One source estimates 95% of all essential oils sold to date on the market are denatured in some form. While this may seem unthinkable, the problem of denatured and adulterated essential oils is a large one. Adulteration is a long used mode of making batches of essential oils stretch, especially when crops yielded a very low amount of quality oil. Essential oils are many times made like perfumes, where the healing qualities are not taken into consideration, but more importantly the scent. This allows for common Lemon grass to be added to or simply replacing Melissa and so forth. This, of course, can create many serious problems when they attempt to be used for healing. Allergic reactions can also come about if the oil someone deems safe is really another cheaper botanical, which one is allergic to. Aromatherapists are placed in a real disadvantage because of these practices and so is the general public attempting self-help.
Adding (adulterating) another oil, a cheaper one, is not the only way essential oils can be denatured. All sorts of laboratory tricks are also sometimes employed, including taking fractions of other botanicals and blending them together to form and exact match, scent-wise, to an expensive essential oils. It's technically still real essential oils, as it comes from once living plants, but since it is bits and pieces, the healing qualities can be greatly denatured as well. A cocktail is made with very unknown properties and possibilities. Some essential oils are even mislabeled completely. Others are blended with so much carrier oil or solvent that their healing qualities are greatly lessened. The label on these products never tell of the adulteration, however, making such oils illegal in countries such as the US, which have laws pertaining to such underhanded tricks to drive profits up. Many 3rd world countries, however, do not take such laws into consideration, and since many essential oils are produced in such countries, one can see the problem emerging.
This once again makes it essential to do research before buying that bottle sitting on the shelf in the health food store. Or from that online drug store with low, low prices on every bottle of essential oil they sell. Look at the label carefully and ask questions of the manufacturer. Buying cheaply made essential oils will continue to send the message that such practices are accepted in Aromatherapy, where it clearly should not be. People should also consider alternatives to bottled essential oils, if they are unable to find quality essential oils in their local stores, including hydrosols and floral waters.
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