More and more people are waking up and becoming label readers and empowered consumers, which is awesome, but it also means companies are consistently jumping on the bandwagon to try and offer their own version of “essential oils” and participating in greenwashing of different personal care and household products.
It seems like errrr'company wants to hop on the essential oil bandwagon. Companies are suddenly carrying their own "essential oils" or new companies are claiming to be as pure + effective as others who have been around for years. How do you sift through all the conflicting info?
How do you know who's giving you the real deal and who is cutting corners to get product out faster + make a higher profit?
How the heck do you choose from among so many different companies?
Well, friend, you've gotta do some research. And I'm not talking about reading some rando blog posts (obvi this super-helpful-amazing-one excluded, haha). But seriously, I'm talking about actually CALLING the companies and digging into what they say on their websites to track down what's legit and what isn't.
After all my personal research and seeing the change in our family’s health, I can tell you why I have chosen the company I love and trust, but you have to find what feels right for you and aligns with your standards. Here are some great questions to ask of the company you're considering buying your essential oils from to see if their values align with yours...BEFORE they get your money. We've spaced out each question so you can print this list out and jot down the answers you get. Here we go!
How long have you been in business?
Do your oils have expiration dates?
How many single oils do you have? How many blends?
What other toxin-free products do you carry, if any?
Do you own any farms on which to raise plants for oils? If so, are they new farms on land formerly polluted with or currently using herbicides, pesticides, or other chemical additives that contain residuals from the past - or - are they farming land that is clean, which has never been cultivated or has been untilled for at least the last 50 years?
Do you have your own fully-equipped testing laboratory to verify an oil’s composition?
Do you or your suppliers supplement the distillation process with solvents to extract additional oil from the plant matter?
Do you know if your suppliers bottle their oils directly from the distillery without modifying the composition of the natural oil by adding anything or taking anything away?
If you (or your suppliers) make a mistake in the distillation or harvesting processes that result in an inferior grade of oil, do you or that supplier sell the oil anyway or do you discard it?
If you purchase oils from outside suppliers, what control do you have in the distilleries and / or farms of those suppliers, to observe if the herbs are grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers? To ensure the oils are being distilled without solvents and that the only first distillation is being used? How do you adhere to ethical practices?
Do you know if the grower has a testing laboratory on the farm to determine when the crop is at its peak for oil harvesting?
Do you know if the crops were actually harvested at their peak time and, if so, was there an inordinate delay in taking them to the still and into the cookers?
Do you know if your distillery personnel understand the art and science of distilling, exactly how to pack the cookers, how to administer the steam, how to maintain minimum temperatures and pressures throughout the cooker, and how to continuously monitor the process throughout distillation to make sure the oil produced contains all of its components in the proper proportions?
Do you have anyone on staff with a trained nose who can analyze oils by their smell? (There are less than 200 people in the world with noses sufficiently trained to discern the chemistry of a fragrance.)
Do you know if the cookers in the distilleries of their suppliers have domed lids or cone-shaped lids? (Most stills use dome-shaped lids. Cone topped cookers deliver a better grade of oil than dome tops.)
Not everybody has time to research and get these answers themselves - and that’s okay! Author and aromatherapist Jen O’Sullivan took hours and hours, researching company websites and calling to speak with their representatives to compile a brand comparison chart that will give you some of the answers to those questions and give you a great head start on your own research. I’m happy to mail you a copy of this incredible info; simply message me to request your copy.
Ready to learn a little more about what essential oils can do for you and your family? Join us at our next workshop. You’ve got this!
When you invest in your wellness, you're not alone - we're here to walk alongside you as we grow in wellness, purpose, and abundance. Together, we'll help you find answers to your questions and build lasting relationships along the way.
We're here to pay it forward. A friend helped empower us and now we're here to share what we've learned so you can make the best choices for you and your family, too!
Start by claiming your free guide, like Simple, Natural Ways to Boost Your Mood. You can also head over to learn more about why it's important for us all to become educated consumers.
Comments