To the average person who uses essential oils, these two statements may not, at first, be meaningful.  However, I believe you will soon find tremendous value in these statements and become even more dedicated to Our Company's integrity.

 Plant to Bottle

There are only a handful of companies in the world that can trace their essential oils from plant to bottle.  This means knowing the location where the plant or seedling was grown, when and how the plant material was harvested, and how the distillation of plant material was performed.  Most large companies, and even some small ones, cannot trace the path their essential oils have taken. This is because traders and brokers exchange essential oils a number of times.  They loose track of where the essential oils have been, and under what conditions they have been stored.

This is not the case with our Company.  We are able to trace all of our essential oils from plant to bottle because of quality control expert John Black.  John is actively involved in growing and distillation projects around the world.  He can trace the essential oils he sells to our Company literally from the time they were planted until the essential oils enter our building to be bottled.

Mr. Black spends the greater portion of each year supporting and working with the people who supply our Company's Essential Oils all over the world.  His twenty-five plus year reputation in the therapeutic essential oil industry make him, the leader. John is respected in the essential oil industry not only for his integrity, but also because he is well acquainted with the standards and concepts in both the flavor and fragrance sector and the increasingly exclusive therapeutic oil industry.  Mr. Black is a true expert and is sought for his ability to analyze Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrum test results.

John Black is able to detect and identify ‘GC’ peaks on essential oil test results that other experts are not able to recognize.  John can detect fragrance and chemical adulteration in essential oils, even the most clever adulterations. We have always felt extremely fortunate to work with him. 

The Essential Oil Industry

In most cases, money seems to be a driving force in business.  It is the same in the essential oil industry.  The flavor and fragrance industry, which consumes nearly 90% of the world’s essential oil production, looks for essential oils that are of no particular quality, inexpensive, and plentiful. That industry then re-distills and blends these oils to suit the scent needs of other industries, including food consumables, cosmetic, personal care, and household.  You can expect that both artificial and natural additives will be injected into these essential oils to perfect a desired flavor and smell that can be replicated.

The therapeutic essential oil industry and the flavor and fragrance industry have struggled over 40 years to have separate identities.  Yet, even the therapeutic essential oil market struggles within itself to keep integrity. 

 Many companies involved in the therapeutic market see no problem crossing over and purchasing essential oils of no particular quality when necessary.  Even when the more pristine, exclusive essential oils rise in price and are difficult to locate,  Our Company does not compromise.  We are not interested in cheaper quality oils simply to gain greater profit. 

Some essential oil companies seek selectivity by using acronyms such as AFNOR, which lead people to believe these letters are some kind of magic guarantee for purity.  In fact, this is not the case.  These marketing techniques only lead ‘curious’ people to investigate further.

The question always arises.  How can the average consumer know the quality of essential oils they are buying?  I’ve heard numerous people say, “You all say the same thing.  How can an ordinary person know who is telling the truth”?  I believe first and foremost, you must ask questions, and if you don’t get the answers you want, or the answers that make sense, a red flag should go up.  You also need to understand a little about essential oils, and this involves reading and learning.  Essential oils may not be easy, but they certainly are worth it.

What’s the Issue With Chemotyped Essential Oils?

 When an essential oil is tested and found naturally to have one or more main ‘key constituents’ that are higher, or lower than normal, it is identified as a chemotyped essential oil.  Aromatherapists and phyto-therapists refer to the properties found in essential oils as constituents.  Chemists speak of them as ‘chemicals’.  Hence, the word developed by chemists, ‘chemotyped’.

Naturally grown chemotyped essential oils are rare and in short supply. When true chemotypes are available, they can command higher prices.  In and of itself, there is nothing wrong with a naturally occurring chemotyped essential oil, and they can be therapeutic in nature.  However, the real question is, are chemotyped oil superior in any way?  And here, lies the debate.

 The Law of All or Nothing

For the last 25 years, the dark cloud that has loomed over the practice of aromatherapy is the lack of reliable scientific evidence regarding the viability of plants and plant essences to fight disease.

Since the advent of synthetic medications, the emphasis of medical therapy has been on chemically active medicinal ingredients that combat infectious disease.  The central idea is that every disease-causing organism has a chemical enemy, which will destroy that disease. Chemists classify anti-microbial agents according to their active ingredients.  In other words, laboratory analysis seeks to test medication for the one principle active ingredient or chemical.

Some scientists believe the same has to be true for essential oils. The one active ‘chemical’ in an oil makes it more beneficial. In fact, since 1972, a team of French medical doctors has been working with whole, genuine essential oils, the same type that our company uses, in both laboratory and clinical studies. They have found that the complete composition of an essential oil rather than one single constituent makes the oil effective.  In fact, their work overwhelming concludes that the chemotyped oils are not better than a single species, whole, complete essential oil. 

 Be Aware

There is a valid and very real concern with promoting chemo typed essential oils. There is almost no way, except with an expert like John Black, you can tell if the essential oil is a true chemo typed oil or if it has been tampered with, even a little.  Essential oils can easily be created to appear as chemo typed. You can do it naturally, or you can do it synthetically, but the point is, you can do it. For example, you can add a geranial to a single specie rose geranium, or thymol to thyme. 

If an essential oil has an odd profile, it can be labeled a  chemo typed oil.  People will try to sell it as something unique, unusual, and more beneficial, ….. for more money. I believe you can understand why a quality control expert is absolutely necessary.

After having said all of this, you may be surprised to learn that our company does insist on one chemo typed essential oil in its line.  Our Basil Linalool is grown specifically to have a naturally occurring low menthyl charvicrol level. This makes it not only prized oil, but also a very safe basil essential oil to use.  Safety is always first and foremost in our mind where our customers are concerned, so we have always insisted on this oil. 

We do not marketed our Basil linalool as a chemo typed oil, nor have we increased the price.  We have quietly offered this oil only to provide you the safest basil possible, and we guarantee that this oil grew naturally and was not altered in any way. John Black guarantees it as well.