Oil Quality

To gain the best results, only the best quality oils should be used, and they should be bought from a reputable source. Some oils are easier to obtain than others, so they vary in price; the rarest oils can be quite expensive. However, Aromatherapy is one area in which you do get what you pay for; very cheap oils may be adulterated and offers little in the way of aroma. Since quality oils are highly concentrated, a small bottle goes a long way.

A good essential oil will come from a named botanic species and aroma will be vigorous and lively, rather than simply strong. The extra sparkle and vitality of top quality oil is always obvious in comparison with inferior oils.

Sometimes cheaper oils are added to more expensive oils, or oils are 'extended' by adding alcohol or a vegetable oil; these will produce a cheaper product, but will not give the real benefits of the essential oil used in Classical Aromatherapy.

Organic oils, because of their absolute purity, are usually the best. They may come from naturally growing wild plants, or from wild crafted crops whose seeds have been sown in areas where the plants grow naturally. Other oils come from systems of biological or organic farming, and are often referred to as 'natural' rather than organic.

The best quality Lavender oil, for example is grown at a height above 3,000 feet and contains a high level of the chemical Linalyl acetate which produces the most relaxing oil. But much of the Lavender used in poorer commercial essential oils is grown much closer to sea level.

The aroma of the best oils varies naturally from year to year because of changes in climate, rainfall and soil conditions. S oils that smell exactly the same year after year are likely to have altered in some artificial way to ensure a consistent aroma.

Carrier oils: Essential oils are highly concentrated and as a rule should not be applied neat. For massage, Aromatherapists blend them with vegetable oils called 'carrier oils'. The best carrier oils are cold-pressed oils that contain vitamins and fatty acids; they do not have a powerful aroma of their own. Those used by Aromatherapists include Sweet Almond, Walnut, Wheatgerm, Apricot Kernel and Hazelnut. It is also possible, and preferable to buy carrier oils specially pre-blended for the purpose.

Ready-blended oils can be bought mixed in a carrier oil, made up for specific purposes such as relaxation, baths, massaging aching muscles and so on. Again, watch out for quality. A good quality pre-mixed, subtly fragrant oil can be very effective and provides a good introduction to the use of essential oils.

STORING OILS

Always keep oils in the dark bottles in which they are supplied, in a cool, dry place, away from any substances such as homoeopathic medicines, which might be affected by the aroma. Keep the caps tightly closed to avoid evaporation.

When you make up your own blends, store them in dark bottles (never plastic), and keep the caps tightly screwed on. They should keep for three months, store in a cool place.