Introduction
Why write about essential oils now? I think the simple (or certainly short) answer is that essentials oils are more readily available in India (and the USA) then they were 10 years ago. Also, they
Writing this series of blogs about essential oils has been hard, as there is such a dichotomy between the extreme caution I exercise in using essential oils (with skincare formulation hat) and the laissez faire attitude expounded on Youtube or by many sellers in encouraging everyone to use essential oils with abandon.
Let me give you an example from Kama Ayurveda’s website. This is an overview of Bergamot essential oil and the information on labels.
The impression I get from the overview is that I can use Bergamot essential oil on my face, but its only until I get the packaging that I understand its only intended for aromatherapy and as a massage oil.
How confusing is this?
And let’s be very clear, Kama Ayurveda is 100% complying with consumer regulations, because there are no specific regulations concerning essential oil usage in India.
With skincare formulation hat on
With skincare hat on, I can tell you that Bergamot essential oil, must be handled with care because it contains a compound called furanocoumarin that is a potential carcinogen. Therefore, as a minimum, I would expect these instructions:
- How to safely handle Bergamot essential oil (e.g.) ventilation, wear gloves etc
- Explicit instructions on whether or not Bergamot can be used on the skin
- The quantity of Bergamot essential oil (minimum and maximum) that I should use on skin (face and body), in leave on and rinse off products etc.
This is the absolute minimum information that I would look for when buying Bergamot essential oil.
If you already do this when purchasing your essential oils, then well-done. If not, keep reading.
Purpose of mini-series on essential oils
There are thousands of essential oils on the market of varying qualities and it is impossible for me to go through each one. I wouldn’t want to.
Therefore, the purpose of my blogs is to
- Explain what an essential oil is
- What are the potential adverse reactions to essential oils
- The safety measures you should take (including measurement) on essential oil usage
- Country regulations around essential oils
- Coming full circle to Kama Ayurveda essential oils, in which I’ll do a semi-deep dive into them
The only worthy authority on essential oils…
If you are serious about essential oils, then you could consult a qualified aromatherapist (yes, they are few and far between) or this book, by Robert Tisserand. Mr Tisserand is really the final word on Essential oils.