Many find ourselves in the same situation of pondering if that low-priced bottle of lavender essential oil is worth buying. Is it really worth it? While the saying “you get what you pay for” is usually standard in the essential oil market, a store may markdown essential oil products due to slow sales. However, consistently cheaply priced essential oil products usually should raise a red flag to consumers. Certain botanicals produce smaller amounts of quality essential oil. This means that certain essential oils will always be more costly to consumers. Rose is a fine example. If you see a brand of essential oil where all of the types are the same price, watch out. Fragrance oils may really be lurking in the bottles, which are not suitable for Aromatherapy use. Unfortunately a number of disturbing reports have come out about the constant adulteration of essential oils. Adulterants, usually very low-grade essential oils, are added to more costly oils in order to make the batch stretch. This is then not reported to the consumer. This is of course illegal in the US. The possibility for allergic reactions to the unknown substances is very real when disclosure of all ingredients is not made. This is why “blends” have become so very popular among companies producing essential oils. While many tout them as synergies, they may really be cheaper essential oils thrown together to create more volume and revenue. Being educated about the role of synergistic blending will prevent disappointing results with essential such products. Especially if you note an energizing or invigorating oil being incorporated into a blend called “Slumber”.
Getting back to the “impulse buy” store setting, there are some things you can do to help in making the decision to buy or pass. One of the most simple yet important is to ask yourself if the scent of the oil smells like actual botanical. Once again this is where education comes into play. It is likely a good idea not to buy myrrh for example unless you have smelled the real thing! Many cheaper lavender essential oils don’t smell as sweet and sugary as true lavender flowers because the whole plant is used in the extraction process. While the foliage is highly fragrant as well, it has an earthy nature that isn’t as pleasant. In addition who knows how the essential oils effect is changed by the addition of the leaves. Each area of a plant usually has unique inert chemicals.
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