How to Choose Pure, High-Quality Essential Oils

Not all essential oils are created equal. Essential oil purity refers to whether an essential oil is authentic, undiluted and free from synthetic fragrances, fillers or undeclared ingredients.

But purity is only one part of the picture. Where a plant is grown, how it is harvested, how the oil is extracted and how it is tested can all influence essential oil quality.

At ECO. Modern Essentials, we believe knowing what goes into your essential oils (and what doesn’t) should be simple!

What Does Oil Purity Mean?

Oil purity means an essential oil contains only the naturally occurring aromatic compounds obtained from the stated botanical source, without synthetic fragrances, fillers or undeclared carrier oils.

When an essential oil is described as 100% pure & natural, it should remain true to the plant it came from.

This differs from a fragrance oil, which may use synthetic aromatic ingredients. It also differs from an adulterated essential oil, where another substance is added. This can change or extend the original oil.

Choosing pure essential oils helps you feel more confident in the product’s identity, aroma, and composition.

What Determines Essential Oil Quality?

Essential oil quality is determined by the botanical source, growing conditions, harvest, extraction, storage and testing of the oil.

Some of the most important factors include:

• Botanical source: Soil, climate, location and growing conditions can influence a plant’s natural chemical profile.
• Harvesting: When and how a plant is harvested can affect the composition of its essential oil.
• Extraction method: Many essential oils are steam distilled, while citrus essential oils are often cold pressed.
• Storage: Exposure to excessive heat, light and oxygen can affect an essential oil over time.
• Purity testing: Laboratory analysis can help verify an oil’s botanical identity and chemical composition.

ECO. sources botanicals according to where they grow best climatically and seasonally. Our essential oils go through GC/MS testing before bottling. This helps us check their chemical makeup and purity.

What Is GC/MS Testing for Essential Oils?

GC/MS stands for Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. It is a laboratory testing method used to analyse the individual chemical components within an essential oil.

The resulting chemical profile can be compared with what is expected from that particular botanical species.

GC/MS testing is an important part of essential oil quality control because it can help identify inconsistencies, unexpected compounds or potential adulteration.

You can learn more about GC/MS testing here.

How Can You Tell if an Essential Oil Is High Quality?

When choosing an essential oil, it helps to check how it is sourced, made and tested. Do not rely on marketing terms or grading labels.

Signs of high essential oil quality include:

1. 100% pure & natural labelling
2. Botanical names that clearly identify the plant species
3. Transparent ingredient information
4. Appropriate extraction methods for the botanical
5. Responsible and transparent sourcing
6. GC/MS or other quality testing to assess purity and chemical composition

You may also come across terms such as “therapeutic grade oils” or different essential oil “grades”. There is no universally regulated grading system for essential oils, so these terms should not be used as the sole measure of quality. Instead, focus on the information a brand provides about what is in the bottle and how the oil has been produced.

What About Australian Essential Oils?

Australia is home to some extraordinary aromatic plants, including Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Lemon Myrtle.

Australian essential oils can provide distinctive aromatic profiles while celebrating botanicals grown closer to home. ECO.’s range includes oils from Australian native and locally grown plants. It also includes essential oils carefully sourced worldwide, from regions where each botanical thrives.

For us, quality isn't about sourcing everything from one location. It is about selecting botanicals from environments where they can grow and perform at their best.

The Key Takeaway

Ultimately, essential oil purity and essential oil quality come down to transparency from source to bottle.

At ECO. Modern Essentials, we carefully source and test our essential oils so you can feel confident knowing what is inside every drop.

Explore ECO.’s 100% pure & natural essential oils and discover quality you can trust.

FAQs

What does essential oil purity mean?
Essential oil purity refers to whether an oil is authentic and free from synthetic fragrances, fillers or undeclared ingredients. A pure essential oil should reflect the natural chemical profile of the botanical it comes from.

How can you tell if an essential oil is 100% pure?
Look for clear ingredient information, the botanical name of the plant, the appropriate extraction method and evidence of quality testing such as GC/MS analysis. Transparency around sourcing and testing is also a good indicator of a reputable essential oil brand.

What determines essential oil quality?
Essential oil quality is influenced by the plant species, where and how it is grown, harvesting conditions, extraction method, storage and quality testing. Even naturally pure essential oils can vary slightly between harvests because plants are affected by their growing environment.

What does 100% pure & natural essential oil mean?
A 100% pure & natural essential oil contains naturally derived essential oil from the stated botanical source without synthetic fragrance ingredients or undeclared fillers. Always check the product label, as some essential oil products are intentionally diluted or blended for specific uses.

What does therapeutic grade mean in essential oils?
“Therapeutic grade” is a commonly used marketing term rather than a universally regulated essential oil grading system. Instead of relying on a grade, consider factors such as botanical identification, sourcing, extraction methods, ingredient transparency and quality testing.

What is GC/MS testing for essential oils?
GC/MS, or Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, is a laboratory method used to analyse the chemical components of an essential oil. It can help confirm botanical identity, assess the expected chemical profile and identify unexpected compounds as part of a broader quality-control process.