With the continuing growth of the essential oil market and their application across many industries, can you trust your source? Analytical methods such as GC-MS, CG-FID, GC–C-IRMS and HPLC cannot always detect complex, intended adulteration.

Do adulterators continue in their attempts to deceive such analytical methods with intentional adulteration, or is it as simple as an unethical supplier issuing dishonest technical data or marketing literature, knowingly being deceitful? 

Supplier motivation exists for commercial gain in a growing and valuable market, and as a formulator or buyer, do you understand your source and supply chain, do you understand your raw material, or do you wholly rely on your supplier being trustworthy? Education and awareness are two important criteria for ensuring a trusted source. Being price driven alone should bring caution.

Read our article on Essential Oils, the market, and its issues analysed.