Oils Ain’t Oils!

Things to consider when purchasing essential oils

Written by Jess Agnello | Spa Therapist

People often ask why there can be a big difference in prices when purchasing essential oils. Or may say I don’t use essential oils because they just smell too strong and they give me a headache. There is a reason for this, there’s many essential oils on the market and not are all a high grade 100% pure essential oil. I will explain some of the differences.

Synthetic essential oils: they are pretty much a cheap way of imitating the aroma of a plant. Synthetic essential oils, as the name suggests, use synthetically reproduced chemicals (such as petroleum) to recreate some of the properties found in nature. Synthetic E.O’s are potentially carcinogenic and it is advisable to steer clear of these as much as possible. These are mostly used in things such as cheap perfume, fresheners and are not suitable for therapeutic use.

Natural essential oils: are derived from a real plant, but in order to keep the price lower they can often include alcohols, chemical dilutants or other fillers, or mix cheaper oils.
These additives can be harmful to the body and reduce the effectiveness of the oil. They are not recommended for therapeutic use.

Low grade 100% pure essential oil: these are made from plants which are not grown in their own habitat, grown in created plant fields. These fields will not have the same soil quality and may even be contaminated, or pesticides may have been used to maximise the harvest.

High grade 100% pure essential oils: these have the highest standard of essential oils purity and potency. These oils are sourced from their own natural habitat and are not contaminated from polluted soils or pesticides. They do not contain any fillers or artificial ingredients and the companies who produce these have strict quality control.
Ikou stock the highest grade 100% pure essential oils. They can be used in a diffuser in a bath or add 8 drops to a carrier oils to blend your own massage oil.