Dear Oily,
I went to the store the other day, determined to purchase Lavender essential oil because I love love the smell of Lavender and I’ve heard how great it can be for your skin! Only when I got there? I was confused because there were several different brands to choose from. I came home and did some research online. That made my head spin! There are just so many brands.
Do I have to just go through them, one by one, and try them all to figure out which is best for me? How can I determine if a brand is even worth trying? Please help!
Sincerely,
Oily Overload
Grab a seat and take a few deep breaths. It’s going to be okay!
There certainly are a lot of brands out there. Unfortunately, I can’t make the decision for you regarding which brand is right for your family. Only you can make that decision.
Wait wait! Don’t slink off in despair! I can’t make the decision for you, but I can suggest some questions you should ask yourself about the brand as well as ones you can ask the company directly to help you determine which one is right for you.
The Company
- How long has the company been in the essential oil business?
- How is the company’s customer service?
- Does the company specialize in just essential oils or many other products?
Farming Practices
- Does the company own their own farms and manage their own crops?
- If the company does not own their own farms, who is growing the crops and where?
- Can you visit the farms and see/be involved in the growing process?
- Does the company (or the growers) use pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or other chemicals in the growing process?
- Does the company promote sustainable farming practices?
Distillation/Production
- Who distills the company's oils?
- How are the essential oils distilled and/or produced?
- Are the oils distilled where they are grown?
- Does the company cut or stretch their oils in any way?
- Does the company use multiple distillations to produce their oils?
Testing
- Does the company test their own oils?
- Does the company let any outside agency test their oils?
- Are the test results available to the public?
Education/Support
- Does the company provide education to help you learn how to use your oils?
- Does the company offer a support team for you throughout the entirety of your oily journey?
- Does the company provide education that is compliant with the law?
Obviously, all of these questions are not important to all people. You have to decide which are important to you and who has the “right” answers for your family.
