doesn’t say “100% pure” on the label. While it is possible that this can be employed as a marketing strategy by the manufacturers, it is necessary as it gives you the assurance that the oil is the real deal. If it doesn’t say so on the label, then the product likely contains other substances and isn’t worth your money.
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Use the price to check the purity
You can also use the price of the product to determine whether it is pure or not. This is because most essential oils are quite expensive. If you find a product with an unusually low price, then it could be that it has been diluted and isn’t 100% pure. An essential oil that is made from the purest of practices would likely be priced high. This is due to the nature of the ingredients and procedures used in extracting the oil. You know how they say quality doesn’t come cheap.
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You could ask for a sample
This is important when you want to buy essential oil in bulk. You should request a sample from the supplier to test whether the product is 100% pure. If the supplier is certain about the purity of the product, they wouldn’t hesitate to leave you with a sample if it would lead to more sales.
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Perform a purity test
This is advisable if you want to buy essential oils in bulk for use in making a commercial product like organic skin and hair care products. There are a number of essential oil tests you can carry out and they include
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GC/MS testing
This is referred to as the gold standard essential oil test. Here, you first ask for a sample of the product for testing before purchase; and after the whole order has been supplied, you still perform a test of the bulk batch. This is to eliminate the possibility of the supplier switching the products after the samples have been tested and declared pure.
When performing GC/MS testing, it is important that you ensure that the procedure was signed and checked by a chemist. This helps to guarantee that the test is genuine and also provides you with a contact name in case you have any issues regarding the test.
The best way to tell if your essential oil is pure is to perform a purity test. We understand this procedure can expensive, and quite unnecessary if you are just buying a small amount of the product. This is why we have provided you with some other useful tips above. You can ensure that your essential oil stays pure by covering it properly with an airtight lid and storing it in a cool dry place.
How do you preserve your essential oils? We will like to hear from you in the comment section.
Lacey is an environmental enthusiast and passionate advocate for living green and sustainable. She believes that everyone can make a difference, no matter how small. Lacey is dedicated to reducing her own carbon footprint and educating others on the importance of living greener. She is an advocate for green energy and sustainable practices. She is an active member of her local community, volunteering with local conservation efforts, and taking part in sustainability initiatives. Lacey is a firm believer that the only way to ensure a sustainable future is to work together and make small, but important changes.