Page 6 - Spa collection catalogue 2017 V2
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6 POINT CRITERIA FOR ESSENTIAL OILS COMPLETE OR WHOLE
To meet the stringent demands of the professional The oil should be from a single distillation and
aromatherapist, there are six requirements that should not be rectified. A few examples may be
an essential oil needs to meet so it can be used acceptable (e.g Bergamot Non-phototoxic) but
with confidence. they should be identified.
BIO - TYPE WILD OR ORGANIC
Not only does an oil have to come from a defined Where possible, wild growing plants are selected
botanical species but also from a particular genetic for distillation. When wild types are not available,
strain. This is particularly important when selecting farmers are commissioned who don’t use pesticides
from the wide variation that occurs within wild or chemical fertilizers. Organic oils carry the
growing plants eg: Melaleuca alternifolia approved Australian Certification from the BFA.
CHEMO - TYPE ANALYSIS
The same botanical species can often produce Every essential oil is tested in Australia with the
completely different constituents. These differences most advanced state of art equipment in the world.
may be simple or dramatic. It is essential to have This includes combining Mass Spectrometry, on-
the expertise to identify and interpret this line computer searching and multi-dimensional GC.
information to ensure what is being supplied to
the consumer. ORGANIC CERTIFICATION
GEO - TYPE The Australian certifying body, the Biological Farmers
Association (BFA) provides a certification for approved
Often an oil from a particular area is of a superior products known as the Australian Certified Organic
quality although all other factors may be the (ACO). Globally, there are many certifying bodies;
same. The oil becomes known by the area it some who work in conjunction with BFA and many
comes from. This may be due to the environment, who do not. Thus some of our organic products
the genetics or the particular distillation technique. may be certified outside the BFA organisation,
for example ECOCERT.
