What's a Buyer to Do?

1. Understand the meaning of “selective farming”, which indicates the producer’s agricultural practices have been examined, and the company offering the oil has confidence that this is an acceptably clean oil, even in the absence of organic certification.

2. Understand the meaning of “ethical wild crafting” or “eco-wild”, which indicates that the company offering the oil has some assurance that the plants were gathered in a way that did not harm the local ecosystem.

3. Citrus oils are more likely to carry residues of agricultural chemicals than other oils. This is because citrus crops are routinely sprayed, and the oils are obtained by cold expression, meaning they are literally wrung out of the peels. The chemicals come across intact. If your budget only allows a few certified organic essential oils, I suggest prioritizing the citruses.

4. Consider your use. If you are only using your orange oil to degrease the laundry, the higher cost of an organic oil may not be worth it. However, if you are using your lemon oil in an anti-viral room spray, organic may be the way to go.

5. Take the time to ask questions of the essential oil supplier. Good suppliers will be happy to talk with you about your concerns.

6. Packaging will tell you a lot. A quality essential oil will be packaged in dark glass bottles (no plastic!) with integrated droppers for precise dispensing. The label or accompanying literature will give you a lot of detailed information. You should be able to tell the common name of the plant, the botanical name of the plant, the part of the plant from which the oils was produced, the method of extraction, the method of cultivation and the country of origin.

7. Real essential oils vary widely in pricing depending on the plant. Some plants (like oranges) produce a high volume of oil with relatively low labor costs. Others, like rose, produce a tiny volume and are very labor intensive. Pricing on genuine oils reflects these variations.

8. Finally, judge your oils with the nose test and the efficacy test. Does it smell clean and pure? Does it work for you? This may be the ultimate test. The nose knows!