How to Choose the Best Essential Oils

Essential oils are all the rage these days. From aromatherapy and massages to skincare, they have infiltrated our lives for the better. However, it can be quite tricky to find the right essential oils for yourself. Read on to find out some tips for choosing the right essential oils.

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Essential oils are naturally derived from plants through distillation. It is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid that captures the essence of the plant. Essential oils are made up of chemical compounds, including the aromatic compounds from the plant; hence they provide the unique fragrance or scent of the associated plant. They can be obtained through various methods, including steam distillation, water distillation, and cold process method. Although they are widely used nowadays, essential oils are still a mystery. However, they have been shown to provide some physical and mental health benefits and can be used in a variety of ways, including

• Including essential oils in massages also seems to have a similar effect on the body. However, the relaxation mostly lasts only as long as the massage.
• Dabbing a small amount of Lavender oil, Peppermint Oil, or Chamomile oil on the temples can lessen the effects of headaches. In fact, applying a mix of chamomile and sesame oil to the temples is an old Perisian remedy for migraines and headaches.
• These oils include Tea Tree oil, Peppermint oil, Eucalyptus oil, etc.
• They can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin via a diffuser or a direct massage to the affected area.
• For example, dry skin can be treated and cared for by using oils such as Chamomile, Lavender, and Sandalwood. Whereas, for oily skin, the best oils are Geranium, Frankincense, and Rosemary.

• Organic or Non-Organic – When it comes to essential oils, there is no hard answer for the organic or non-organic debate. During the distillation process to make essential oils, most of the unwanted parts of the oil are filtered out. In the end, you are left with the smallest possible essential molecule, whereas the molecules of pesticides are quite large in comparison. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that most of the pesticide is left out of the final essential oil. Similarly, many conventional essential oil companies make high-quality oils, even when they are not organic. So, it all comes down to personal preference.
• Check the Label – This is a bit of general advice that never gets old; read the label before buying anything. For essential oils, the labels are significant as it is relatively easy to make fake essential oils. The label should mention how the plants were grown, where they were grown, how the oil is processed (via steam distillation, cold-process, chemical distillation, etc.), when the oil was distilled and the expiration date, and the state of the plant from which the oil is derived (fresh or dried plant) as you only want fresh, the Latin or botanical name of the plant, etc. Moreover, terms like ‘therapeutic grade,’ ‘natural,’ ‘pure,’ don’t mean much as it doesn’t require a certification, and hence, the words mean nothing.
• Sniff It – Essential oils are very concentrated. Therefore, they should smell potent if they are actually the real thing. Sniff the bottle and look for a natural but strong scent. Trust your nose to make the right decision.
• Consider the Price – It takes hundreds and thousands of flowers and other parts of the plants to make a small bottle of essential oil. Consequently, essential oils can be quite expensive, and rightly so. Therefore, consider the price tag of the oil. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Check the Bottle – Amber glass bottles are good fit. Most oils come with a glass dropper or an orifice reducer that gives out one drop at a time. Plastic bottles are an absolute no as the highly volatile compounds in essential oils don’t sit well with plastic.
• Avoid Fragrance Oil – Unfortunately, it is quite common for fragrance oils to be sold as essential oils. Fragrance oils are synthetic oils that are not infused with the beneficial properties of the parent plant. They only contain the scent of the plant and are diluted with artificial substances.