Essential oils: how to read the label

A bottle of essential oil carries a lot of information in very little space, almost always in English. Here we show you how to read it part by part, with two example labels: NOW Rosemary Essential Oil, 1 oz and NOW Peppermint Essential Oil, 1 oz. The label phrases are quoted as printed.

The front: purity, plant name and size

On the front of both bottles you can read “100% pure”, the common name, the plant's scientific name and the size:

• Rosemary: “rosemary”, “Rosmarinus officinalis”, “Net 1 fl. oz. (30 mL)”.
• Peppermint: “peppermint”, “Mentha piperita”, “1 fl. oz. (30 mL)”.

The scientific name tells you exactly which plant the oil comes from, even if the common name changes from one country to another.

Ingredient, aroma and how it is extracted

On the back, the label says what it contains, how it smells and how it is obtained:

• Ingredient: rosemary, “Ingredients: 100% pure rosemary oil.”; peppermint, “Ingredient: 100% pure peppermint oil.” A single ingredient: the plant's oil, nothing else.
• Aroma: rosemary, “Warm, camphoraceous.”; peppermint, “Fresh, strong mint.”
• How the brand describes it: rosemary, “Benefits: Purifying, uplifting.”; peppermint, “Attributes: Revitalizing, invigorating, cooling.”
• How it is extracted: rosemary, “Steam Distilled from tops of plant.”; peppermint, “Steam Distilled from aerial parts.”

What it blends with

Some labels say which other oils it combines with, or include a diffuser blend:

• Rosemary: “Mixes Well With: bergamot oil, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil, thyme oil”.
• Peppermint: “Energizing Blend: Add 1 drop each of peppermint oil and rosemary oil along with 2 drops of cinnamon oil to a diffuser and enjoy.”

How to use it: aromatherapy or diluted

Both labels say the same thing, word for word: “Suggested Use: For aromatherapy use. For all other uses, carefully dilute with a carrier oil such as jojoba, grapeseed, olive, or almond oil prior to use. Please consult an essential oil book or other professional reference source for suggested dilution ratios.”

And below it, in bold: “Natural essential oils are highly concentrated and should be used with care.”

A “carrier oil” is the oil the essential oil is diluted in. If a label shows a percentage next to “jojoba” (for example, “20%”), the essential oil already comes diluted: it is only part of the bottle, and the rest is jojoba oil. If it says “100% pure”, the whole bottle is essential oil.

Each one's caution

They look alike, but they are not the same:

• Rosemary: “Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes. If pregnant or lactating, consult your healthcare practitioner before using.”
• Peppermint: “Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with skin or eyes. If pregnant or nursing, consult your healthcare practitioner before using.”

The peppermint one adds the skin: even from the same brand, each oil has its own caution.

Quality

• Rosemary: “Purity Tested/Quality Assured”.
• Peppermint: “NOW® Essential Oils are analytically tested for identity, purity and adulteration to assure the highest quality.”

Where to find them

In our store we have NOW Rosemary Essential Oil, 1 oz and NOW Peppermint Essential Oil, 1 oz. If you want to read more about a specific oil, see Eucalyptus: uses, aroma and how to use its essential oil with care and Essential oils for sleep: lavender, cedarwood and how to use them. All the oils we carry are in Pure essential oils.

For more details, call us at 787-304-0458 or message us on WhatsApp at 787-618-8888.