Guest guest Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 At 04:54 PM 3/26/04, you wrote: > Do I need to test all oils when I get them before I can label >them properly? I hope I am not sounding ridiculous here! Thanks for your >help in this! Love, Paris testing doesn't have anything to do with the horticultural status... gc/ms testing (I'm assuming that is what you are discussing) will (generally!) tell you that an eo falls within the 'accepted limits' of it's species.... and normally speaking, whether it has been adulterated. it won't tell you whether the oil you have tested is organic, wildcrafted, etc... and it won't tell you if it's aromatically a wonderful specimen or a blah flat boring one... it WILL tell you if the vendor is attempting to substitute a lavandin super for the true lavender you thought you were buying... or (as once happened to me, years ago, when buying from a 'well known supplier " ... if the so called rose geranium has had some phenyl ethyl alcohol added to boost the 'rosy' aroma) or if the " steam distilled Italian Neroli " had hexane in it... a sure sign that some absolute had been added to improve the aroma. (which, in both of these cases, was terrific... except the vendors weren't selling what they said they were selling. I don't buy from either of them any more... In fairness to the second vendor, she now lists said neroli as 'solvent extracted' but neroli is steam distilled...so it's still....inaccurate. Your source for superb Essential Oils, Aromatherapy Accessories, Information, Books and more! Visit us at: <http://www.naturesgift.com> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 Marge Clark [marge] gc/ms testing (I'm assuming that is what you are discussing) will (generally!) tell you that an eo falls within the 'accepted limits' of it's species.... and normally speaking, whether it has been adulterated. it won't tell you whether the oil you have tested is organic, wildcrafted, etc... and it won't tell you if it's aromatically a wonderful specimen or a blah flat boring one... Funny you mention that Marge, Just the other day I noticed that there is an EO purveyor out there who's list of oils is # coded and here is the explanation of one of the numbering codes: (oils numbered) 2 thru 6 = Higher quality than commercial with better odor properties, pesticide free according to GC/MS analysis. So I wonder if that EO purveyor is trying to say that the GC/MS analysis of the oils are what have determined that the oils have better odor properties and are pesticide free (either or, or both). Things that make you go hmmmmmm .... *Smile* Chris (list mom) http://www.alittleolfactory.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 Hi Marge, When I have received or looked at GC/MS tests, it sometimes has a statement at the bottom that says something like: " This oil was determined to have good odor quality and no pesticides were detected " I suppose that I have assumed (big mistake I know!) that the testing would reveal weather or not if any pesticides were present. I have seen a site like the one Christine was talking about, it is EOU, maybe that is where I got the idea that you can tell weather or not the oil has pesticides or not depending on the GC/MS. I suppopse that if the pesticide/fungicide content were high enough it would show up, but I hadn't thought of that before. I really thought that GC/MS testing determined that you had an unadulterated pesticide free oil. If GC/MS testing doesn't find pesticides, is there one that does? I suppose that if atheletes can outwit drug testers, big oil producers (and even little ones) could, and probably do, outwit GC/MS tests. Does it apply then, that unless you plant, grow, harvest, distill, and bottle the oil yourself you can never REALLY know if it is actually organic or not? Thanks again Marge! Love, Paris - " Marge Clark " <marge Friday, March 26, 2004 6:24 PM Re: testing - organic status > At 04:54 PM 3/26/04, you wrote: > > Do I need to test all oils when I get them before I can label > >them properly? I hope I am not sounding ridiculous here! Thanks for your > >help in this! Love, Paris > > testing doesn't have anything to do with the horticultural status... > > gc/ms testing (I'm assuming that is what you are discussing) will > (generally!) tell you that an eo falls within the 'accepted limits' of it's > species.... and normally speaking, whether it has been adulterated. > > it won't tell you whether the oil you have tested is organic, wildcrafted, > etc... > > and it won't tell you if it's aromatically a wonderful specimen or a blah > flat boring one... > > it WILL tell you if the vendor is attempting to substitute a lavandin super > for the true lavender you thought you were buying... > > or (as once happened to me, years ago, when buying from a 'well known > supplier " ... if the so called rose geranium has had some phenyl ethyl > alcohol added to boost the 'rosy' aroma) > > or if the " steam distilled Italian Neroli " had hexane in it... a sure sign > that some absolute had been added to improve the aroma. (which, in both of > these cases, was terrific... > > except the vendors weren't selling what they said they were selling. > > I don't buy from either of them any more... > > In fairness to the second vendor, she now lists said neroli as 'solvent > extracted' > > but neroli is steam distilled...so it's still....inaccurate. > > > > > > Your source for superb Essential Oils, Aromatherapy > Accessories, Information, Books and more! > Visit us at: <http://www.naturesgift.com> > > > > > Step By Step Instructions On Making Rose Petal Preserves: http://www.av-at.com/stuff/rosejam.html > > To adjust your group settings (i.e. go no mail) see the following link: /join > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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