Could Your Essential Oils Be Doing More Harm Than Good?

Some so-called essential oils can be adulterated with cheaper oils, vegetable oils or synthetic materials. Some essential oils can also naturally contain compounds of concern, including methyleugenol, safrole and estragole.

When I started looking more closely at essential oils, I was surprised to discover something.

Not every bottle labelled “essential oil” is necessarily the same quality.

That matters more than I originally realised.

The problem is not essential oils themselves.

The problem can be what is actually in the bottle.

When I first began learning about oils, I assumed that if the label said “pure essential oil”, that was probably enough.

It turns out that quality is far more important than I realised.

Research into the essential-oil industry has identified products that have been diluted or adulterated with cheaper essential oils, vegetable oils or synthetic compounds.

That means two bottles that both say “lavender essential oil” on the front may not necessarily be equivalent.

One may contain a genuine, carefully produced essential oil.

Another may have been diluted or altered.

That is why I have become much more particular about what I use.

What About All the Scary Chemicals We Hear About?

This is where I think the conversation sometimes becomes unnecessarily frightening.

I see claims online suggesting that essential oils are filled with toxic chemicals, endocrine disruptors and carcinogens.

Some oils can contain compounds such as methyleugenol, safrole and estragole, which have raised health concerns.

There is also the separate problem of adulteration.

A product may be diluted with a cheaper oil, extended with vegetable oil or altered using synthetic materials.

Some products can certainly contain ingredients that I would prefer not to use and adulteration of essential oils is a genuine issue.

However, I do not think the answer is to become afraid of essential oils.

The answer is to become better informed about them.

I want to know where an oil comes from.

I want to know how it is produced.

I want transparency about what is in it.

I want to know whether it has been tested.

Most importantly, I want to buy from a company that takes quality seriously.

That is a very different approach from simply grabbing the cheapest bottle from a shelf because the label says “natural”.

Pure Matters

This is probably the biggest lesson I have learned during my own essential-oil journey.

Quality matters enormously.

Plant species, growing conditions, harvesting, distillation, storage and testing can all influence an essential oil.

Adulteration can also be surprisingly difficult for the average person to detect just by smelling the product.

I cannot look at a bottle and know exactly what is inside it.

That means I have to trust the company behind it.

For me, that trust is important.

If I am going to use something in my home and on my body, I want to know as much as possible about what I am using.

Essential Oils Are About Much More Than Smelling Nice

I think this is another misconception.

Essential oils are often treated as though they are simply air fresheners.

That is not how I use them.

Yes, I love using oils in a diffuser and changing the atmosphere of a room.

However, that is only one part of it.

Depending on the individual oil and the directions on the label, oils may be used in massage, diluted and applied to the skin, added to skincare routines or used as part of relaxation and everyday wellness.

Some products are also specifically labelled for internal use.

If an oil is suitable for ingestion, that needs to be stated on the label.

I never assume that because one essential oil can be used internally, another one can too.

The important thing is to use each oil correctly.

Essential oils are concentrated, so more is not necessarily better.

I follow the directions for the particular oil I am using and I do not assume that because one oil can be used in a particular way, every oil can.

What About Therapeutic Essential Oils?

This is another area where people can become confused.

In Australia, some essential-oil products are regulated as therapeutic goods depending on what they are designed to do and the claims being made about them.

If a product makes therapeutic claims, it may need to meet TGA requirements.

That does not mean every high-quality essential oil is automatically “TGA approved”.

For me, the bigger question is still about quality, transparency and using the oil correctly.

So Why Do I Still Use Essential Oils?

After everything I have just said, you might wonder why essential oils have become such an important part of my wellness routine.

The answer is simple.

Because my experience with good-quality essential oils has been extremely positive.

I have been using essential oils for around a year and I have noticed a significant improvement in my overall health and wellbeing during that time.

I am not saying that essential oils alone are responsible for every improvement I have experienced.

I also pay attention to my nutrition, movement, sleep, relaxation and other aspects of my health.

That is how I look at wellness generally.

I do not believe one product or one change suddenly fixes everything.

I believe the small things we do consistently can make an enormous difference over time.

For me, essential oils have become one of those things.

I use them regularly and I have learned which oils I enjoy, when I like to use them and which methods suit me best.

Different Oils Can Be Used for Different Reasons

One of the things I enjoy most about essential oils is that there are so many different oils and they are not all used for the same reason.

Take lavender, for example.

Lavender is one of the oils I associate with relaxation and winding down.

It is a lovely oil to use as part of an evening routine.

Then there is peppermint.

Peppermint has a completely different feel.

I find it fresh, uplifting and energising.

Citrus oils are another favourite because they can create such a fresh and uplifting atmosphere.

That is part of the appeal for me.

I am not looking for one oil that does everything.

I can choose different oils depending on what I am doing, how I am feeling and what I want to add to my wellness routine.

Three Ways I Use Essential Oils

There are many ways essential oils can be used, but these are three of the main ones.

1. Aromatically

This is probably the method most people know.

I can place a few drops of an appropriate essential oil into a diffuser and allow the aroma to spread through the room.

I might choose lavender when I am winding down or a citrus oil when I want something fresh and uplifting.

The oil I choose depends on the environment I want to create.

2. Topically

Some essential oils can also be applied to the skin when the label allows it.

Depending on the oil, that may mean diluting it in a carrier oil before applying it.

Topical oils can also be used in massage, skincare and other personal wellness routines.

Again, I follow the directions for the individual oil because different oils can require different care.

3. Internally, When the Product Is Labelled for It

Some essential-oil products are specifically labelled for internal use.

If the label does not say the product can be ingested, I do not ingest it.

This is another reason I place so much importance on choosing oils from a source I trust and following the directions on the label.

How Do I Know Which Oils to Buy?

This is really where everything comes back to the beginning of this article.

Quality matters.

I do not choose essential oils purely on price.

I want a company that is transparent about its oils and its quality standards.

I want to know where the plants are sourced.

I want to know that testing takes place.

I want clear labels and instructions.

I want to understand what the product contains and how it is intended to be used.

I also want to be able to ask questions.

If a company cannot give me clear information about what is in the bottle, where it came from or how it has been tested, that would concern me.

Cheap is not necessarily good value if I do not know what I am actually buying.

Good Essential Oils Should Not Be Something to Fear

This is probably the most important message I want you to take from this article.

I did not write this to frighten you away from essential oils.

Quite the opposite.

I use essential oils myself and they have become an important part of my own wellness journey.

I wrote this because there is a difference between simply buying something labelled “essential oil” and understanding what you are actually using.

Once I started learning about quality, sourcing and correct use, I became much more confident about essential oils.

Instead of asking:

“Are essential oils safe?”

I think a much better question is:

“Which essential oils am I using, where have they come from and am I using them correctly?”

That is a conversation worth having.

Would You Like to Know Where to Start?

If you are interested in essential oils but feel overwhelmed by all the different oils, brands and information available, I have created a FREE Essential Oils Guide to help you get started.

In the guide, I cover some of the most popular essential oils, what they are commonly used for and simple ways they can be used in everyday life.

It is designed to give you a starting point without making essential oils complicated.

If you would like a copy, simply request the free PDF.

If you would like to know more about how I source the oils I use, what I look for when choosing quality oils or how I personally use them in my wellness routine, you are also welcome to send me an email or get in touch for a chat.

I am always happy to share what I have learned.

Sometimes knowing what to look for is all it takes to make a much more confident choice.

*This article shares my personal experience and general wellness information. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Essential oils are concentrated products and should always be used according to the directions on the label. Seek appropriate professional advice if you have a medical condition, are pregnant, take medication or have questions about whether a particular product is suitable for you.