Reading Essential Oil Labels & Quality

Label terms can sound reassuring without meaning much. This page explains what we can verify. It does not rank brands, because we have no independent testing to base a ranking on.

Botanical name

Look for the Latin name (for example Melaleuca alternifolia or Lavandula angustifolia). [1][2] The same common name can cover different plants, and the chemistry of an essential oil can vary within a species. [3] Names also change: GBIF now lists rosemary as Salvia rosmarinus, with Rosmarinus officinalis as a synonym. [4]

"Natural", "organic" and "pure"

The FDA has no regulations defining "natural" or "organic" for cosmetics, and all cosmetic products and ingredients must meet the same safety requirement regardless of source. [5] We found no regulatory definition in the sources we read for "pure" or "therapeutic grade", so treat them as marketing, not as a guarantee of safety or effectiveness.

Claims on the label

In the US, a product with claims to treat disease, ease pain or help you sleep is making drug claims. [5] That is a reason to be cautious about labels promising to cure or treat conditions.

Synthetic and fragrance oils

NIEHS says synthetic oils are not considered true essential oils. [3] A "fragrance oil" is not an essential oil.

Age, heat, light and air

NIH notes that a tea tree oil product that is old, or exposed to heat, light or air, may be more likely to cause skin reactions. [1] Keep products in their closed original containers away from heat and light, and out of reach of children and pets. We do not give shelf-life numbers because we have not verified them.

What quality cannot tell you

Purity or testing tells you what is in a bottle. It does not show that an oil works or that it is safe for you. See Research and Safety.