Some Common Questions About Essential Oils Answered.
Nearly everyone has heard of essential oils and there is no shortage of places to purchase them. From multi-level marketing companies, specialty stores, online retailers to supermarkets and grocery stores. But there are so many questions about essential oils we thought we would answer some of the more common questions here.
Were is the best place to buy essential oils?
There are many good places to purchase your essential oils from and some which you should avoid. So how do you know?
- Specialty and online retailers are usually quite knowledgeable and often specially trained and educated. In addition, they know how to source essential oils from around the world.
- Multi-level marketing companies are one of the most common places and are often a good source. Remember that there is typically a long chain of people that need to get paid on every transaction so pricing can tend to be higher.
- Grocery stores, pharmacies and general retailers are less likely that you will be purchasing pure unadulterated essential oils. A good indication of this is price. Rose oil for example can sell for over $100 for just 5ML, so if you are paying much less than this, chances are it is not pure rose essential oil.
Are Essential Oils Safe?
The short answer to this is yes! Although this is a very complex subject and there are thousands of essential oils, all with their own unique composition of constituents and compounds. To keep it simple here are some general rules of thumb.
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Do not ingest essential oils. You will find some very strong opinions about this but we are approaching this with caution. If you want to educate yourself on the subject you can read the many books published by Kurt Schnaubelt or Robert Tisserand both of whom are among the worlds leading experts on essential oils.
- Topically apply essential oils that are diluted in carrier oils or in creams and lotions. There are many essential oils that can be applied neat but since that is also a complex subject, follow this general rule
- Pregnancy and Essential oils – Most properly diluted essential oils are safe. Essential oils use should be avoided during the first trimester, however the use of certain properly diluted oils such as lavender and roman chamomile can be used from the onset and are also safe for newborns. Always do your research on what oils to avoid.
Do Essential Oils Expire
Once again, the simple answer is yes! Some essential oils are like fine wine, they only get better with age, however since we are keeping it simple you can in general expect to get 3+ years of shelf life. It is important that you store them properly ideally in amber glass bottles, tightly sealed and stored in a cool dry place.
We will be answering more of your essential oil questions in the blogs to come. In the meantime we will continue to formulate, always rooted in aromatherapy.
