Natural oils from well-known companies. Fragrant rules. How to choose quality essential oil? What to look for when examining packaging in a store

Essential oils are popular cosmetics for skin and hair care. The range of beneficial properties of esters is amazing: cleansing, regenerating, whitening, moisturizing - you can’t find anything. Traditionally, they are used for aromatherapy and wraps, as components of masks, massage products, for washing and for steam baths. Cosmetologists note that what we are accustomed to calling essential oils actually means organic oil-like substances that easily evaporate at room temperature and leave no traces. Their distinctive characteristic is the absence of fats in the chemical composition; the source is exclusively vegetable raw materials.

The cost of a bottle can vary from several tens to thousands of rubles. An important role in the pricing process is played by the method of extracting the extract - pressing, distillation, enfleurage, etc. Experts suggest how to choose the best essential oil among the variety - here's what you should consider before purchasing:

1. Contraindications. Essential oils are essences. Such high concentrations do not occur in nature. Cosmetologists and trichologists warn that esters should be used with caution. It is preferable to first consult a specialist who would tell you in detail about the individual characteristics of your skin and help you choose the best essential oil, taking into account contraindications (damage to the skin, a number of diseases, intolerance to components). To prevent an allergic reaction, apply the ether to your wrist before use. If after five minus the itching and redness have not stopped, opt for another extract.
2. Mixing. Esters are usually not used in their pure form. Mixing with base oils is a must. An acceptable dosage is from two to seven drops per 15 g of base. As an exception, essential oils are used locally in the treatment of acne. However, not all extracts are suitable for this. Remember that the vegetable oils in the formulation must also meet the requirements of your skin type.
3. Variety. The division of essential oils according to their effect on the skin is very arbitrary, since each ester can have several effects simultaneously. The degree of effectiveness depends on the skin type, its condition and age. Among the most popular extracts on the cosmetology market are extracts of jasmine, neroli, pine, fir, cedar, juniper, eucalyptus, bergamot, cloves, patchouli, cinnamon, mandarin and sage.

• characteristics of the company (certification, composition, assortment);
• cost of production (price-quality ratio);
• user reviews;
• recommendations from experts (cosmetologists, trichologists).

Best Budget Essential Oil Manufacturers

3 Oleos

Wide range of esters. Natural composition
Country Russia
Rating (2018): 4.8

The Russian representative is the Oleos company. The company produces various oils: edible, cosmetic and essential. All of them are distinguished by high quality and natural composition. Over the past ten years, the brand has been producing esters that are in wide demand among consumers. Reviews mention pleasant scents, durability and affordable price.

The brand cooperates with leading raw material suppliers around the world. Multifunctional extracts are recommended by experts to normalize the functioning of the nervous system, improve facial skin and hair condition. Buyers note positive changes with regular use of essential oils. A rich assortment allows you to easily purchase both the most popular esters and less popular ones (bey, verbena, palmarosa, petitgrain, ravintsar, etc.).

2 Aspera

"Aspera" is a company founded in 2006, focusing on the production of cosmetic, food and essential oils. The peculiarity of the brand is its 100% natural composition, developed in accordance with the recommendations of ethnobotanists. Plants that become the source of raw materials for future products are grown in 30 countries around the world. Company representatives exercise careful control at all stages of ester production, from sowing and harvesting to delivery to pharmacy chains in Russia and the CIS countries. The company is a member of the international federation for trade in essential oils and flavors IFEAT.

Buyers indicate a wide range and low cost as the main advantages of the company. In their reviews, users note the high effectiveness of essential oils of this brand. For example, thyme extract used to activate hair growth and added to shampoo when washing actually helps accelerate hair growth by awakening dormant hair follicles. Other esters of the brand, including those beneficial for facial skin, also received a large number of positive ratings.

The leading factor in choosing an essential oil for the face is skin type.

1. Holders dry skin Essential oils of chamomile and sandalwood are suitable to stimulate the production of subcutaneous fat, lemon and rosemary - to improve blood circulation, neroli and lavender - to accelerate cell renewal, jasmine - for high-quality hydration.
2. Cope with oily epidermis The following essential oils will help: tea tree - for cleansing, grapefruit and bergamot - for narrowing pores, juniper - for a lifting effect.
3. Cleans better than others normal skin esters of orange and rose; for toning, geranium essential oil is preferable; extracts of jasmine and tea tree can boast anti-aging effects.
4. Problematic dermis Peppermint ester is shown as an antibacterial agent for acne ripening, lavender - to fight scars and acne spots, ylang-ylang - to smooth the skin, tangerine - for a disinfectant effect.

Essential oils that have a beneficial effect on hair include:

• For hair growth - fir, cinnamon, lemon balm, cloves;
• For volume – cypress, cedar, rosewood, thyme;
• Against hair loss – pine, eucalyptus;
• To moisturize dry hair – jasmine, sandalwood, ylang-ylang;
• Anti-greasy - grapefruit, geranium, juniper.

1 Mirrolla

Best price. Large volume (25 ml)
Country Russia
Rating (2018): 4.9

"Mirrolla" is a domestic research and production company that develops and promotes natural cosmetics and dietary supplements. The company has been operating since 2004. The range includes more than 300 products that increase the quality of life and improve health. The manufacturer’s specialty is rare herbs grown on its own plantations without the use of chemicals, so the raw materials for future products remain environmentally friendly. As the company assures, even the collection of herbs is carried out in full accordance with the calendar of greatest benefit. Control over recipes is carried out in the company’s laboratory, where scientific research is constantly being conducted to create new, even more effective products. Modern equipment and international quality standards are a couple more advantages for the brand.

A prominent place in the catalog is occupied by essential oils for the face and hair, available in bottles of 10 and 25 ml. Reviews note that the esters of this brand have a persistent aroma that allows you to enjoy a pleasant atmosphere for hours. Users are also pleased with the variety of products - the range includes the most popular citrus, spicy, floral, pine and exotic essential oils.

The best manufacturers of essential oils: price-quality

4 Elfarma

Best design. Profitable price
Country Russia
Rating (2018): 4.8

"Elpharma" is a Russian manufacturer of pharmaceutical cosmetics, cosmetic and essential oils, beekeeping products, etc. A characteristic feature of the company's entire product range is high quality. The brand, founded in 2001, offers natural face, body and hair care products that are free of toxic chemicals. Raw materials are supplied from the UK and other European countries.

User reviews often mention the attractive design - each package is decorated with a picturesque landscape. Buyers also like the affordable pricing policy. Among the advantages, it is impossible not to mention the variety of aromas of essential oils, durability and 100% natural composition.

3 Lecus

International quality standards. Unobtrusive scents
Country Russia
Rating (2018): 4.8

Lecus is a Russian company engaged in the production of natural and medicinal cosmetics, cosmetic and essential oils, and bath cosmetics. A distinctive characteristic is the production of products that meet all international quality standards, including those approved by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. The brand is one of the three best domestic representatives. Environmentally friendly raw materials undergo mandatory certification in Europe. The company cooperates only with reputable foreign suppliers.

The brand takes part in annual exhibitions, receiving recognition, diplomas and awards year after year. In reviews, users indicate bright modern design, a rich variety of essential oils, high durability and competitive cost among the advantages. The scents are natural and unobtrusive, which allows them to be used both for the purpose of healing hair and skin, and for filling the room with pleasant notes, taking a bath and performing a massage.

2 Botanika

The most popular. User selection
Country Russia
Rating (2018): 4.9

"Botanika" is a manufacturer of cosmetic and essential oils that appeared on the domestic market about 10 years ago. Currently, the company is a recognized leader: a member of the Russian Perfume and Cosmetic Association and the International Federation of Trade in Essential Oils, winner of the exhibition (2014) in the category of the best massage oils. In reviews, the neutral design is called very relevant, without distracting attention from the key characteristics.

The back of the package provides information about the use of a specific ester, its beneficial properties and compatibility with other oils. The manufacturer provides the product with information about the composition, contraindications, storage conditions and expiration dates. Inside the box you will find a bottle, instructions, recipes and even recommended proportions for mixing the extract with the base for preparing masks for the face and hair.

1 Bergland-Pharma

The best value for money. Environmentally friendly raw materials
Country: Germany
Rating (2018): 4.9

Founded a quarter of a century ago, the Bergland company set the goal of preserving the natural purity of the material and creating unique parapharmaceutical and cosmetic oils. Actually, the goal has been achieved. Now the brand is known all over the world, and pharmacies and medical institutions in Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and other European countries unanimously prefer the brand’s products. Their essential oils have a positive effect both locally and on the entire body as a whole, providing an anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antibacterial effect on the skin of the face and hair.

Esters are produced from environmentally friendly raw materials, which is confirmed by Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certificates. The company, on its own initiative, regularly undergoes testing for compliance with the standard of the Federation of German Cosmetics Manufacturers and Distributors (BDIH), the so-called first “natural” standard. Many products from the brand’s catalog are marked with the “Cosmos Organic” and “Cosmos Natural” marks, indicating the naturalness of the products. “It’s hard to imagine a better quality guarantor!” - says expert reviews.

The best producers of essential oils: premium segment

Luxury essential oil companies stand out from other companies due to their high cost, which is fully compensated by first-class quality, 100% natural composition and careful control over the production of extracts. These brands are attentive to the characteristics of the skin, which has a positive effect on the effectiveness of the esters.

3 IRIS

The best of the domestic ones. Special series of esters for problem skin
Country Russia
Rating (2018): 4.8

Essential oils of the “Iris” brand have been produced by the aromatherapy center for more than 20 years. The company is named after its leading employee, Dr. Irisova. High-quality raw materials – that’s what the manufacturer relies on. The components of the esters are delivered directly from the plantations: anise from Spain, oranges from Brazil, calamus berries from Nepal, etc. The extracts are isolated using a special gentle technology, retaining maximum beneficial properties. The composition of the esters is completely natural.

Experts call the company's products exclusive due to the content of a biologically active collection, including enzymes and antioxidants, vitamins and other elements. With their help, the body has an immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antiviral, as well as antimicrobial effect. The oils of this brand are in wide demand, judging by the reviews, in the treatment of acne. The manufacturer has developed special series “Anti-acne” and “Post-acne” to effectively relieve inflammation, smooth the skin, eliminate redness and prevent the formation of new pimples.

2 STYX

First class quality. Effective face and hair care
Country: Austria
Rating (2018): 4.8

Styx is an Austrian company of natural essential oils and cosmetics that appeared on the trading scene at the beginning of the 20th century. Having invested in the production of oils, the founder of the company of the same name, Wolfgang Stix, was awarded a number of privileges from raw material suppliers around the world. The brand's privileges continue to this day, which allows the brand to purchase raw materials of exclusively first-class quality, while the cost of the original product remains at an acceptable level.

All drugs are based on ancient recipes and do not involve the inclusion of chemical synthesis products. Technologies for production and processing of raw materials fully comply with international standards. The central place in the catalog is occupied by base and essential oils. The assortment includes cosmetics based on them for the face and body, hair care products, massage and perfume preparations. Reviews from users and experts say that the company’s products have no analogues in the world - safe, fragrant, durable, effective.

1 Karel Hadek

Better production control. Suitable for aging and sensitive skin
Country: Czech Republic
Rating (2018): 4.9

Karel Hadek is the best brand of professional aromacosmetics in the Czech Republic, as well as a leader in the markets of Japan, Russia, China and Europe. The company is named after the founding scientist who developed over 300 drug formulations and his own production technologies. The company has been operating since 1983, and has now acquired a whole army of fans. All aromatherapy cosmetics of the brand are free of antioxidants, dyes, fragrances and preservatives. All raw materials purchased from global markets undergo laboratory testing, and in some cases even double testing.

The products are in wide demand in professional environments - beauty salons, rehabilitation centers, medical institutions, etc. Natural essential oils of the brand are also suitable for home use. Reviews write especially flatteringly about esters as products for problematic, aging and sensitive skin of the face and body. In addition, extracts have a positive effect on hair. The assortment is represented by all sorts of scents, the cost of which exceeds most of its analogues, however, as experts assure, it is fully justified by its first-class quality.

The benefits for medicinal and cosmetic purposes have been known for a very long time. They are no less popular for regulating the emotional state. However, all these properties are inherent primarily in natural essential oils, and not in them. How to distinguish natural products from artificial ones?

How to distinguish natural essential oils from synthetic ones?

When choosing an oil, you must first consider the purpose of its use. In general, any type of oil is suitable for use in aroma lamps, but for cosmetic and medicinal purposes, when performing massage, it is extremely important that the product is truly natural - otherwise there is a high risk of allergic reactions and other side effects. At best, synthetic products simply will not bring the desired effect.

What is it difference between natural, identical to natural and synthetic oils?

• Natural essential oils. In their production, only natural plants grown in an environmentally friendly area are used. When purchasing such oil, you can be sure that all necessary technologies and degrees of purification of the finished product were strictly observed during production.
  There are also cheaper natural oils - their low price is due to insufficient quality raw materials or disruption of production processes. Using them for various purposes is absolutely not dangerous to health, but you should not expect a positive effect from them.
• Oils identical to natural ones. Such products are manufactured in laboratories, artificially recreating the composition corresponding to the original one. Like cheap natural oils, they do neither harm nor tangible benefits.
• Synthetic essential oils. The process of obtaining them is in most cases very simple: to produce such oils, a mixture of solvent and flavor is used. The vast majority of fragrances and perfume oils fall into this category. Their main purpose is to add fragrance or decorative candles. Often synthetic oils are sold under the guise of natural ones due to the incompetence of the seller, so you should be vigilant: the labels "parfume oil", "fragrance oil" they say that it is simply an aromatic - or synthetic - oil.

Signs of a quality product

How to determine whether the proposed product really belongs to the category of natural? First of all, you should pay attention to the following indicators:

Cost and weight

A natural product simply cannot be cheap due to the expensive process of its production. And the point here is not so much the complexity of the process - most of them are obtained by steam distillation - but rather the ratio of the necessary raw materials and the resulting product. To produce several milliliters of natural oil, kilograms of flowers of essential plants are required - in most cases, it is the cost of raw materials that determines the price of the finished product.

In addition, by generally accepted standards, such oils are very rarely bottled in bottles larger than 15 ml. And especially expensive varieties are often sold in 1 ml bottles.

Prices for natural essential oils vary greatly depending on which group they belong to. The most budget-friendly are representatives of the citrus (orange, lemon, grapefruit) and woody (spruce, fir, eucalyptus, etc.) groups. The price for 1 ml of products is about $5-15.

The next most expensive group is oils obtained from herbs and flowers: these include lavender, chamomile, ylang-ylang, etc. The price for 1 ml is $10-50.

The most expensive oils are those extracted from rare or initially expensive plants: roses, tuberose, jasmine, neroli, etc. The price for 1 ml of such oil can range from $20 to $100, depending on the raw material. One of the most expensive is considered to be lotus oil, a plant listed in the Red Book. Having seen such a product on the counter, you should not rush to purchase it - due to its high price, it does not go on sale for free.

Design of packaging and containers

All natural essential oils are very sensitive to sunlight. Under its influence, they lose most of their beneficial properties, and some of them, as a result of chemical reactions, even begin to release harmful substances. That is why natural oils are bottled in dark—usually brown—glass bottles.

Most certified natural product manufacturers also provide the bottle cap with a first-opening ring (similar to medicines) and a child safety lock.

Since the concentration of active beneficial substances in a natural product is quite high, a small amount is required to achieve the desired effect - that is why bottles with products of natural origin are equipped with a dropper dispenser.

The label of a bottle of natural oil must include the manufacturer's data, production date and batch number. But the main thing you need to pay attention to is the presence on the label of the Latin name of the plant from which the oil is made, and the country of its origin. Many expensive oils are often diluted with more budget-friendly fatty carrier oils - in this case, the percentage composition of the product must be indicated on the label.

Inscriptions

On packaging with natural essential oil, nothing can be written other than “100% natural essential oil” or “100% essential oil”. All other variations in which at least one of the words is missing, and especially those containing the words “aromatic”, “perfume”, indicate synthetic products.

ATTENTION! If you have the slightest doubt when purchasing an essential oil, you can ask the seller for a product certificate. All real oils must be certified according to one of the international standards - GMP or ISO. If this is not indicated in the text of the certificate, the product is almost certainly not natural. The presence of the “refurbished” characteristic in the certificate indicates that the contents of the bottle are of synthetic origin.

Chromatogram

Find out exactly composition of the oil and the percentage of various substances in it only possible in the laboratory using chromatographic analysis. Although the accuracy of the test is highly dependent on the instrument used and may vary between laboratories, this analysis can accurately show whether an oil contains foreign substances that are not inherent in its standard composition.

The only disadvantage of this method is its low availability to ordinary consumers and relatively high cost.

IMPORTANT! You can try to conduct a small experiment without the help of laboratory equipment. Natural essential oils are very volatile, which means their aroma changes over time, revealing new notes. By dropping a few drops of natural oil onto a sheet of paper or cloth at intervals of 10-15 minutes, you will notice that each of them will have its own aroma. In the case of synthetic oil, this effect cannot be achieved - the smell will only weaken over time, while remaining unchanged.

Rating of 100% natural essential oils

Pharmacopoeial quality— The concept of pharmacopoeial quality determines the extent to which a particular product complies with approved norms and standards.

Today, in terms of this indicator, the oils from such manufacturers as:

• Primavera Life (Germany);
5 (100%) 2

Aromatherapy, a pleasant and effective method of healing, is finding more and more fans. Proponents should be able to distinguish a natural product from a counterfeit product.

This article is about how to check the quality of essential oils at the purchasing stage and at home to protect your health.

Gradations of naturalness of essential oils

Natural essential oils produced using classical (standard) technology. The accuracy of the technological process and the quality of the raw materials determine the degree of naturalness of the resulting oil.

It is worth noting that most often we deal with relatively natural essential oils. The thing is that the chemical composition of natural raw materials is very difficult to accurately reproduce, and proper processing requires experience, high skill, and often intuition.

Azulene containing essential oils belong to a special group and are distinguished by the presence of isomeric azulenes, which are not found in plants, but are formed during steam distillation during oil production.

Isolates. Some essential oils contain a high percentage of one of the constituent components.

For example, coriander oil contains about 70% linalool. Such oils are used to obtain this particular component (isolate) for its subsequent use in perfumery, adding to other essential oils, and extracting other elements from them.

Partially natural essential oils(enriched or adjusted) consist of a base essential oil and additives of natural substances isolated from other natural essential oils.

The purpose of oil fortification or adjustment is to improve the quality of the product by changing the chemical composition. However, such an adjustment is not always justified, since the biological activity of the natural oil and the added component may not be equivalent. The quality of such oils can be considered satisfactory provided that the following conditions are met:

• ratio of components characteristic of natural oil,
• compliance with the biological activity of the added components.

Artificial essential oils consist partially or completely of synthetic substances similar to natural ones.

Synthetic essential oils are composed of substances that have no analogues in nature.

Artificial and especially synthetic essential oils are often completely unsuitable for aromatherapy purposes, being a gross falsification. They are distinguished by a pungent odor and allergic reactions.

Aromatic compositions:

natural essential oils dissolved in natural fatty oils or in synthetic solvents (propleglycol, ethyl alcohol, heavy ethers),

mixtures of natural essential oils.

Being, on the one hand, a natural product, on the other hand, they have no analogues in nature. Aromatic solutions and essential oil mixtures often exhibit unpredictable and complex biological activities. Therefore, their use must be strictly controlled. These compositions are used mainly for the production of perfumes and cosmetics.

Counterfeiting of essential oils

The low content of essential oils in plants and the complexity of the process of obtaining them explains the high cost of the final product.

For example, only 2.5 kg of oil is obtained from 100 kg of lavender, and to obtain half a kilogram of rose oil, you will need to process 100 kg of rose petals.

High demand and the need to reduce production costs have led to a flood of the market with low-quality essential oils, diluted cheap oils, solvents, impurities, as well as “natural copies” - chemically synthesized products (“nature identical”).

You can get natural essential oil not from any plant, but only from an essential oil plant.

Essential oils of cucumber, peach, lotus, fern, mango, coconut, banana, magnolia, linden, apricot, lilac, watermelon, kiwi, strawberry, melon, apple, pear, lily of the valley does not exist in nature!

All of the above “essential oils” are counterfeit, and the plants from which they are supposedly obtained are not essential oils! These oils are perfume compositions.

Today, only 4% of the fragrance market is made up of natural essential oils, and 96% is made up of “natural copies” that have a lower cost.

Natural essential oils have a complex chemical composition: several hundred chemical compounds, many of which are unknown. It is impossible to copy this unique composition, which means it is impossible to copy the pharmacological properties of natural oil.

Artificial analogs not only do not have medicinal properties, but also pose a serious danger to our health.

they contain isomers and components that are alien to natural essential oils.

Their humans are not fully understood and can be unpredictable.

When purchasing cheap artificial or synthetic oils, you should remember:

it is unacceptable to use them for medicinal purposes; it is especially dangerous to inhale such “ethers” through aroma lamps,aroma medallions.

This is fraught with allergic reactions, skin infections and more serious consequences in the form of eczema, asthma, and general poisoning of the body.

Only undiluted, unprocessed essential oils have true aromatherapy properties..

IMPORTANT!

If you are not sure of the quality, never use the oil for medicinal purposes. Counterfeits can be either harmless or very dangerous:

to harmless This includes essential oils diluted with alcohol or vegetable oil.

Dangerous Can become imitations of essential oils containing a high concentration of resins, synthetic fragrances, and solvents.

Synthetic and artificial essential oils can only be used for household purposes: eliminating unpleasant odors in closets, shoes, for cleaning floors, and scenting rooms. When using such drugs in everyday life, you need exercise extreme caution.

Label must contain:

botanical name of the essential plant in Russian and Latin. For example: “Lavender”, Lavandula angustifolia;

the inscription “100% natural essential oil”;

manufacturer;

method of obtaining;

best before date.

Package. International standards require dark brown glass packaging with a volume of 5-10 ml, and for expensive oils the packaging volume is even smaller. The bottle is equipped with a dispenser and a cap with a tamper evident ring.

IMPORTANT: the presence of an orange square with a black cross on the package or label means that we have an active, potent, concentrated undiluted essential oil, which must be used with extreme caution.

With this sign, Council Directive 67/548/EWG (2008) obliges all European manufacturers of potent biologically active concentrated substances to inform consumers of the need to follow all points of the rules of use and not exceed the specified dosages.

Cost of essential oil.

The price of the final product is influenced by many factors:

value and rarity of the essential plant,

quality of essential oil,

percentage of essential oil in the plant,

labor costs during cultivation, production, transportation,

commercial markup.

Synthetic and artificial analogs are always much cheaper.

However, the high price of essential oil, unfortunately, is not always a guarantee of its high quality.

Determining the naturalness of essential oils at home

Smell natural oil should not be flat and taste like synthetics. Real natural oils smell multifaceted, different notes replace each other.

When opening the bottle, the smell should not hit your nose. Real essential oils are volatile, their scent dissipates in the air.

We sniff correctly: do not bring the bottle to your nose, hold it at the level of your lower lip, move the bottle from side to side.

Citrus oils cannot smell for long - they are the most volatile. The heaviest and most resinous are conifers; they can smell for a long time. If the esters of sandalwood or cedar evaporate in a couple of hours, this is a fake.

However, modern aroma synthesis technologies make it possible to bring the artificial smell as close as possible to the natural one; it can be difficult to immediately distinguish them. Therefore, when determining the naturalness of an oil, you should pay attention to another characteristic property of natural essential oil - its volatility.

Volatility. Essential oil evaporates quite slowly, with the exception of citrus fruits, and can leave behind a stain, pigments, but in no case greasy. The presence of fat may indicate that

esters are diluted with vegetable oils,

poorly cleared of resins,

Here is an aromatic composition for household needs.

Appearance The oil must be transparent and clean, without suspensions or sediment.

If you add low-quality oil to cosmetics, the milk or gel will become cloudy and the cream will separate.

At home, it is very difficult to determine the naturalness of an essential oil; only chromatographic analysis provides a 100% guarantee.

How do you determine the quality of essential oil?

Elena Valve for the project Sleepy Cantata

How to determine the quality of essential oils?
Before answering this question, it is necessary to explain by what parameters the quality of the oil is determined. The quality parameters of essential oils are their effectiveness and harmlessness to the body.

What determines the quality of essential oil?
The quality of the oil depends on the production method, the place where the plant grows, the time of collection and the storage period. The quality of oil is also affected by climate and soil, as well as chemical fertilizers, and even insect repellents. The method of making the oil matters. Some parts of essential plants, such as flowers, quickly lose their qualities. Therefore, they must be used as quickly as possible. But things like roots or seeds can be stored longer. They are transported to various parts of the world. There are also peculiarities in the collection of essential plants: some are collected at certain times of the day or at certain times of the year, during flowering or fruit formation.

“...At the end of June the time of jasmine began, in August - tuberose. These plants had such an exquisite and at the same time fragile fragrance that it was necessary not only to pick the flowers before sunrise, but also to subject them to special, most gentle processing...”

P. Suskind. "Perfumer"

Essential oil quality
By external signs, high-quality oil is transparent, without sediment, homogeneous. After a drop of oil evaporates from the surface of the paper, no greasy stain remains, but if the oil has color, then light staining is possible. The quality of the oil can be determined this way: apply one drop of oil to three sheets of paper every 30 minutes. And then smell it. The first sheet should have lower shades of scent (lower tone) - balsamic shades. On the second (middle tone - heart tone) there are tart, refined notes, on the third (upper tone) - freshness and lightness predominate in the shades. All these different tones in the melody of an essential oil are natural and indicate high-quality oil. If all three leaves differ only in the intensity of the smell, and not in the variety of sounds, then... we can only guess what kind of oil it is.

Labels can also tell you about the quality of the oil. If the labels say 100% pure, 100% artifisches (essentail) oil (100% pure; 100% essential oil), then this indicates confidence in the quality of essential oil producers. They do not need to assure customers that the oil is “in-house bottling” or “environmentally friendly oil” and make other beliefs. In accordance with International Standards, the label must not contain advertising information. If the bottle states that it is “Aromatherapy Oil”, it is not pure essential oil, but it is not adulteration either. “Aromatherapy oil” is a mixture of essential oil (10 - 15%) with mineral, carrier oil or alcohol (85 - 90%). On the other hand, if it is sold as ethereal, then it is simply a hoax.

Another important determinant of oil quality is that the bottle should be made of dark glass with a dosimeter on the neck. The beauty of the bottle does not mean the high quality of the oil. The most optimal packaging of oil is 10 ml, except for especially valuable oils - rose, jasmine, verbena, tuberose, which can be in a 1 ml container. (AVAILABLE 2 and 5 ml)

And the brand name is an important guarantee of high quality.

How is the cost of essential oil determined?
The cost of essential oil is determined by the quality, rarity of essential oil plants and the percentage of essential oil in the plant. In the latter case, several examples can be given: from 100 kg of eucalyptus, 3 kg of oil is obtained, from 100 kg of juniper - 500 g, from 100 kg of bitter orange flowers - 50 g of oil, from 100 kg of clove tree buds - 16-19 kg of oil, and from 100 kg of lemon balm leaves - 100 g butter.

The cost of essential oils depends on the cost of raw materials (hyssop is more expensive than bitter orange flowers - neroli); on the method of obtaining essential oil: enfleurage (jasmine) is a more expensive procedure than steam sublimation (melissa), and steam sublimation is more expensive than pressing (peel oils - tangerine, lemon); from environmental restrictions on production (sandalwood).

Sometimes from the same plant you can obtain essential oils that differ in their properties, action and aroma. This also affects the cost. For example, three different essential oils can be obtained from bitter orange: “Petite grain” - from the shoots, “Neroli” - from the inflorescences and “Bitter orange” - from the peel of the fruit.

What explains the different prices for oil of the same name, even within the same manufacturer? Essential oil contains a high percentage of oxygen-saturated hydrocarbons. The higher this percentage, the more irritating the oil is to the skin. The process of reducing oxygen-saturated hydrocarbons in essential oil causes a gradation in the cost of oil of the same name. The cost of oil also depends on the volume of production of essential oils by a given company. The larger the volume, the cheaper the essential oils.

Essential oils are produced all over the world, in some countries more, in others less, and each country has its own specifics. This is due to the climatic conditions of the country, which favor the growth of certain plants.

The largest producers of essential oils on the world market are Styx Naturcosmetic Austria, Bergland-Pharma Germany, Vivasan Switzerland, R.Expo India, Floressence France, and the Russian company LECUS.

Lekus products and website - https://lekus.ru/

Natural essential oils at affordable prices can only be produced by large companies. If the company selling oils is smaller, the price is always higher. And in order to compete on prices with large companies, sometimes you have to lower the quality of products. This is where synthetic fragrances come in.

What is the shelf life of essential oils?
The shelf life of essential oils could be called long - essential oil could be stored as long as good wine. But it all depends on the storage conditions. Since essential oil evaporates easily, if the cap is not tightly closed, soon there will be nothing left in the bottle. Essential oils deteriorate quickly when exposed to light and high temperatures. Therefore, taking into account the possibility of storage in dark bottles with a well-closed stopper (not rubber), as well as storage temperature, we can approximately estimate the shelf life of oils:

– citrus oils - orange, lemon, tangerine, bergamot, grapefruit – 1 year. Optimal storage mode t = 10° +15° C.

– resinous oils - patchouli, myrrh, sandalwood, vetiver and the like – shelf life 2 years with optimal storage conditions from +15° to +40°. If stored incorrectly, they thicken and the shelf life is shortened.

Essential oils love temperature constancy.
If the oil is expired, it cannot be used; it will not bring any benefit.

If essential oils are diluted, they begin to lose their properties after about two months, the aroma and beneficial qualities gradually disappear.

If you often use oil and therefore open the cap, the oil will come into contact with oxygen contained in the air more often. Thus, the shelf life is also reduced, i.e. the approximate shelf life of the essential oil can be considered one to one and a half years at an average temperature for all oils of +15? C.

All essential oils have healing properties: bactericidal, analgesic, antiseptic. But synthetic fragrances do not have these properties. The ability of essential oils to easily penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream is used in cosmetics, therapeutic massage, and aromatherapy.

If you use essential oils for massage, be sure to dilute them with a carrier oil, i.e. vegetable oil, which in itself has medicinal properties, as it contains many vitamins and biologically active substances. Vegetable oils help essential oils penetrate our body. Some people prefer to use oils such as sweet almond oil, avocado oil, jojoba (oil in the form of a liquid wax), peach, apricot, etc., but in reality our oils - sunflower, corn or olive have no less healing properties than exotic.

Some tips and precautions when consuming essential oils:

Pure, undiluted oils should not be consumed internally. In this case, the doctor can prescribe treatment and dosage.

It should be remembered that essential oil is a very powerful remedy! If pure essential oil comes into contact with the skin, there can be not only allergic reactions, but even burns! In this case, they should be removed with a cotton swab moistened with any vegetable oil (sunflower and olive oils are the best helpers). Water will not help in this case. It is written above that essential oils do not dissolve in water.

Under no circumstances combine essential oils of different types without consulting a specialist aromatherapist, since the choice of oils and their combination play a huge role. Many such independent decisions tell sad stories. And with acute neuroses or an unstable psyche, the results can be completely tragic.

For children, essential oils - their combination and quantity - should be used after consultation with a doctor, since the use of essential oils can cause negative reactions in the body of children.

During pregnancy, essential oils can also be used after consultation with a doctor; most likely, the recommendation will be negative.

Freshly prepared aromatic compositions lose their medicinal properties within one week.

When taking other medications, you should consult your doctor about the possibility of using essential oils.

When you first start using essential oils, check to see if you have any allergies. Start with small dosages. And in no case exceed the dosage indicated as permissible. Take the bath initially for no more than 3 – 5 minutes.

If essential oil gets into your eyes, rinse with clean vegetable oil, but not with water.

It is best to use all essential oils for no more than two to three weeks, then take a break.

Citrus essential oils (orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, petit grain) should be used 4 hours before going outside, as they increase skin sensitivity to the sun, i.e. pigmentation is possible.

When using oil, first find out from your loved ones and those around you whether they like the smell.

Since essential oils are capable of spontaneous combustion, they should not be stored or placed in bottles near fire.

They should be stored out of the reach of children, and it is best to immediately dilute the essential oil with some base oil, i.e., vegetable oils (in a ratio of 1:10) after purchase.

Fragrances are an integral part of our lives. The great Hippocrates said: “Medicine is the art of imitating nature.”

Using plants in our lives gives us the opportunity to find natural remedies to be healthy and happy.

Natural essential oils– natural aromatic substances extracted from essential plants.

Synthetic essential oils, these are oils obtained from synthetic aromatic substances and are identical to natural ones in both qualitative and quantitative chemical composition. They are much cheaper than natural ones. Synthetic oils do not provide the same physiological effect, do not have the activity of natural oils, and the smell cannot be completely reproduced with their help. Synthetic oils can be completely identical to natural ones, but they always differ in their chemical structure.

Artificial oils– oils that imitate the smell of natural ones, but not the composition. These oils contain some natural oils in combination with synthetic ones. They are created exclusively for perfumery in order to imitate natural aromas. For medical purposes, these oils are useless.

The use of synthetic and artificial oils in perfumery is legal and is not adulteration. It is thanks to these categories of essential oils in perfumery that consistency of composition and aroma can be achieved. This consistency is impossible when using natural essential oils, since different batches of the same name of essential oils differ from each other in quality, processing technology and other factors.

The main tool of aromatherapy is essential oils of medicinal plants. They are obtained from flowers, stems, and fruits using steam distillation. Essential oils are a completely natural product. However, there are also synthetic oils that mimic the aromas of plants. Such oils, although called aromatic, are not suitable for aromatherapy. How to choose quality oil?

Read the label. A natural essential oil must be labeled as such, and the label must also indicate the botanical name of the plant from which the oil was extracted. This name is written in Latin. If you have chosen a foreign-made oil, the label should contain the designation: “Essential oil”. This indicates that this is natural oil. But the inscription “Fragrances oil” means synthetic oils.

Look at the bubble. It doesn't have to be transparent. Direct sunlight degrades the quality of essential oils.

Study the composition. Some phytoessences consist entirely of oil from a particular plant, and some consist of essential oil and a base (usually jojoba, sea buckthorn, almond, peach, olive, and grape oil are used as a base). In this case, the percentage of both should be indicated on the label.

Smell the oil from a plant whose aroma you know well. The smell should not be too strong, clean, without foreign impurities.

Safety precautions

Essential oils cannot be used in their pure form. They contain too high a concentration of active substances, and this can cause an allergic reaction or skin irritation. Therefore, you will have to stock up on base oil, which is used to dilute the main component. For one teaspoon of base oil there should be 5-10 drops of the essential oil you are going to use for aromatherapy.

It is not safe to take essential oils internally. This can cause severe poisoning.

Where to add

Essential oils can be used in different ways. For example:

Light the aroma lamp. This will help prevent colds, relieve stress, relieve insomnia or improve performance - it all depends on what oil you use.

The aroma lamp is a saucer that is heated from below. Pour water into a saucer, then drop it into essential oil at the rate of 2 drops per 5 square meters. meters of area of ​​the room in which you will conduct an aromatherapy session. When heated, the oil will evaporate, filling the room with the aroma of medicinal plants. Aroma lamps can be electric or conventional, when the mixture is heated with a small candle. If you choose a regular lamp, make sure that the candle is located at a distance of at least 10 cm from the saucer - otherwise the heating will be too strong, the water will begin to boil, and the oil will burn out. Another point that you need to pay attention to when choosing a lamp is the size of the saucer. It must hold at least 50 ml of water. You should not spend more than an hour in a room with the aroma lamp turned on - this can cause a headache. And for the first session, 20 minutes will be enough.

Do inhalation. You can cope with a cold by breathing in the fragrant steam. Pour hot water into a pan, drop essential oil into it at the rate of 1-2 drops per 100 ml of water, bend over the pan, cover your head with a towel and breathe for 5-10 minutes.

Prepare scented cosmetics. It will help improve complexion, smooth the skin, get rid of acne and inflammation on the skin. Add essential oil to your face cream (it is better to use a neutral, fragrance-free cream). The optimal dosage is 5 drops of oil per 150 ml of cream. You can also make cosmetic ice. Add 1-2 drops of essential oil to a spoon of honey, dilute the honey in 100 ml of water, pour into molds and put in the freezer.

Selecting essential oils

1. Cold- eucalyptus, sage, lemon, pine, cedar oil.
2. Stress- oil of bergamot, orange, tangerine, lavender, rosemary.
3. Insomnia- lavender, chamomile, vanilla, rose oil.
4. Apathy, decreased performance- mint oil, pine oil, citrus oil.
5. Acne, pimples- sage, chamomile, tea tree oil.
6. Wrinkles- citrus oil, rose oil.
7. Headache- lavender, ginger, thyme oil.