Essential Oils: How to choose – Part I

Marina Lando, MS, RM, 1059 CRP

There is a lot of confusion about the quality of essential oils.

So to simplify your life you need to know that….

Essential oils can be of:
1. Food grade
2. Perfume grade
3. Therapeutic grade

The production of food and perfume grade is focused on keeping the smell/taste constant from year to year and from batch to batch. It is a little tricky: essential oils as wines are different from harvest to harvest. Unfortunately, some of the health benefits are lost due to production process.

Therapeutic grade essential oils produced under lower temperatures from organic plants without the use of harsh solvents. They are more expansive, because the process is less “efficient”.

So which one you have to use?

The answer is simple:
1. If you want to make food with essential oils and do not intend to get any therapeutic result besides pleasant taste and smell, go with “food grade”. As usually these oils have a label that says “food grade” – it means they are safe to consume in small quantities.
2. If you just into creating your own perfumes or air freshener go with perfume grades.
3. If you are looking for therapeutic results – find a local aromatherapy practitioner. She/he already made all the research, fell in love with some reputable company, uses oils that produce results and will choose essential oils that will work for your particular case.

To learn more read Part II

Local (Raleigh/Durham, NC) businesses where you can have an aromatherapy session and get advice about essential oils:
Harmony Life – Raindrop, Reiki and Aromatherapy sessions
Ayurvedic Bodywork Center – Ayurvedic massage
Healthy Steps – Raindrop
Aromatherapy Celebrations - Spiritual Healing with essential oils

For more info on aromatherapy:
Aromatherapy Facebook page
Purchase therapeutic grade essential oils

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1. Essential Oil: How to choose – Part II
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4. Essential oils for depression and anxiety
5. Aromatherapy: What it is and what it is not