When buying essential oils always look for labels that state "therapeutic grade". Most people think the words, "Pure" or "100 per cent Pure" on the label indicate the oils are good for healing. This is just not true. Price is sometimes a good indicator of quality. I have seen lavender oil for $5.00 and rose oil for $10.00. It takes around 5000 pounds of rose petals to make 1 pound of rose oil. If you see rose oil for under $100.00, how could it be pure/therapeutic rose oil?

Much more is involved in therapeutic grade oil than just the purity. If they are not properly grown and distilled, they won't be therapeutic grade.

The key to producing a therapeutic (healing) grade essential oil is to preserve as many of the delicate aromatic compounds within the essential oil as possible. Fragile aromatic chemicals are easily destroyed by high temperature and pressure, as well as contact with chemically reactive metals such as copper or aluminum. This is why all therapeutic-grade essential oils should be distilled in stainless steel cooking chambers at low pressure and low temperature.

The plant material should also be free of herbicides and other agrichemicals. These can react with the essential oil during distillation to produce toxic compounds. Because many pesticides are oil-soluble, they can also mix into the essential oil.

As we begin to understand the power of essential oils in the realm of personal, holistic healthcare, we will appreciate the necessity for obtaining the purest essential oils possible. No matter how costly pure essential oils may be, there can be no substitutes.

From Essential Oils Desk Reference

(Third Edition) p.7

Annette Kemper

Young Living Independent Distributor

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