How to Buy the Purest Essential Oils

By Alexis Mills

The health and wellness community has created a boom in the essential oil industry that has made it a $3.36 billion industry. Chances are the majority of people already have a couple in their homes already to be used for natural treatments. I know when I am shopping for new essential oils, I am worried whether I am choosing the right ones and if they are the real deal.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are potent, natural, plant extracts. They are extremely potent and concentrated so they should be used in small quantities and highly diluted to be safe. Just because they are all-natural does not mean that they are completely safe to use how you would like.

Do They Have Pesticides?

It turns out that you don't have much to worry about with pesticide contamination because of the process used to make essential oils called steam distillation. It somehow separates the essential oil from the plant material, which means there is low risk from pesticides for most.

But with citrus essential oils, there is a higher risk that you should be aware of. Since citrus fruits are most commonly sprayed with pesticides and they have a different process called cold-pressing process. The majority of citrus essential oils such as lemon, orange, tangerine, bergamot, grapefruit, and lime, are much more likely to contain pesticide residue that exceed safe levels.

Organic Is Good, but Doesn't Go Far Enough

Seeking out the organic label when looking for essential oils is the simplest way to find some of the best, but it does not guarantee they will be pesticide-free. Even if it does contain all organic components, it does not mean it wasn't contaminated in some way. Unfortunately, it is a common practice to dilute pure essential oils with cheaper oils and still market and mislabel them as organic. That's why it is best to go a step further than picking out organic and to go with a trustworthy company.

The best practice is to find a company that is transparent about their sourcing and production methods so that you are sure that you are getting the real deal. Ideally, you will want a company who says they perform lab testing to make sure that each of their bottles do not contain pesticides or other harmful chemicals.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Dawsonville, Ga.