Regulation On Aromatherapy Oil Sales

There is no direct regulation on the sale of oils for use in aromatherapy - however there are a few things you should look out for when buying your oils. As is standard with most products on the market - aromatherapy oils come in a mixture of fragrances and qualities. Therefore, it really depends upon your budget as to which ones you end up buying.

Not too long ago, the industry decided to introduce a quality assurance program - which allowed for a seal to be stamped on oils containing a particular percentage of certain components. This lets consumers decide for themselves, whilst having some guidance as to what is actually in the products they are considering. It also allows for the justification of prices, and has actually brought prices down on average.

Quantity Of Aroma Chemicals.

The standard which aroma therapy oils must reach to be a "qualified" product is laid out by the FCC standard (Food Chemical Codex). This may seem strange, as aromatherapy oils are not supposed to be "consumed" - however it does make sense when you see the fact that the aromas are inhaled and allowed to settle in the lungs.

Currently, the rules state that a particular percentage of an aroma must be present in an oil for it to qualify. As a common example - lemongrass essential oil is required to contain a 75% proportion of aldehyde - which is the fragrance component - for it to pass the FCC test.

Don't forget, however, that this is not a worldwide ranking system. There are a number of different ways that country's go about labeling their products for use in aromatherapy.

"Therapeutic Grade" Oils.

Traditionally, the term "therapeutic" was used to describe the highest quality of aromatherapy oils on the market. These were priced highly, and were generally used in very upmarket salons and health spas. However, as a result of the lack of regulation surrounding the industry - the term is now more commonplace than it used to be.

It may now be the case that over 20% of "therapeutic grade" essential oils are actually below the average quality of all the essential oils on the market. This is further evidence that the industry needs a code of conduct and much stricter regulation.