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General Guidance for Essential Oil Purchase and Storage

When we are making our decision to purchase essential oils (EO) , we often afraid that we might buy the synthetic or adulteration essential oils. 

There are many essential oil's suppliers advertise “the best”, “the pure” or “natural”, but actually there are not. To reduce the cost, some of the suppliers will mixed with the considerable volumes of various diluents. The worst, you might even get the synthetic EO, but you didn’t aware of it. 

But how to choose genuine and authentic EO? Most of the aromatherapy practitioners will tell you to use your own organoleptic “odour” assessment when choosing a good quality of EO. You need to train your senses… When you are familiarizes with it, you will be automatically known how to choose the genuine and authentic quality of EO. But most of the consumer is not being train in this area. 

Therefore, he or she might have a big chances buying synthetic or adulteration EO. Therefore, I prepared some general guides as follows. Hope this will help you when choosing your own EO.

Be an educated consumer.

General Guidance for Essential Oil Purchase

1. Read the botanical Latin name at label

There are around 30 species of Lavender and there are four main Lavender species EO in the market: True Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia), Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) and maritime lavender (Lavandula stoechas). It is depends on what purpose you want to achieve when you purchase those EO.

2. Aware of the country of origin

EO produced from the same botanical species, but grown in difference countries can have a very different chemical composition. For example, Rosemary ct cineole is rich in 1,8-cineole which is best used for respiration issue and Rosemary ct verbenone has excellent regenerative properties. 

3. Aware of the extraction methods 

For example, rose essential oil can be obtained through distillation or solvent extraction.  

4. Choose the EO sold in brown bottles or platinum containers. Do not buy EO in clear glass or plastic containers. 


5. Choose Organic, wild craft or pesticide free

I prefer using organic and pesticide free EO for treatment purpose. It is believe that some allergic reactions to essential oils have been due to the pesticide or herbicide residue.  


General Guidance for Essential Oil Storage

  1. Stored in dark and cool place. It is preferable to store the essential oil in refrigerator (put in an enclosed plastic container to prevent the odours mingling with stored foods) due to the Malaysia weather is hot. 
  2. Keep away from heat and light to prevent oxidation. For example citrus essential oils are very unstable and may last for only a few months, oxidized citrus oil is more likely to cause dermal sensitisation. 
  3. Keep out of reach for children and pets. 
  4. Store away from sources of fire.


Reference

Maria Lis-Balchin (2006), Aromatherapy Science: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals, Pharmaceutical Press.
Battaglia, S. (2002) The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (second edition). Brisbane: The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy

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