Essential Oil FAQ

General
 

 

Q: What is Organic Relief Essential Oils' policy on animal testing? 
A: None of our products are tested on animals.
 

Q: Could essential oils freeze? 
A: Since our essential oils are pure and don't contain water, they don't actually freeze. Cold temperatures can cause crystallization but the quality isn't affected, although sometimes the crystallization may not blend completely back into the solution once the oil is "thawed." Placing the essential oil in a warm location or warm water bath will eliminate the cloudy appearance.

 

Q: Why is there a country name listed next to each Organic Relief Essential Oil type? 
A: We source our plants, flowers, and trees, from 30 different countries to find the best available ingredients. Sometimes there are multiple countries that grow the same agriculture. We want to let our users know where each is from and to be openly transparent.
 

Q: Why do some peppermints smell different than others?
A: Organic Relief sells only pure, organic essential oil that has the full, complete aroma of natural peppermint essential oil (Mentha x. piperita). A stronger, more intense menthol aroma (especially right out of the bottle) is characteristic of peppermint oil that has been re-distilled. Re-distilled peppermint oil is used to flavor foods and is the flavor component in baking flavors and extracts (like ours), while complete peppermint essential oil is appropriate for aromatherapy use. Redistillation is done to remove some of the slower-to-evaporate components of the oil, giving it a more complex, but less menthol, aroma. Oils may also smell different if the peppermint has been combined with other cheaper mint oils, such as corn mint or synthetic menthol.

 

Organic
 

 

Q: What does "certified organic" mean? 
A: "Certified organic" is a labeling term that denotes products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act. The act provides for a National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) that develops and recommends the standards for the National Organic Program (NOP) as administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). A certified organic designation means that a state or private certification organization that is accredited by the USDA has verified that the product meets its strict organic standards. The certifier inspects the location where the organic product is produced and handled to ensure that all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards are being followed. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to the local supermarket or restaurant must also be certified and inspected annually to ensure continued compliance. (In order to maintain their accredited certifier status with the USDA, certifiers are required to conduct annual on-site inspections of all their clients.)
 

 

Q: Are organic products produced in other countries required to meet U.S. organic regulations? 
A: Yes, all organic products sold as certified organic in the United States are required to follow the U.S. standards and be certified by a USDA-accredited certifier.
 

 

Q: Is there any difference between an organic oil and a non-organic oil? 
A: Certified organic oils come from plants that are cultivated, harvested and distilled in accordance with certified organic regulations. Certified organic growers must always take long-term sustainability into account as part of the certification process, and supporting organic farmers is a way for the consumer to commit to the health and sustainability of our planet. Non-organic oils may contain pesticides and chemicals which may not be healthy when ingested, inhaled, or applied to the skin. The pesticides and chemicals may have been sprayed on the plant or soil and absorbed into the plant. They may also have been added during or after the oil extraction process. Organic oil has none of that.

 

Q: What is organic agriculture? 
A: Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm. Or in the words of the National Organics Standard Board, "Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony." More definitions and extensive resource links are available at the USDA's Organic Production and Organic Food: Information Access Tools. Further online resources on organics, sustainability, farm energy and alternative crops (including herbs) can be found in the list of Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) publications.
 

 

Q: Why is it important to use only organic essential oils? 
A: This is the utmost importance because the oils are either applied to the skin, ingested, or inhaled from the air emitted by diffusers. That means it will be absorbed into your body. Any pesticides or chemicals used in growing the plants, flowers, or trees will end up in the oil and hnce in your body. That's why we recommend only using USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO poducts.

 

Q: How should essential oils be stored? How long do they last? 
A: It's best to store essential oils in closed, glass bottles away from heat and light. While some essential oils may stay good almost indefinitely under ideal conditions, we recommend two years as a good rule of thumb for most oils. Citrus and conifer oils have a shorter shelf life due to certain components that react to oxygen in a way that degrades the oil over time.

 

Q: What is a hydrosol? 
A: The leftover water from the steam or water distillation of an essential oil is called a hydrosol. Hydrosols are mostly water, with the water-soluble components of the plant not found in the essential oil. They usually contain a very tiny bit of essential oil — at least enough to give the hydrosol the faint aroma of the oil. They are considered great additions to skin toners and sprays, masks and lotions where they are valued for their astringent, soothing and rejuvenating qualities. Because they are almost all water, they can be used directly on the skin without dilution.

 

Q: Are your products irradiated? 
A: We do not use any ingredients or carry any products that are irradiated.

 

Essential Oil Quality
 

 

Q: How are your oils made? 
A: We use the cleanest method of Steam Exraction. This method insures that no external ingredients are introduced into the oils.
 

 

Q: Do you test all Organic Relief essential oils? 
A: We are the manufacturers of our product. We verify our sources before ever making any essential oils from their agriculture. All final products are tested prior to bottling.
 

 

Q: What specific tests do you perform for essential oils? 
A: Our essential oil testing includes both physical testing — sensory evaluation, optical rotation and specific gravity — and gas chromatography (GC) testing for every oil. This extensive testing provides complete confidence that our oils are 100% pure and authentic, and we offer a quality guarantee to our customers.
 

 

Q: What is a therapeutic grade oil? 
A: There is no such grading system for essential oils. We use this term in marketing to try to differentiate aromatherapy oils from essential oils used in flavoring and food. Aromatherapy oils should be pure, complete and unadulterated high quality oils. Therapeutic can relate to the safety of use for ingesting, inhaling, or applying to the skin, but because the term "therapeutic grade" isn't based on established standards or regulation, it can be — and often is — used without regard to the quality of the oil. Organic Relief guarantees all of our essential oils to be the highest grade organic essential oils on earth.
 

 

Q: What is the difference between a fragrance oil and an essential oil? 
A: Essential oils are distilled from the leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, tops, or fruits of plants. They are the highly concentrated, volatile, aromatic components of the plants or plant parts from which they are distilled. A fragrance is a combination of various natural and synthetic aroma chemicals, created in the lab by an aroma chemist. Fragrances attempt to mimic the aroma of an essential oil or the aroma of a plant that doesn't have an essential oil (an apple for example), or to create an entirely new scent. Fragrances are used in perfumery and to scent all types of products, such as toiletries, soaps, room fresheners, paper, tobacco products and paints. Only pure essential oils should be used in aromatherapy. 

 

 

Essential Oil Safety

 

Q: Where are the best places to apply oils for absorption? 
A: Essential oils can be applied almost anywhere on the body (avoid the eyes, of course). However, the fastest absorption occurs in areas where you have lots of blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. (Many of these are also called pressure points.) The soles of the feet, the wrists, neck and behind the ears are all great spots for applying oils to improve absorption. Warmth also plays a role — your body doesn't absorb oils as well when it's cold. The underarm is also an ideal place to apply oils; it has lots of blood vessels and is also warm.

 

Q: Can you put undiluted oils directly on your skin? 
A: In general, this should be avoided, and oils should only be used with a recommended dilution based on the particular situation of the person and the intended use of the oil (from 1-10%). A few oils, like lavender and tea tree, can occasionally be applied directly, but in general, dilution is always recommended. With any oil we recommend a skin patch test. Always use caution.

 

Q: Can you use oils in food products? 
A: We don't recommend using essential oils for flavoring food at home due to safety concerns.

 

Q: What causes photosensitivity and what oils cause it? 
A: Oils that contain furocoumarins can cause skin reactions if used on skin that is then exposed to ultraviolet light. These photosensitive reactions may be as mild as slight reddening of the skin, while severe cases can result in acute lesions known as bullock dermatitis. This dermatitis will resolve itself in a few weeks; however, the accompanying hyper-pigmentation (brown spots on the skin) can take months or years to fully disappear. Bergamot, which contains the furocoumarin bergaptene, is especially likely to cause reactions. We sell bergaptene-free bergamot (bergamot BF) to eliminate this risk. Other oils we carry that might cause photosensitive reactions include ginger, grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin orange and tangerine.
 

Q: Can you use oils on children? 
A: Some essential oils can be toxic to children if taken in large doses (like wintergreen) or small doses internally (like melaleuca). That’s why it’s important to treat essential oils like medication and keep them out of reach of children and to teach them about the proper use of essentials oils. When use on children, be sure to:

• Dilute – Either dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil (organic coconut oil) or in the bath.
• Apply to the bottoms of their feet – Most oils can be applied to the bottoms of their feet. The oils still enter the bloodstream quickly, but the tough skin on the bottoms of their feet isn’t as prone to irritation like other areas of the body may be.
• Let them apply themselves – When possible, you can let them put on their oils themselves. There are roller bottles online that make this an easy thing to do. Just dilute the essential oil(s) with a liquid carrier oil (orgniac coconut oil) in the roller bottles and be sure to close the roller top. They can roll the oils across the bottoms of their feet themselves.

Q: Which oils are safe for pregnancy? 
A: Pregnancy is a special time that requires more caution with any remedy. Here are some extra precautions for essential oil use during pregnancy.

• Take extra caution during the first trimester – The first three months, even the first three weeks, are a precious time of rapid development for your baby. Even herbs, foods and essential oils considered safe for pregnancy should be used with caution during this time.
• Dilute – Rather than applying an oil directly to your body, dilute it first in a carrier oil. You can then apply it to the problem area. Or, you can also apply oils to the bottoms of your feet.
• Use aromatherapy – Diffusing oils aromatically is a safe way to use essential oils during pregnancy. Most concern is over the topical and internal use of essential oils.

According to Everything Essential, you should avoid the following oils:

• Basil
• Cassia
• Cinnamon bark
• Clary Sage
• Lemongrass
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Vetiver
• Wintergreen
• White Fir