Essential oils are the basis of aromatherapy. They contain powerful active ingredients that can be used to relieve a wide range of everyday ailments and infections, and ensure better health. Inhaled, diffused, used directly on the skin, pure, in synergy or diluted with vegetable oils, in massage, there are many ways to use them. To help you find out which essential oil is best suited to which use, we've put together a short guide. Don't hesitate to follow it.
Essential oils are made up of the active principles of aromatic plants. They are found in plants and act primarily via the respiratory route, being absorbed through the skin. Essential oils are important because they give plants their characteristic scent.
Aromatic active principles are also reputed to have positive effects on human health, such as antibacterial or antifungal properties. In addition, essential oils can be used to perfume cosmetics and household products.
Finally, some essential oils are used in aromatherapy, a therapeutic technique based on the inhalation of the aromatic vapors of essential oils.
Theart of aromatherapy consists in the proper use of essential oils. Obtained by distillation of the various parts that make up a plant, essential oils contain active ingredients that can be toxic in certain circumstances. They should not be used indiscriminately. Hospitals and poison control centers have warned of the problems that essential oils can cause. Here's some advice on how not to make a mistake.
Also, not everyone reacts in the same way to essential oils, and aromatherapists are there to help everyone find the essential oils and uses that work best, and optimize efficacy while limiting risks.
Essential oils are not subject to any legal obligations, at least in terms of quality. For good quality, it's best to choose an essential oil that is 100% pure and natural, chemotyped (biochemically identified) and whose origin is indicated. Organic certification is a plus, when issued by a recognized organization, particularly for food or pure uses. It guarantees the absence of GMOs and compliance with specifications, but does not guarantee the total absence of synthetic pesticide or fungicide residues. In fact, conventional products (not certified organic) produced using integrated farming methods can sometimes be more virtuous in this respect. Hence the importance of having access to documentation guaranteeing the origin and quality of essential oils, and certificates of analysis from reliable quality controls.
It is recommended that essential oil manufacturers refer to AFNOR standards, but these do not have to be indicated on the packaging. As a result, it is difficult for the buyer to know which standards have been respected. Similarly, certain components, although present, do not appear on the label.
It is recommended to buy essential oils whose origin and composition are guaranteed and documented, notably through a Certificate of Analysis resulting from rigorous quality control, specific to each product (manufacturing batch). This transparency gives you peace of mind, the benefit of advice and dosage adjusted by aromatherapists and health professionals, and full safety information in the event of a problem.
Discover our complete guide to aromatherapy.
Traditionally, in France, the pharmacy is the place to go for those seeking safety and advice. Online sales and those in organic stores are undoubtedly on the rise, with advice and products of widely varying quality and price. Unfortunately, documentation and transparency are often lacking.
So, to go further in adjusting dosages, by yourself or with the help of an aromatherapist, to understand why one oil works better than another, or causes problems, it would be very useful to have as much information as possible concerning the origin of the plant and the biochemical composition, in other words the precise content in active molecules of the manufacturing batch from which the product comes. But few brands and sellers provide this level of detail.
For professionals, having complete and reliable supplier documentation is quite simply essential to be able to optimize uses, formulations and dosages in preparations, ensure the safety of their customers, and be beyond reproach in the event of a regulatory audit or to obtain certification or a label.
Another increasingly important aspect is to consider the impact of one's purchase in terms of sustainable development: traceability from origin, growing, harvesting and manufacturing conditions, impact on the local economies of the countries concerned and on the environment. Buying with a conscience therefore implies having sufficient information, transparency and guarantees on all these aspects. In some cases, virtuous productions can be awarded a fair trade label such as Fair For Life (FFL).
Every intermediary adds to the carbon impact and cost of the final product.
For all these reasons, it's important to keep the chain between buyer and producer as short as possible, and to ensure that precise, transparent documentation guarantees what the product actually contains. But it's hard to find producers who sell direct and provide complete, reliable documentation. That's why the family-owned Biolandes group, producer and manufacturer of responsible, traceable and documented natural extracts, a recognized leader for over 40 years, is launching the Landema brand, to make its exceptional products accessible to all.
The information required depends on the category of use chosen by the manufacturer.
The main categories of use are :
"Any claim suggesting that an over-the-counter essential oil can prevent or treat a disease is prohibited. This would make the essential oil a medicine within the meaning of the French Public Health Code. In fact, some essential oils are used in the composition of medicines. DGCCRF - DECEMBER 2018
On essential oil labels, you must ensure that you find :
In this case, the word "pure" dispenses with the need to specify the composition separately.
The botanical (Latin) name of the plant is not legally required, but is strongly recommended. To be convinced, read our article on lavender and ask yourself what's in a bottle that simply says "Lavender Essential Oil".
Optional information includes: the part of the plant used, origin (country of harvest), extraction method, chemotype (main molecules, sometimes with %), instructions for use (mandatory for dietary supplements with a health aspect).
In the case of food products, hazard pictograms (CLP: Classification, Labelling and Packaging, in accordance with EC regulation No. 1272/2008) are not compulsory.
Most of the time, precautions for use are generic, advising against use in children, pregnant or breast-feeding women. Depending on the classification, a dosage may be indicated, i.e. a maximum number of drops to be respected, if you wish to avoid a potentially dangerous overdose.
Essential oils that can be used pure and applied directly to the skin are rare. True or True Lavender is one of them. Perfectly tolerated, it can even be used on children for insect bites, to relieve itching and pain, or for head lice.
Essential oils can also be applied to the skin, if diluted in a neutral vegetable oil. The best-known HVs for this purpose are Olive, Macadamia, Almond, Jojoba, Coconut or Argan, all of which are well-known in the beauty and well-being sectors.
It's always advisable to do a test application of the preparation the day before, in the crease of the elbow, to check that there are no allergic or irritant reactions. Such reactions are rare and depend on skin sensitivity.
Lavender,Ylang Ylang and Tea Tree essential oils are the best-known for use on the skin. They are said to help alleviate a range of concerns, including those caused by acne or conditions such as psoriasis.
Other essential oils, such as Lemon (Citrus limon), Peppermint (Mentha x piperita), Atlas Cedar (Cedrus Atlantica), Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) or Criste Marine (Crithmum maritimum), are recognized for their action on cellulite. Citrus essential oils, especially Lemon, help detoxify and burn fat, thanks to its high limonene content, while conifer essential oils help reduce water retention and promote circulation. Mint essential oil is stimulating, refreshing and aids fat elimination. It is often used in synergies created to combat orange peel skin, and can be applied as a friction or a gentle, prolonged massage.
Discover our complete guide to essential massage oils.
You'll soon be able to find a selection of essential oils in Landema's online catalog: sign up here to be informed when the online store opens.
Using essential oils with a diffuser allows you to benefit from all their benefits and purifying properties, while keeping a pleasant scent. Some, such as Ravintsara, Petit Grain Bigarade or Mandarin, can be used as diffusers if you wish to purify a room and pleasantly perfume it with their aromatic particles.Just 3 drops diluted in water and diffused for a few minutes in the room with an appropriate diffuser are enough to benefit from their virtues, including a relaxing, stress-relieving effect.
Why use essential oils? Inhalation is a good way to benefit from the aromatic and beneficial properties of certain essential oils, particularly those whose effects can help clear the respiratory tract, such as Eucalyptus globulus or Thymus vulgaris ct thymol.
To inhale essential oils, heat water and add a few drops of essential oil. Then simply sit over the pan or bowl, cover your head with a towel, close your eyes and breathe normally for ten minutes or so. This traditional use is said to help relieve certain symptoms of ENT infection, such as blocked noses and congested bronchi.
You can enjoy the relaxing, pain-relieving and anti-stress effects of essential oils in the bath, provided you know how to use them. Essential oils are not water-soluble. To dilute them in a bath, you need to use a dispersant such as Solubol®.
The latter, manufactured by the family-owned Biolandes group, can also be used for food preparations. To avoid skin reactions, we recommend diluting essential oils thoroughly, for example with a mixture of vegetable oil, or not staying in the bath for more than 10 minutes.
Caution is advised, as essential oils can come into direct contact with the skin or even mucous membranes. Certain dermocaustic essential oils should be avoided, and care should be taken when using photo sensitizing essential oils.
Many essential oils can be taken orally. This is the case for those recommended for digestive well-being or to soothe abdominal pain. Always check the label to ensure that the product is suitable for food use (this is the case for natural aromas), or oral use, and always respect the maximum doses indicated. If in doubt, limit use to a few drops a day, without prolonged or repeated use.
Essential oils of Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) andTarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) are renowned for their benefits on transit.
They are said to help relieve ailments such as nausea and flatulence, when taken diluted on a neutral medium such as a tablet, spoonful of honey or sugar.
It is advisable to be particularly cautious with this internal use, and to ask a doctor's advice in case of doubt, and imperatively for sensitive people, children and pregnant women, always ask a doctor's advice. Remember that some essential oils can be neurotoxic or dangerous for the liver or kidneys.
Before asking how to use essential oils, it's important to take a few precautions. Even though essential oils can be highly beneficial thanks to their virtues, they can also be dangerous if used incorrectly. For example, certain essential oils should not be used by pregnant or breast-feeding women.
In addition, it's important to seek medical advice before using essential oils if you suffer from any illness or are taking medication. Finally, always respect the recommended doses, and do not exceed the recommended daily amount. Essential oils are highly concentrated and can be harmful if used in excess.
For further information and reference, the official DGCCRF brochure: