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AquaSapone, premium grade essential oils from Australia for aromatherapy and cosmetics
Lavender essential oils types and sources
Essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia 40/42 (BP standard)
Lavender is one of the essential oils that have the highest number of possible variants. Because it is probably the one most used and sought after, the essential oil of Lavender is also prone to being diluted, corrupted and polluted with cheap "fillers".
One example of lavender essential oil adulteration was revealed by a soapmaker, who lamented not being able to smell the lavender in her soaps after only a very short period, no matter how much of the essential oil she was adding. A GC analysis of a sample from this essential oil revealed that the liquid only contained a minute amount of "lavender essential oil", dispersed in a petrochemical dilutent similar to sump oil. Evidently, this low-grade synthetic concoction could not give satisfactory results.
Of the many species of Lavender that are used in essential oil production, Lavandula angustifolia gives the finest. The scent of a good quality Lavandula angustifolia essential oil is rich in flowery and light accents, with very little (if any) camphoraceous notes.
Lavender 40/42 indicates an essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia that meets BP (1) and USP (2) standards, where linalool (3) represents 40% to 42% of the constituents.
Safety Note
Many unscrupulous aromatherapy suppliers take advantage of lavender's popularity and overall kindness to promote unrestricted, unlimited use of this essential oil in all sorts of common products. This (mal)practice encourages irresponsible use of aromatics, which is a direct cause for the unnecessary exploitation of natural/energy resources, increases the risks of allergies or sensitisation, and ultimately stimulates another malpractice, which is that of artificially stretching natural plant essences in order to meet inflated market demand.
As with all concentrated plant essences, lavender essential oil is always best used sparingly, in small amounts and never as a "regular" ingredient in aromatherapy and skin care preparations.
Related resources:
(1) BP is short for British Pharmacopeia.
(2) USP is short for United States Pharmacopeia.
(3) Linalool is the main constituent of the essential oil of Lavender. According to some sources, linalool frequently causes allergies and sensitisation, and its use in consumer products should therefore be restricted.
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