7 Simple Tests to Tell If Your Essential Oils Are Pure

A clear, no-nonsense guide to verifying the authenticity of your essential oils and avoiding fakes.

The market for essential oils is saturated, yet not all oils are created equal. The presence of adulterated, synthetic, or diluted products makes it difficult for consumers to find pure oils. An adulterated oil may not provide the desired effects and could contain harmful substances. How, then, can you determine if an oil is authentic?

Verifying the purity of an essential oil involves more than just a sniff test. It requires examining the packaging, understanding pricing, and knowing what to look for in a company’s practices. For those without a chemistry lab, several practical methods can help identify a legitimate product.

In this article, we will explain how to tell if essential oils are pure or fake/adulterated.

How To Tell If Essential Oils Are Pure or Ad: Purity Verification Methods

1. The Paper Test

A simple home test involves placing a single drop of essential oil on a piece of white paper and allowing it to dry. Most pure essential oils are volatile = they evaporate without leaving a noticeable residue. If a significant oily ring remains after a few hours, the oil has likely been diluted with a non-volatile carrier oil. [1, 3]

(Ed. note: This test is a helpful indicator, not a definitive proof. Some pure essential oils, such as sandalwood, patchouli, and vetiver, are naturally heavier and may leave a slight mark). [2]

Here are some images that will help you better understand this method.

2. Label and Packaging Analysis

Reputable brands adhere to specific labeling standards. The bottle should be made of dark glass, typically amber or cobalt blue, to protect the oil from light degradation. [4].

On the back of the essential oil package, there must be written the Latin name of the plant from which the oil originates and not just the name we use in our everyday language. For example, Lavandula instead of lavender, citrus instead of lemon, Rosmarinus officinalis instead of rosemary, etc.

Here’s an example of a proper written name.

3. Price as an Indicator

Pure essential oils are expensive to produce. It takes a large quantity of plant material to yield a small amount of oil. For example, producing just one pound of rose essential oil can require thousands of pounds of rose petals. [1].

For just 10 grams lavender essential oil 5 pounds of this plant is required. The average price of an authentic essential oil is around 12-20 dollars per 10 ml, depending on the type.

Be skeptical of suspiciously low prices. If a product is priced significantly lower than other brands, it is likely adulterated or synthetic [2, 5].

Comparing prices for oils like rose, jasmine, or sandalwood can be a dead giveaway, as these are among the most expensive to produce.

4. The Feel and Scent Test

Pure essential oils have a distinct texture and aroma. Rub a drop of oil between your index finger and thumb. Most pure essential oils absorb into the skin without leaving a greasy or thick feeling [3].

The scent should be complex and characteristic of the plant. A synthetic oil often has a one-dimensional, overly sweet, or chemical-like smell [5].

“Does the oil smell like a cheap room spray or a natural plant?” A pure oil’s fragrance will be rich and nuanced.

5. The Gold Standard: GC/MS Reports

The most reliable way to verify purity is through scientific analysis. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) is the gold standard for testing essential oils [6].

This process separates an oil into its individual chemical components, creating a “fingerprint” of its composition [7].

Reputable brands demonstrate transparency by making batch-specific GC/MS reports available to customers [2, 6]. Demanding these reports holds companies accountable and allows you to verify the purity for yourself.

6. Common Purity Myths Debunked

Misinformation about essential oils is widespread. Here are the facts behind some common myths.

7. The Regulatory Landscape

In the United States, the FDA does not have a specific regulatory definition for “essential oil.” It classifies products based on their intended use – cosmetic or drug [11, 12].

This framework focuses on marketing claims, not on verifying purity, making consumer diligence essential.

Recommended Brands Known for Transparency

While this article does not endorse any single brand, some companies are widely recognized for their commitment to transparency and quality assurance. These brands make it easy for consumers to verify purity by providing third-party testing reports.

• Plant Therapy: Known for making batch-specific GC/MS reports available directly on their product pages and for their commitment to affordability.
• Edens Garden: A non-MLM company that provides detailed GC/MS reports upon request and is praised for its wide selection and quality.
• Rocky Mountain Oils: Offers a “GC/MS Test Results” portal on their website, allowing customers to look up the batch number from their bottle and see the corresponding report.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, learning how to tell if essential oils are pure requires a combination of at-home testing and brand diligence. While simple tests can flag obvious fakes, the most reliable method is to purchase from transparent companies that back up their claims with publicly available GC/MS reports.

Trusting science over marketing slogans is the surest path to obtaining authentic, high-quality essential oils.