Is there a difference between perfumes, fragrance oils and essential oils? Many people ask this, and yes there are differences! Let me briefly describe these differences.

Essential oils are the "essence" of a plant. They are the volatile oils that create each plant's significant, personal smell. It is a liquid, that usually is clear, and contrary to the term "essential oil" are not "oily-feeling". They are generally distilled, using steam or water, from the leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, bark or stems of the plant. They are pure, concentrated and highly effective when used for psychological and or physical theraputic benefits.

Fragrance oils, and Perfumes, or Perfume Oils, are not the same as Essential Oils. Perfume Oils and fragrances may contain essential oils in them, but they also contain unnatural chemicals, and are not beneficial when used for theraputic purposes. They are artificially created, contain artificial substances and/or mixed with what are known as carrier oils. But pure they are not!

Unfortunately, we consumers find the term Aromatherapy being used in many products, especially beauty products, skin care and candles. Not all products that contain the word "aromatherapy" in them are pure or natural. Because the US government does not regulate the term "aromatherapy", companies are allowed to use this term in their products without any true essential oils in the products, using fragrance oils instead, and because they are artificially made do not have any health benefits for us.  

And while there are many companies that create "pure essential oils" the means in which the plants are grown, and distilled will determine the strength of an oil. If grown in unnatural ways, non-organic and pesticides or insecticides are used on them will help determine their strength, as well, the manner in which they are actually distilled from the plant. The best way to describe this is to compare brand name to generic name food items. The brand name (usually)  will get the best product, the generic name will get the rest. This is also true of essential oils, we can find Lavender Oil, made with the flower of the plant, the stem of the plant and also the leaf of the plant. The flower ( in this particular oil) possesses the strongest, most beneficial essential oils, and while they may all be Lavender Oil, they will effect us differently when used for theraputic reasons. This is the prime reason why you shall find such a varied price difference in your essential oils, the best, the second best or the third best. And like all things, you get what you pay for! Spending the money on the best will in the long run save you money because the amount you use, the theraputic benefits you will receive will be significant.

Young Living Essential Oils are the purest, most beneficial, theraputically graded oils you can buy. The associations, known as AFNOR, or Association French Normalization Organization Regulation, and ISO, International Standards Organization, have tested all Young Living Essential Oils products. Some of the areas that these organizations test and determine the purity, and theraputic value,  of an oil are the growing conditions, including climate, soil content, fertilizers, geographical regions, altitude, harvesting methods, and distilliation processes. With these as well as other factors in mind, Young Living Essential Oils have passed the standards to be considered top of the line when looking for theraputically graded, pure essential oils.

If I can be of any help to you in answering any of your questions regarding essential oils, aromatherapy or wellness enhancement, please contact me! May you and your family have a trully wonderful, joyous Holiday Season, Lisa