Organic Essential Oils

Does the word “organic” assure a chemical-free oil? And does the absence of the word “organic” suggest that chemicals were probably used? The answer to both of these questions is no.

The term “certified organic” means that a farm product meets the requirements of the certifying organization. That being said, the requirements of certifying organizations vary widely, with some allowing limited use of agricultural chemicals. Unless you have the resources to research these requirements, you may not know what you are getting.

Any certification entails expense. Many small farmers who produce a totally clean organic product cannot afford the costs of certification. These costs would either push the price of the finished product beyond the competitive market, or slash the producer’s profit below the level of livelihood.

Personally, I’d purchase an oil that was produced by French conventional farming over one with a U.S. organic certification. I know the standards of French agriculture (very clean), as well as the varying standards of U.S. organic certifications (many allow chemical use).