Essential Oils - Know Your Source

Have you noticed "aromatherapy" products are becoming popular? The word "aromatherapy" is used on packaging for soap, shampoo, bath oil, perfume, lip balm, deodorant, tea, food, and scented candles to name only a few. What does "aromatherapy" really mean? How do we know if a product contains true, pure, therapeutic grade essential oils or just a fragrance?

To begin sorting out how to find high quality aromatherapy oils check the label and the literature provided by the company. The label should have a common name such as "Lavender." It should also have a Latin name to identify the plant source, for example Lavendula angustifolia. Be sure the label tells you the quantity of oil in ounces or milliliters as well (1/2 fl oz or 15 ml). It's a common practice among some companies to sell a 1/3 oz of oil in a 1/2 oz or 1 oz bottle. A product's packaging can be misleading! The company's phone number or address should also be on the label to provide you with a way to contact them with any questions you may have about their product. The literature provided by the company about their products should give clear instructions on how to use the oil safely and the therapeutic qualities of each oil.

Next, you might want to find out how the company assures the quality of their oils. Do they import their oils themselves or do they purchase them through a middleman? Do they test their oils with GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) technology to identify the chemical constituents of an oil and to be sure that the oil is pure and uncut? If a company is willing to provide you with this information and answers these questions with honesty and assurance, you can be certain that the oils you are buying will be of a high quality.

One reason to be concerned with quality is that many of the synthetically perfumed oils on the market cause allergies and other reactions such as headaches. Pure, high quality essential oils can actually relieve symptoms such as these.

Why do the prices of essential oils vary so dramatically? It has a lot to do with the plants themselves. For example, jasmine flowers are tiny and give off their strongest scent during the night. The labor-intensive process of hand harvesting the flowers just before sunrise and the enormous quantity of flowers needed to produce a small amount of oil both contribute to the price. On the other end of the spectrum, essential oil of orange is machine pressed from the rind of the orange, which yields relatively large quantities of oil. As you might imagine, a bottle of pure jasmine oil will cost significantly more than an equivalent amount of pure orange oil. You can expect essential oil prices ranging from approximately $10 to $80 a bottle depending on the essential oil you're purchasing.

With so many possible toxins in our environment today (e.g. pesticides, synthetic fragrances, food colorings, and food preservatives) it seems wise to use body care products that are natural and contribute to our well being. Pure, high quality essential oils can both prevent and relieve many common ailments as well as enhance our health.

21 Nov 2008 10:09:11

Oil rises from 3-year low as stocks rebound - The Associated Press

China Daily Oil rises from 3-year low as stocks rebound The Associated Press - SINGAPORE (AP) Oil prices rose off a 3-year low, creeping above $50 a barrel Friday in Asia as investors took a cue from a rebound in regional stock ... Oil prices tumble to three-year low Oil Prices Steady Ahead of Supply Data Crude oil futures hit lower circuit on weak global cues -

Source: http://google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i5TtajgUpSm7KY~

21 Nov 2008 09:47:11

UPDATE 1-Gunmen attack Nigerian navy near Shell oil facility - Reuters

AFP UPDATE 1-Gunmen attack Nigerian navy near Shell oil facility Reuters - L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) crude oil flow station on Friday, a military spokesman said. The attack at the Nembe Creek flow station in Bayelsa ... Gunmen attack Nigeria navy boat near Shell station: commander

Source: http://reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSLL29213520081121

21 Nov 2008 07:17:50

Crude Oil Tumbles to Lowest Since May 2005 as Recession Deepens - Bloomberg

BBC News Crude Oil Tumbles to Lowest Since May 2005 as Recession Deepens Bloomberg - 21 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil traded near the lowest level since May 2005, after falling almost $100 a barrel below its July peak as a deepening recession ... Refiners pinched as gas price falls faster than oil Global recession drives oil under $50 barrel to 3 1 2-year low Sector roundup: National banks, oil cos. -

Source: http://bloomberg.com/apps/news

20 Nov 2008 22:23:29

World Markets, Oil Prices Decline Thursday - Voice of America

Yahoo World Markets, Oil Prices Decline Thursday Voice of America - If there has been a bright spot for consumers in recent weeks, it is the precipitous plunge in oil prices. Oil traded below $50 a barrel, down from nearly ... Oil touches 3-1 2 yr low under $50 as demand weighs

Source: http://voanews.com/english/2008-11-20-voa56.cfm

20 Nov 2008 19:50:37

Oil Prices: Are we at a multi-decade bottom? - Livemint

Sify Oil Prices: Are we at a multi-decade bottom? Livemint, India - Oil has been one of the predominant stories for 2008. Characterizing the first half with its meteoric rise and capturing the second with a spectacular free ... FACTBOX - The oil price needs of OPEC members Price of oil lowest since January 2007 Oil falls towards $56 after G20 summit -

Source: http://livemint.com/2008/11/20225605/Oil-Prices-Are-we-at-a-~.html

20 Nov 2008 17:47:44

TIMELINE: Half a century of oil price volatility - Reuters

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation TIMELINE: Half a century of oil price volatility Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - OPEC meets in Cairo on November 29 in an attempt to stem a collapse in oil that has knocked two thirds off the price in just four months. ... Crude falls with oil demand; heating-fuel prices rise Oil Falls to 21-Month Low as Global Slowdown Cuts Fuel Demand Oil prices fall on demand jitters -

Source: http://reuters.com/article/GCA-Oil/idUKTRE4AJ3ZR20081120

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