Dear Annie,
I am experimenting with aromatherapy and feel it is important to use pure essential oils. How do I tell if an oil is pure?
–Sally M., IL

Dear Sally,
It is good that you are paying attention to this issue. Some oils have petroleum-based solvents added, which can be very neurotoxic. Some can also be synthetic hormone disruptors; not a healthy choice! Petroleum-based solvents are also often long-lasting in the environment, are stored in our fat, and are a source of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that negatively affect indoor air quality.

Here is a quick way to determine if your essential oils are pure. All you need to do is buy a piece of white blotting paper at an art store.

Put a few sample drops of your oils on a blotting paper before you go to bed a night. Wake up in the morning and see what is on the blotting paper. Pure
essential oils will not leave any residue once they have evaporated, whereas petroleum solvents will.

Good luck with the aromatherapy,
Annie

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