Are your oils actually essential oils?
So you walk into pretty much any major chain store in the United States and you will see products for aromatherapy in all different sections, but what products have a therapeutic benefit and which ones just smell pretty?
First lets go into the candle area. You will find a dozen or more different candles with too many scents to be named. Some of these candles will be labeled “Aromatherapy” candles, and some will even say “Made with essential oils”
I am not saying that these candles are bad, but you should know that when it comes to the label “made with essential oils” that there may also be fragrance oils used as well.
Making candles with essential oil is actually a bit of a science, because essential oils are, well, oils, they can and will burn at certain temperatures. This is called a flash point. Some oils in small amounts are generally safe in candles, while others are not suggested in candle making. Also essential oils are generally pricier than their non essential counterparts, so many companies, to keep their product cost effective, add as little essential oil as possible, and “pump up” the intoxicating smell by substituting fragrance oils.
My suggestion is if you wish to purchase candles for aromatherapy do some research first, purchase your candles from your aromatherapist or from a reputable aromatherapy company.
If you walk a little further into the candle aisle and you see wax melts, and bottles with oil, and you will find all types of burners.
You will experience the same with wax melts as with the candles, when it comes to purchasing from your retail outlets. You can feel free to use these, its is just that the therapeutic benefit will be little to nothing.
Those bottles of oils, well there is a very good chance that those are fragrance oils. Fragrance oils are synthetic scents made by man in a lab. While they may smell very good, these are not essential oils and they have no therapeutic benefit.
Where would you find essential oils?
If your store is going to sell essential oils, you will likely find them in the pharmacy area. Rightfully so, essential oils DO have therapeutic benefits, and therefore should be in the health and wellness area of a store.
Not all essential oils are the same. Unfortunately, there is very little regulation in the industry. A company can say that their product is completely pure, but there are some instances where a product may actually be diluted in a natural carrier.
Read your labels, what are the ingredients? Is there something other than an essential oil listed? If so, its best to just move on.
Go to an aromatherapist, they will know what is best for you. They will have done their homework and know if a product is from a reputable source. They will also be able to tell you how best to use that oil, if it is safe for you to use and what health benefits it may have.