When you buy an essential oil, you naturally want to know as much as possible about its origin. This includes how it has been grown, harvested, and distilled. We always give specific cultivation information, as follows:
CERTIFYING BODIES
Our oils are certified by two different organisations, as follows:
Prüfgesellschaft Ökologischer Landbau
Most (but not all) of the oils originate from within the EU. These oils are certified for ingestion. All are created from certified organic raw material.
Eco-control
This certification is more for oils that will be used in skin-care. All are created from certified organic raw material.
CULTIVATION
Certified Organic Farming [Cert org]
No use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides. Distillation usually under low pressure. No overheating. Slow distillation in order to preserve the maximum number of active components in the essential oil which contribute to its special aromatic effect and healing power. If an oil is distilled too quickly (high pressure, high temperature), many of these precious elements are lost.
Certified organic wild [cert org wild]
Essential oils derived from wild-grown plants, harvested and distilled according to certified organic regulations. Production does not differ from certified organic essential oils.
Wild-grown [wild]
These essential oils stem from wild-growing plants. They may be produced in larger quantities (e.g. Eucalyptus, Tea-tree, Siberian pine, etc.) but have not undergone chemical treatment.
Conventional farming [Conventional]
As with certified organic no use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides. Distillation usually under low pressure. No overheating, usually slow distillation. The farmer is not a member of one of the controlling organizations, but planting, harvesting and distilling are performed according to the old traditional methods without any use of chemical substances. Because of our close personal contact with these farmers we are able to monitor their work and feel confident that no chemicals are used in the cultivation of plants and manufacturing of their essential oils.
Absolute [abs]
Some plants are not suited to the distillation process, because they lose aroma, properties, or yield. In these cases the plant material may be obtained by solvent extraction. The final product from this process is known as an absolute. All our absolutes are from hexane extraction, unless otherwise stated.
