Essential Oils and Adulteration: A Persistent and Concerning Reality
Adulteration of essential oils, whether intentional or not, is a concerning reality with therapeutic, regulatory, and ethical consequences. Substitution, dilution, and the addition of compounds are frequent practices—sometimes invisible and often underestimated. This article explores the scale of the phenomenon, its causes, its forms, and the limitations of current analytical tools used to address it.
Esméralda Cicchetti
8/4/20254 min read
Essential oils and adulteration: an old issue, still highly relevant
Essential oil adulteration refers to any modification of the original composition, whether intentional or accidental. It may result from fraudulent practices or poorly controlled processes, often driven by economic, technical, or environmental constraints. Yet this reality remains poorly understood by both the general public and many professionals.
A well-documented phenomenon, still largely underestimated
Many researchers and organisations have been warning about this issue for years. Scientific publications, specialised books, and professional bulletins—such as those issued by the American Botanical Council—have documented cases of adulteration across dozens of essential oils, sometimes with significant consequences for product quality and safety.
In October 2022, the Botanical Adulteration Prevention Program (BAPP) published a series of resources aimed at combating this issue. Supported by three non-profit organisations and more than 200 industry stakeholders, the programme provides practical tools to detect and exclude adulterated ingredients: analytical guides, alert bulletins, decision trees, contract templates, and confidentiality agreements. The objective is clear: strengthen transparency in supply chains for dietary supplements, cosmetics, and health products.
A large-scale fraud demonstrated by recent analytical data
Field data confirm the scale of the problem. At a scientific symposium in the United States, researchers from doTERRA presented results from a large-scale analysis campaign on commercially available essential oils.
Out of 500 samples analysed in the United States, 80% were found to be adulterated. In Europe, the rate reached 70%, and 71% in Japan. Some oils showed particularly alarming levels:
True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): 80%
Sweet birch (Betula lenta): 100%
Bergamot: 95%
Clove: 100%
These figures highlight a systemic phenomenon rather than isolated cases.
Between technical error and deliberate fraud
Adulteration may be unintentional. Poorly trained, inadequately equipped, or uninformed producers may alter oil quality without intent. Common mistakes include:
misidentification of botanical species during harvesting
lack of knowledge of chemotypes
poorly controlled distillation
contaminated equipment
processing methods altering composition (codistillation, cohobation, alkaline additions, etc.)
However, when adulteration is intentional, it clearly constitutes fraud. In such cases, the goal is to deliberately mislead the customer about the nature of the product, sometimes using ambiguous terms such as “blend” or “assembly”. None of these terms can conceal the reality of falsification.
An old problem, still unresolved
Essential oil adulteration is not a recent issue. It developed in the 19th century with the rise of aroma chemistry and intensified during the two World Wars due to shortages of natural raw materials.
Today, it is mainly driven by economic factors. Some producers store lavender oil speculatively in anticipation of price increases. Others, facing refusal from industry buyers to pay higher prices, dilute or cut oils to maintain margins. These practices are reinforced by market instability, extreme weather conditions, crop diseases, and constant downward price pressure from buyers.
Still limited detection methods
Analytical tools exist to detect certain forms of adulteration: gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), isotope ratio analysis (GC-IRMS, SNIF-NMR), among others. However, these methods remain expensive, complex, and inaccessible to many market players. They are also not fully reliable: some adulterations are only detectable above certain thresholds. For example, dilution of lavandin in true lavender oil may only be detected above approximately 10% using GC-IRMS.
Towards a broader reflection: impact on consumer safety
Given the scale of the phenomenon, a key question arises: do all forms of adulteration represent a health risk? And if so, to what extent?
From a pharmacovigilance perspective, it is essential to distinguish between types of fraud: dilution with a harmless oil, substitution with a chemically similar but toxic species, or addition of undeclared solvents. Each case requires specific analytical and toxicological assessment.
Conclusion
Adulteration of essential oils can no longer be considered marginal or anecdotal. Available data reveal a widespread, long-standing, and multifaceted form of fraud—sometimes tolerated, often overlooked. It undermines trust in supply chains, certificates of analysis, and even certain therapeutic applications.
In a rapidly growing market where aromatherapy is gaining visibility, denial is no longer an option.
Progress will require stronger analytical standards, improved training across the sector, and a strict framework that is not only economic and regulatory, but also ethical. Only under these conditions can essential oils regain full legitimacy as reliable, controlled, and scientifically grounded therapeutic tools.
For analytical support related to essential oils, contact us.
References
Authenticity of essential oils. Thi Kieu Tiên Do, Francis Hadji-Minagloua,Sylvain Antoniotti,Xavier Fernandez. 2015, Trends in Analytical Chemistry, pp. (66), 146-157.
Botanical Ingredient Forensics : Detection of Attempts to Deceive Commonly Used Analytical Methods for Authenticating Herbal Dietary and Food Ingredients and Supplements. Stefan Gafner, Mark Blumenthal, Steven Foster, John H.Cardellina, II, IkhlasA.Khan, and Roy Upton. 2023, J.Nat.Prod., pp. (86), 460-472.
Adulteration of Essential Oils: A Multitask Issue for Quality Control. Three Case Studies: Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck and Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Cheel. Francesca Capetti, Arianna Marengo, Cecilia Cagliero, Erica Liberto, Carlo Bicchi, Patrizia Rubiolo, Barbara Sgorbini. 2021, Molecules, pp. (26), 5610-5623.
ANSM. CP02 scéance n°12 . ANSM. [En ligne] 2016. https://archive.ansm.sante.fr/var/ansm_site/storage/original/application/33582fcf94a44de9d848c8b98108c398.pdf.
Marissa Pierson, Xavier Fernandez & Sylvain Antoniotti. Type and magnitude of non‑compliance and adulteration in neroli, mandarin and bergamot essential oils purchased on‑line: potential consumer vulnerability. Scientific Reports. 2021, Vol. 11, 11096.
Cano-Ortiz, A., Piñar Fuentes, J. C.,Maireles, C. R., & Cano, E. Education as a health tool: Adulterations and falsifications in natural medicine. Research Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 2024, Vol. 4, 1.
Wanner, Erich Schmidt and Jürgen. Adulteration of Essential Oils. [auteur du livre] Gerhard Buchbauer K. Hüsnü Can Baer. Handbook of Essential Oils Science, Technology and Applications. s.l. : Taylor & Francis, 2016, pp. 707-745.
American Botanical Council. Analysis of Commercial Essential Oils Shows High Extent of Adulteration. Herbalgram. [En ligne] 2022. https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/botanical-adulterants-prevention-program/botanical-adulterants-monitor/issues/issue-27/bam-27-industry-alerts/analysis-of-commercial-essential-oils/.
Authenticity and origin control of fragrances and cosmetics ingredients using isotopic methods. Perini, Matteo. 10ème Journée Arômes et Parfums (JAP), Grasse : s.n., 13 juin 2025.
