Tips On Buying Essential Oils

It is vital to obtain only the purest aromatherapy grade essential oils. Most aromatherapists buy their oils from specialist mail order suppliers, not from shops concerned with beauty and perfumery. The advantages offered by mail order suppliers include a wider range of oils and lower prices on larger quantities. However, if you are new to aromatherapy, it may be best to buy your oils from a health shop or other retail outlet specialising in natural remedies. This will give you the opportunity to smell the essences before buying.

 

But do check that an essential oil labelled as such is in fact 100 per cent essential oil. You may come across a bottle labelled 'Aromatherapy Oil', which often means it is a mixture of about 2-3 per cent essential oil in a carrier such as grapeseed or almond oil. These are fine as ready-mixed massage oils, albeit an expensive way to enjoy aromatherapy. For instance, a 10 ml bottle (the average size) of a diluted essence is barely enough for a single face and neck massage, whereas a 10 ml bottle of concentrated essential oil, once correctly diluted, is enough for over 100 face and neck massages

 

Moreover, ready-mixed oils are not concentrated enough to be used by the drop to perfume the bath water; neither are they suitable for use in vaporisers for perfuming rooms. Indeed, the entire contents of a 10 ml bottle (approximately two teaspoonfuls) of ready-mixed oil added to a bath full of water would emanate a faint aroma, whereas just two drops of the concentrated essence would result in a stronger aroma. Diluted oils also have a limited shelf-life.