Warning: Big Box Stores Selling Fragrance Oils As Essential Oils for Aromatherapy

With so many essential oil brands on the market today, it's hard to determine which oils are true therapeutic grade and those that are synthetic/fake.There are many companies all over the world that sell high-quality, pure, therapeutic essential oils. However, there are also many companies selling cheap, fake, synthetic or adulterated essential oils that have no therapeutic value whatsoever.

To fully understand we need to know - what is aromatherapy? Aromatherapy, also referred to as Essential Oil therapy, can be defined as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit.

Over the past week, I have visited several big box stores who are now selling synthetic fragrance oils as "essential oils for aromatherapy". With no FDA regulations on essential oils, these companies aren't doing anything illegal. However, it is unethical and dangerous to consumers’ health.

Using synthetic fragrance oils for therapeutic essential oil therapy is hazardous to your heath. Synthetic fragrances contain petrochemical solvents that can cause allergic reactions, besides being devoid of any beneficial effects. When these synthetic and adulterated oils are used topically they can cause rashes, burns or other irritations. When breathed in or ingested they can be toxic.

What is most concerning is that multi-level marketing essential oil companies promote the internal use of essential oils without proper education and guidance from a doctor or clinical aromatherapist. This advice alone is dangerous, even with pure therapeutic grade essential oils. If a consumer takes this misguided advice they could potentially ingest a synthetic fragrance oil - therefore ingesting a poisonous substance!

At first glance these oils may be appealing - they are inexpensive and use buzz words and marketing tactics to make consumers believe that these oils have therapeutic benefits. However, if you take a closer look there are tell-tale signs that these oils are synthetic and/or adulterated.

Example: one big box store uses the buzz word "essential oils for aromatherapy". All of their "essential oils for aromatherapy" are in a blue bottle and are $4.87 per ounce (nearly 30 ml) which is appealing - right?

Don't let this fool you! Here are some of the signs so you can determine that these oils are adulterated/synthetic:

1. Botanical/Latin names incorrect: For this particular brand all of the Latin names are incorrect. The true Latin name for lavender is Lavandula angustifolia, not lavande. The true Latin name for rose essential oil is Rosa damascena, not just rosa.

2. Extremely Low Price/All oils are the same price: it is impossible to purchase 1 oz. of therapeutic rose (Rosa damascena) essential oil for $4.87. Rose essential oil is one of the highest priced essential oils and a true essential oil averages $125.00 a dram (3.7 ml). A 1 oz. therapeutic grade Lavender essential oil, on the low end, is approximately $20.00. True essential oil prices vary largely due to the plants availability, resources and region.

3. Bottle is plastic. True essential oils are always stored in a colored glass bottle, never plastic and never clear.

4. No Material Safety Data Sheets: after checking the stores website these oils are listed in the title as "Fragranced Essential Oils for Aromatherapy". They also do not have any Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for each oil.

5. No manufacturer information on label: there is no company name or address listed on the label and the stores website lists the company as "Generic".

This one was easy to detect, but some are not. Companies are getting smarter by using the Latin botanical name on the bottle and/or using amber or blue glass bottles for packaging. This is making it harder for us, the consumer, to detect if the oils truly have therapeutic benefits.

Please be careful when purchasing essential oils. The use of synthetic fragrance oils do not carry any therapeutic benefits and should not be used for aromatherapy. Do your research before you make a purchase.

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Watch this quick video on a few ways to spot fake oils

SAFETY NOTE: DO NOT ingest essential oils unless under the supervision of a doctor or clinical aromatherapist.

REFERENCES

• The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA): What is aromatherapy?

• The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy: Safety Statements

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