CONTAMINATED?! 5 Simple Tests to Check the Purity of your Essential Oils

[@ivyandlight]

NEW WORKSHEET!! Walks you through all 5 tests step by step and has all the details written out so you can easily tell that you're getting reliable results. You can grab the worksheets here: www.ivyandlight.com/blog-posts/5-simple-tests-to-check-your-essential-oils

[@RaniTanny]

Great info. The smell-test for a true lavender would FAIL if my neigbor would test it😂😂. Her understanding of Lavender is the Lavender fragrances. The first time she smelled my essential oil lavender (not from a pyramid-scheme company, but a reliable and trusted small supplier), she said it STINKS😂😂😂😂. Most people cant smell - perceive" a high, middle or low note of an essential oil. A heavy essential oi, as aged patchouli or vetiver WILL solidify in the feezer- even if its a pur essential oil... I do wish the USA- where I reside presently- would have better quality control of Essential oils AND carrier oils, as well as have " test-strips" available to purchase. Great awarness video for sure. Thank you.

[@ivyandlight]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@void________]

Thank you for getting right to the content.👍

[@ivyandlight]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for letting me know!

[@TopNotch361]

What about essential oil for scalp hair growth??? How do I know if they are fake?? Please help

[@ivyandlight]

Good news is, the same tests apply for any oils you want to check, no matter what their purpose. My new worksheet will walk you through all 5 tests step by step and has all the details written out so you can easily tell that you're getting reliable results. You can grab the worksheets here: www.ivyandlight.com/blog-posts/5-simple-tests-to-check-your-essential-oils

[@TopNotch361]

Thank you so much

[@Oheyrae]

Hello & Greetings from Australia! 🇦🇺 Thank you for making this insightful video as I’m about to begin my journey into the Aromatherapy World ☺️ If you have a moment, I have a few questions! 🙏🏻 In regards to the Blending Method. I read in most articles that it’s always a good idea to dilute your oils prior to applying them on your skin topically… Even those that are considered okay to apply neat, as to prevent an allergic reaction should you have one… 🤕 And if we are unsure about the oils we are testing having other chemicals mixed in them.. isn’t that an even more reason to avoid applying topically? Personally speaking, I have sensitive skin so I hope I won’t have a negative reaction when I do start doing these experiments/ test patch. Another question, is it okay to lay the Said/Specified testing paper above an old cotton towel or will that affect the outcome? Also… if by chance these test does show signs of having carrier oil (or alcohol/ chemicals) mixed in them, do you think it’d still be okay to use them in a diffuser/ burner? Or can I find any other uses for them in a way to lessen the wastage on my part AND-OR the environment… or is that not a good idea? Again, thank you so much for the amazing content video! Hope to hear your insights! 🥰

[@ivyandlight]

Hi Rain, thanks for sharing your questions. Let's see how well I can answer them succinctly for you here. :) It might also help to download my step-by-step guide, which you can get for free here: www.ivyandlight.com/blog-posts/5-simple-tests-to-check-your-essential-oils Q1 Blending with carriers: When you’re doing the Chemical Reaction test, the problem with adding dilution is that it will affect the reaction of the oils themselves, since the carrier oil molecules will also be interacting and binding with the essential oils. So you definitely don’t want to purposely add carriers. But I totally understand your wondering about topical application of potentially contaminated oils. The oils I recommend using (lavender, lemon, and peppermint) aren’t not as likely to cause a skin reaction as some of the spicy oils like cinnamon, ginger, clove, etc. However, with sensitive skin you may want to take extra precaution. There are 2 potential alternatives you can try. 1. Have some carrier oil nearby so that you can add a dime size dollop of the carrier if you notice any redness or reaction. The carrier oil slows down the absorption of the essential oils, which takes care of most causes of skin reaction. OR 2. Try placing the drops on a cotton ball or cotton facial pad and smelling from there, following the rest of the instructions. I haven’t done this, so I can’t tell you if there would be any difference, but it would obviously take care of any worry about topical application.

[@ivyandlight]

Q2: Using a cotton towel. I wouldn’t recommend this, since the towel could help soak up the oil, causing a change in your results. A glass surface is your best bet. Q3: Using oils that fail the tests: Honestly that is up to you. I know I personally had a collection I ended up letting go of once I discovered their poor quality. They sat unused for years, until I finally just got rid of them. If you decide to try using your oils up, here are a couple things to think about…. Diffusing chemicals in the air is different from carrier oils, so think about which tests they fail and whether you want to use them based on that. Also, heating oils breaks down their chemical constituents, so in general diffusing is preferred to heating, unless you’re just wanting the nice smell over the healing benefits. Hope this helps a bit to clear up your questions. For lots more depth on starting out with essential oils, you can check out my Essential Oils 101 in our Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/ivyandlight Blessings, Erin

[@niqabinextdoor3045]

My lavender Essential oil smells like Eucalyptus oil. I don't know what real lavender oil smells like it's my first time so what do I do

[@ivyandlight]

You definitely don't want it to smell like eucalyptus ;) Let's get you some therapeutic grade lavender oil. Send me an email at [e-mail] or let's connect in my Facebook group (facebook.com/groups/ivyandlight) and we can chat about getting you started with some powerful oils.

[@amitburman1521]

Hi, what Lab Tests could be done to check purity for Oils?

[@ivyandlight]

Any major company producing essential oils will (should) be running their own lab tests as well as having outside testing done to ensure purity. Young Living, the brand I use, will reject entire batches of their oils if they don't meet their standards after running the lab tests (the oils are then used for fertilizer etc on the farms). You can reach out to companies and ask them about the specific tests they use. If you'd like to learn more about the whole testing process, where they check levels of chemical consituents, look for impurities etc. there's some more info in the book that I reference in this video. You can find Jen's Book at amzn.to/2YdX5pD

[@KarenJimenez-fx4ue]

I tried the paper test but the lavender i dropped disappeared in 2 days only. Not in 30 mins. What does this mean? Thanks

[@ivyandlight]

Hi Karen, great question! 30 minutes is too fast to disappear, and 2 days is definitely too long. If you're using the correct cotton rag paper and placing on a glass or ceramic surface, and it's still there longer than 12 hours, that means it's very likely they are using a carrier oil as a way to fill up that part of the bottle. I've got a new worksheet that walks you through all 5 tests step by step and has all the details written out so you can easily tell that you're getting reliable results. You can grab the worksheets here: www.ivyandlight.com/blog-posts/5-simple-tests-to-check-your-essential-oils

[@KarenJimenez-fx4ue]

@@ivyandlight thank u so much🥰

[@ivyandlight]

You're welcome! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions as you go through the worksheets. Blessings, Erin

[@rosemoon3190]

Is there any way to tell if something has fragrance oil in it or worse is all a fragrance oil trying to copy an essential oil?

[@ivyandlight]

For myself, that's the easiest thing to pinpoint, using just the smell test (test #2 in this video). I get an immediate low grade headache when I smell fragrance oils. If you use a lot of products with fragrances, you might not notice as easily though bc you’re used to the effect. So the next thing you can do is Test #3, where you combine the lavender, lemon, and peppermint (or in your case, whichever oils you're concerned about) and allow them to synergies (molecules join together) by sitting for 24 hours. Then test them, as I explain in the video, and see if there are any weird chemical reaction smells. That's another great way to tell if the fragrance oil (which contain synthetic chemicals) are in there. Hope that helps!

[@rosemoon3190]

@@ivyandlight Thanks for responding! Yeah I don't use fragrance oils at all, and my nose is definitely telling me it's fragrance oils. It gave me a headache too. The smell is also very flat and not complex. Smells nothing like the definite real thing I have to compare it to. Sigh, I should've known the price was too good to be true. Learned a lesson there...

[@ivyandlight]

Price does tend to be a good indicator of value. The headaches are pretty much a dead giveaway of fragrance oils (unless you already know you're allergic to that plant). I tried so many different brands over the years, with anywhere from zero results to mediocre results. Discovering Young Living oils was literally life changing, and I'll never go back to those other supposedly "pure" oils!

[@maggz253]

Very informative! Will the paper test work on a paper towel?

[@ivyandlight]

For the paper test you'll need the cotton rag paper I suggest in the video (must be 100% cotton with nothing else added) Paper Towels won't work because they aren't made of cotton. Here's a link to one option that will work for you: amzn.to/2LE7skH

[@markp2085]

Interesting topic. The cost of the oil is also a very good indicator. You buy a 4 oz bottle of lavender for $9.00 off of Amazon (I just looked)- well ...You get what you pay for. Of course on the other end of the spectrum, if you buy an essential oil from a MLM company, you may be getting a high quality oil, but you are paying more than you should. I also sell essential oils. Our good quality Lavender goes for around $24 an ounce. The moral of the story is if your are buying essential oils from an online market place such as Amazon, or from Walmart, etc, and you think you are getting a good deal, think again. Honestly, I do not know about some of these unscientific tests you mention, but you have to go with common sense and what your smeller is telling you. And of course a GCMS test if the company provides them.

[@ivyandlight]

Love hearing your thoughts, Mark. It certainly is true that it costs more to create a high quality essential oil than a low quality one! And, yes, these tests are a great way to help people use their own senses to test the quality of the oils they've purchased. There are lots of important pieces of information that can't be discovered through these tests, and that make the lab test results absolutely integral to regulating the quality of essential oils. At the same time, it's much easier than most people realize to discover what a LOW quality oil is compared to the oils created by companies who really do care about the benefits of using essential oils. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!

[@vandana6481]

Plz suggest me any pure brand of orange and sandalhood essential oil

[@ivyandlight]

Hi Vandana, after trying dozens of companies, I chose Young Living for all my essential oils. Besides the fact that their hormone blend was an absolute life changer for me, there are several other reasons I trust them above any other. I share all about it here: www.ivyandlight.com/essential-oils

[@shahsahil9707]

What about peppermint essential oil does it freezez means i have bought organic peppermint essential oil but i think it was freezed not commletly just like vasline type means petroleum jelly ....is it pure or not because u have not mentioned peppermint oil, plz if u have some suggestion for that ....plz u can share

[@ivyandlight]

Hi there. Peppermint oil contains very high amounts of menthol which can be affected by extreme cold temps. That may be what you're describing. To make sure that it's not partly due to added carrier oils, I recommend completing all of the tests I mention in the video. Hope that helps!

[@aden8133]

Would you want a free sample of petitgrain essential oil ? I'm starting an essential oil brand and need people to test different products.

[@ivyandlight]

Hi Aden, you can send any inquiries and details to [e-mail]. Blessings, Erin

[@aden8133]

@@ivyandlight thanks! I'll send you a message once we get the samples from our suppliers.

[@peterablinger6431]

what about some oils cold pressed may contain water and waxes naturally, will they freeze?

[@ivyandlight]

Great question Peter! There will be some water present at the beginning of both cold pressed and steam distillation. However the full distillation process separates the essential oil from the water and any other elements. So the essential oil bottle you purchase should contain 100% essential oil. However as I mention in the video, they are frequently diluted without any change in their label. Hence the freeze test. In the video I use a bottle of Young Living Lemon essential oil (which is cold pressed) and it did NOT freeze. Hope that helps answer your question. Feel free to reach out to me at [e-mail].

[@santaraporter3623]

so what brand do you use?

[@ivyandlight]

I personally use and recommend Young Living Essential Oils. After trying many different brands with mediocre results, I had a hormone support blend of theirs recommended to me by a friend. Absolutely life changing! I've got more details on why I'm so passionate about their oils on my blog: www.ivyandlight.com/essential-oils If you have a different brand you’re currently using, I just created a workbook (link in the description) to make it even easier to check for purity and effectiveness 😀👍🏼

[@markbalogh9655]

I used cvs brand frankincense Acura acia and I got sick from it

[@ivyandlight]

That sucks! I tried so many “off the shelf” store brands back in the day, and none of them were any good. So glad I kept looking and finally found the good stuff!

[@nstiles42]

I have some questions: (1) wouldn't most oils that aren't 100% pure cut them with a cheaper oil, so it wouldn't freeze-- since water and oil doesn't mix. (2) if you got 100% EO made from leaves, and another 100% made from aerials, wouldn't the notes be different too? Or even the origin-- I'm told lavender changes based on altitude, but my nose isn't accurate enough to tell the difference.

[@ivyandlight]

Hi Nathan! Thanks for sharing your very astute questions. I'll take these one at a time (1) Yes, many "100% pure oils" are labelled that, while actually the bottle also contains cheaper oils, even carrier oils to cut costs. The freeze test isn't meant to detect carrier oils bc as you say, they won't freeze. This first test is just for water. Test 5 (cotton rag paper test) would indicate use of carrier oils and also alcohol as fillers. (2) Let's look at Lavender, since that's what I use as an example in the video. Certainly different climate, altitude, soil, etc. would affect the chemical makeup of the lavender plant and therefore the smell of the essential oil (something we can easily see in wine tasting as well). The difference in lavenders from various climates should, however, be less than the difference between lavender and another plant in that family. As another example, Peppermint and Spearmint smell less similar than the same peppermint plant grown in 2 different locations. PLEASE NOTE: At home tests are nowhere near as helpful or accurate as lab testing, during which you can actually see the chemical constituents, etc. within the oil. These home tests are a "first line of defense" to see if a "pure oil" you're using has actually been diluted, adulterated, or contaminated. There is much more beyond this which goes into the potency of the essential oils you use, including the quality of the soil the plant is grown in when it is harvested, how it is processed etc. This is just the tip of the iceberg! I am personally delighted with the Seed to Seal Promise of Young Living as well as their compliance with the Lacey Act. They've got my vote every day. But this video will help those who choose to test other brands, so they can see if they at least past the first round of obvious issues. Hope this helps. Feel free to reach out with more questions or for further discussion through email at [e-mail]

[@nstiles42]

@@ivyandlight thanks

[@HackerActivist]

@@ivyandlight seed to seal is a marketing gimmic

[@ivyandlight]

@@HackerActivist Seed to Seal is certainly a marketing phrase. It was created to explain the careful process of creating their essential oil products, which includes many aspects you’ve already heard about I’m sure- as well as my personal favorites - frequency enhancing the soil during growth and maintaining stringent rules about the positive energy within the lab (no arguments etc. to lower the vibration of the space etc.) None, some, or all of the aspects of Seed to Seal may not matter to you or any other potential customer, which is totally fine. I didn’t care about the phrase or the process when I first ordered YL’s oils after trying many other brands. I ordered based on the recommendation of two specific blends, which turned out to be life changing for me. While I educate on YL oils and use them daily, this video is actually to help those who already own and use other brands, so they can check the quality, and hopefully discover the ones they own that are high quality and those that don’t pass the tests. That way they get the most benefit from their current and future essential oil collection 😀👍🏼

[@getyourfeelgoodbackbjones1576]

great video! very informative.

[@ivyandlight]

Thank you! So glad it was helpful for you. Blessings, Erin

[@simrang7094]

Very informative. Thanks for sharing! I wanted to know if Plant Therapy is a good brand for pure essential oils?

[@ivyandlight]

Thanks Simran! I try not to make a pronouncement on specific companies, as people feel very strongly about their favorite oils, and everyone's body, and therefore their experience, is unique. It's been a long time (years) since I tried Plant Therapy. You can find great info about trials on oil companies from places like Consumer Reports. What I can say is that I never had any life changing experiences with oils until I tried Young Living's Endoflex blend to support my thyroid. I personally use and sell Young Living oils. I've tried most other brands you can purchase in health stores and haven't found anything that worked for me as well as YL. I highly recommend doing these tests on any oils you have at home, and if you want to try a new brand, purchase just these few I mention in the video (usually they are on the less expensive side anyway) and put them through these tests to see how they fare. Hope that helps! Blessings, Erin

[@nancyjustnancy]

​@@ivyandlight Were you hypothyroid? If so, tell me more please.

[@ivyandlight]

@@nancyjustnancy Hi Nancy, yes I dealt with hypothyroidism and use natural methods to support my healing process. A while back I wrote a blog post about my whole journey, and it's probably the most succinct way to read about all the things that helped me heal, including essential oils! :) www.ivyandlight.com/blog-posts/my-personal-health-journey Hope it helps you on your journey too! Much Love, Erin

[@nancyjustnancy]

@@ivyandlight Thank you. ❤️

[@angelapalermo9157]

Wow! Well done! Thank you very much! Sharing on FB. :)

[@ivyandlight]

Wonderful Angela! Thank you for sharing!

[@angelapalermo9157]

Since you have gained my trust, PERHAPS you can advise me. I use essential oils inside my dog's ball to help her find it in very deep snow which works excellent! (Inside her Chuck-it ball so as not to get it against her mouth.) I understand lavender is safe for dogs but she doesn't seem to like it as much as peppermint. Her facial expressions speak words! This may be because I started with peppermint so she may simply associate it with past fun times. But I had read that peppermint was unsafe for dogs. Then I read it was a good oil for dogs. So much contradicting info ion the web! Is peppermint good or bad for dogs? Sorry I'm off the original topic of this video but I would appreciate any advice. Happy Trails!

[@ivyandlight]

Hi Angela! Sorry for the late response. Just saw your comment. Since I don't have pets, all of my knowledge is based on research vs. experience. I have 2 dear friends who are also part of my Young Living oils family who have LOTS of pets. I would be more than happy to connect you with them to help answer this question and any others you have about pets. My friend Michelle helps me run my Essential Oils Facebook group (facebook.com/groups/lulamayandmoore) Click over there and join us, and I can tag you on her Pets and Oils workshop and get you connected with her for your questions! Love and Blessings, Erin

[@angelapalermo9157]

@@ivyandlight Thanks! I saw this last week but was on the go. I am connecting on your FB page now. Yes, please tag me with your Pets & Oils friends. (I am sporadic when it comes getting on Facebook but will check eventually.) Thanks and I wish you well. Happy Trails!

[@angelapalermo9157]

@@ivyandlight Oh dear, it says, "Sorry, this content isn't available right now" I will try a search.

[@angelapalermo9157]

Found in search "Lulamayandmoore" :) Hello new Facebook friend. ;D

[@ivyandlight]

@@angelapalermo9157 Yay! Found your post :) I just sent you a friend request so I can add you in to the Oils group with all the Animals info. I let Michelle know you'll have some questions for her too!

[@sweetmocia]

Has anyone tried sage & frankincense combo (x3 sage x3-4 frank)? And did you also get this weird peppery scent? I could almost taste it on the roof of my mouth. So i searched and added 3drops of citrus fresh to try to mellow it down.. it was still so potent.. is this normal? I’m close to getting skeptic with what i bought 😒 anyone, please haalp? Thank youu!

[@ivyandlight]

Sweet Mocia, I usually use one or the other for my healing ceremonies. I can't remember the last time I used them together. Are you using Young Living Sage (not Clary Sage) and Frankincense? If so I can try them together this week and let you know my experience. They are both VERY powerful scents, but I do love the benefits of both! Blessings, Erin

[@m.b.658]

Can you use card stock?

[@ivyandlight]

Hi M.B. so sorry for the lateness in replying! The important thing is that the paper be 100% cotton. So if you have the label for the card stock you want to use, just check that it says 100% cotton. If so, you're good to go!

[@ericbee7455]

Good video makes sense. But edit and shorten next time so each segment is more seamless. Try to be under 8 to 10 minutes. Oh yes, its an intoxicated dog giving advice its 2021 😀. Good luck and keep posting 👍

[@ivyandlight]

Thanks for your feedback, Eric. Happy 2021 :)

[@auditionhime]

That Philippines shirt... 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@ivyandlight]

YES! My boyfriend is Filipino, and we spent several weeks there last year. Such a beautiful place!!!

[@auditionhime]

@@ivyandlight hope you can visit again here soon.

[@kcruales9888]

Wait, you're wearing a Philippines shirt. I am from 🇵🇭.

[@ivyandlight]

Cool!! My boyfriend is filipino. I got the shirt while we were visiting there a couple summers ago :)