Regulatory Terms
In this final lesson, you’ll explore the common terms often found in the essential oil world and what they really mean. Words like “therapeutic grade” may sound official, but many of these terms are not regulated by any governing body. That’s why it’s so important to understand what’s behind the label. With this knowledge, you’ll be better equipped to identify high-quality oils and avoid misleading claims.
Therapeutic Grade
The term “therapeutic grade” was first used in the 1980s as a marketing tool. Over time, people began using the term to describe an oil’s quality. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a “therapeutic grade” oil. Quality is based on several factors, most importantly is purity. Purity is only guaranteed through effective sourcing and an excellent quality analysis laboratory.
Food Grade
A “food grade” oil is prepared in a food grade certified facility. These facilities follow all the rules and regulations related to food production. This term does not indicate any difference in the quality of the oil and may not have been changed to be safe for internal use.
Adulteration
Some suppliers, in order to make more money, sell something other than what’s on the label. We call this adulteration. Adulterated oils include synthetic components, or they’re diluted with a solvent, or they’re simply mislabeled. For example, if the label says it’s lavender, but it includes lavandin, that oil is adulterated. High-priced oils like rose, jasmine, and sandalwood, are more likely to be adulterated, but the practice exists for many essential oils. That’s why we thoroughly test all of our essential oils to ensure their purity.