REVIVE Essential Oils - Hazel on Essential Oils Brands
My sister and I love using essential oils on the daily. So far, we both have written plenty of posts about our favorite EO brands/uses (you can read a few of our most recent musings here, here and here). Three weeks ago, I was running low on my basic essential oils aka the ones I use for my DIY cleaning products and my DIY laundry detergent. So, I decided to purchase a whole set (blush, not just my usual 2-3 bottles) from a new company making waves in the EO industry. The company is called REVIVE essential oils.
I’ve never written about REVIVE before (or tried their products out) so, I thought this would be the perfect topic for my monthly product review post.
REVIVE essential oils is a small company based in San Francisco. The oils are either wildcrafted or organic. The website also describes the products as 100% pure therapeutic grade without any synthetics, fillers or fragrances. REVIVE’S products are 3rd party tested. REVIVE touts the same amazing quality as two big names in the EO industry (Young Living and doTERRA) without all the MLM structure. REVIVE’S prices are significantly less per bottle than any other EO company that advertises a similar, exceptional quality.
First off, I truly appreciate that REVIVE sources many of their products indigenously and I applaud the sustainable practices that REVIVE is trying to incorporate globally as well. I do need to mention that I know the company is fairly new (launched in 2018) but I hope to see a lot more in-depth information and blog posts about the details behind their ethical and eco-friendly journeys.
Anyways, I was so so so excited for my REVIVE essential oils to arrive. I kept checking in the mail for that navy box from them. When I’d purchased the entire set, it was almost less than I normally pay for 2-3 oils. Plus, I didn’t have to pay for shipping either. Um, yes please!
Then a bit of a bummer happened.
It turns out the purity and quality that REVIVE promotes isn’t actually true. While I’m all up for finding great deals on natural products, in this case (with essential oils) you truly get what you pay for.
Here’s what happened.
I’m a part of a fairly large essential oil fans facebook page. And while I waited for my REVIVE box to arrive, I impatiently asked if anyone else had used REVIVE and what recipes they suggested. Almost immediately, someone in the facebook group DM-ed me about their (not-so-positive) experience using REVIVE oils externally. She ALSO forwarded this letter and these lab results here. The lab results show two synthetic markers in REVIVE’S lavender oil.
Ugh.
For me, Lavender oil is one the primary indicators of any EO’s brand’s overall quality. Lavender is one of the most popular oils in the entire EO industry. If a company can’t get the sourcing and distillation right with that oil (aka if the lavender oil has been clearly adulterated) it’s a bit worrisome for that brand’s other oils too—many of which have more complex manufacturing processes.
****Update: Turns out more synthetic markers were also found in REVIVE’s Bergamot, Birch and Deep Soothe oils too. You can read more about these Revive essential oils here.
Anyway, if we can’t trust REVIVE’s statements about synthetics, it also makes me wonder what other marketing statements are misleading. Eek!
Luckily, REVIVE Essential Oils has a 100% return guarantee, so I went ahead and sent back my unopened bottles. Whew, EO expensive crisis averted.
My new REVIVE bottles have weirdly crooked labels on them too, which drives my OCD a little bit crazy.
Anyways, I’ve got my fingers crossed that REVIVE can dot their “i’s”, cross their “t’s” to figure out where on earth the adulteration is happening (maybe via some of their brokers?) Their prices look lovely, but for me, it’s not worth spending the money/time on synthetics (especially since I use EO’s around my family and dilute them topically quite often).
What EO’s brands do you love? Have you found using EO’s in your house helps save money? Have you tried REVIVE essential oils before? Let us know in the comments below! My sister and I would love to hear your thoughts.
Please find below additional information about how 100% pure therapeutic essential oils are developed and qualified as such.
Cheers,
Hazel
REVIVE Essential Oils - More on Essential Oils Brands
Things You Need to Know About 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil
No doubt, essential oils are among the most popular oils in the market used by many consumers for various purposes. However, have you ever heard about the 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils?
In this post, you’ll have a chance to get more familiar with pure therapeutic grade essential oil. Besides learning what therapeutic grade essential oils are, all your possible questions about it will be answered thoroughly.
What Is 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil?
Essential oils refer to the highly concentrated and distilled moisture extracted from different kinds of plants. Essential oil manufacturers utilize various methods and distillation process to get the oils from plant sources, including steam distillation, cold-pressed, and solvent extraction.
As for the 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oil, it is a term used to discuss the factors influencing different aromatherapy products. The oil also refers to the highest purity oil being produced.
Oils that produced as 100% therapeutic grade are oils that are carefully distilled using best quality plant sources. That is to ensure the medical qualities and other benefits are retained. Being produced using highest quality sources, these oils are generally used for aromatherapy that can help users to relax, relieve minor ailment, and stimulate even with few drops.
An essential oils brands quality and purity are affected by different factors such as growing conditions, geography, as well as the harvest time of the plant source. Meaning, if there are the poor growing process or low-quality distillation methods, the therapeutic worth of the plants for the essential oils will be lessened.
Most essential oils are known to be high in antiviral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties. In fact, they can also be used for home cleaning preparations. Rosemary, lavender, peppermint, tea tree, lemon, and eucalyptus are among the best oils for cleaning.
What Are the Synthetics, Fillers, or Fragrances That Spoil It?
Not only do 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils smell wonderful; they can also improve the massage experiences and provide direct benefits on both physical and mental health. Further, they are also considered as a safe, effective alternative to conventional insect-repellents and disinfectants.
If these oils are used on hair, they offer a softening effect. Besides hair-softening benefits, essential oils are also useful as a skin moisturizer and help in skin rejuvenation, rashes, psoriasis, and eczema, migraine, pain, tension, stress, and mood.
However, some “therapeutic” essential oils brands can have drawbacks.
Synthetics, fillers, or even fragrances are sometimes used to produce therapeutic essential oils. Although not all brands use these ingredients, some brands are known to contain them. As a result, therapeutic essential oils are being spoiled.
People might not notice that there are plenty of products that contain synthetics, fillers, or fragrance. Laundry products, cleaning products, perfumes, air fresheners, and colognes are among these products. And, essential oils are not even excused.
Even though essential oils containing synthetics, fillers, and fragrances can last for years, they still contain toxins. These toxins include benzyl acetate, benzaldehyde, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and propylene glycol.
For example, manufacturers of synthetic essential oils add toxic solvents to help the airborne fragrance molecules turn sticky so that they can cling to hair and skin. That can also make the smell to become persistent for hours, days, or even months.
What Are the Dangers of and Why Don’t We Want Those Synthetics Fillers, or Fragrances?
100% pure grade essential oils work best due to the highest quality plasma of plants that have an exact match to human blood plasma. As a result, the essential oils will be able to penetrate the bloodstream directly.
Oils with synthetics, fillers, or fragrances will only attach themselves to the small amount of the pure ingredient oil. Then, they will enter the bloodstream, which may cause a health risk to the liver and kidneys.
For example, a pure therapeutic lavender essential oil is useful for healing a burn. However, a synthetic lavender essential oil may only cause pain, severe infection, the likelihood of scarring, or further inflammation. Meanwhile, synthetic essential oils are always known to contain fragrance oils which are a blend of allergens, endocrine disruptors, respiratory irritants, carcinogens, neurotoxic chemicals, and environmental toxicants.
When therapeutic essential oils contain synthetics, fillers, and fragrances, the quality and results will be different from 100% pure grade selection.
ü Contains harsh chemicals that might help lead to an allergic reaction and skin sensitization with prolonged use
ü Do not include complete aromatherapy benefits
ü Can be harmful to both the respiratory system and skin
ü Do not have a similar fresh, natural smell that natural oils have
ü Not all manufacturers label all the ingredients used, so users are not sure about the synthetics, fillers, or fragrances content
Furthermore, ADHD and autism have been linked to synthetic fragrances. That is according to the research conducted by Dr. Philip Landrigan, where fetal exposure to phthalates is related to symptoms of neurological disorders, ADHD, and autism.
Do All Essential Oil Manufacturers Accurately Report Quality?
When it comes to purchasing 100% pure grade essential oils, people become more meticulous where they want to know whether they can trust a particular brand. So, they are eager to learn if specific essential oils brands accurately report quality.
Good thing, there are various quantifiable tests that essential oil manufacturers use to examine and report the quality of the oils accurately. Meaning, it can help the end-users about the assurance that the oils are pure and quality.
Essential oil manufacturers take advantage of Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. The two testing methods are used to verify the components contained by a specific essential oil. These tests are conducted together which use oil specimen to determine the constituents that oil contains.
Gas Chromatography
Gas Chromatography primarily measures the components found in a particular essential oil sample. This test is performed by plotting each component onto a graph. An essential oil sample is placed in a heating chamber, and then, the oil will be heated to reach a particular temperature until the components vaporize.
Each of the components will vaporize at a different rate of time. Once each of the components vaporized, it will pass through a detector measuring the exact time it took to vaporize, as well as the concentration or percentage of the component within the specific sample.
Mass Spectrometry
Mass Spectrometry is a type of test used in conjunction with the Gas Chromatography where it can identify whether the essential oil sample contains any of the adulterants. Once each component passed through the heating chamber of the Gas Chromatograph machine, it will be fed up into a machine called mass spectrometer. This machine will ionize the components, and then, each component will be sort according to the mass-to-charge ratio. After that, the molecular weights will be measured, and the results will be charted.
How Do They Test Purity? Are There Third Party Independent Testers?
End-users of therapeutic essential oils must be aware that a particular essential oil might be pure yet has poor quality. Based on the aromatherapy standards, essential oils that are not pure are considered as poor quality.
Good thing, reputable essential oil manufacturers strive to test the purity of their products. Besides, Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry, there is another testing procedure to examine the purity of the oil.
Refractive Index
Refractive index is a measurement responsible for testing how the speed of the light is adjusted when passing through the essential oil. The oil is measured using a refractometer.
Specific Gravity
The results for specific gravity are measured at exact temperatures and pressures. Essential oils that are improperly distilled can result in particular gravity readings that are outside the standard.
Meanwhile, there are third party independent testers that can help users to identify whether essential oils are quality and pure or not. These independent testers have specialization to quality and purity assurance and ensure that the essential oils met the industry standards.
Are Any Essential Oils Brands Considered a Leader In Quality And Purity?
When it comes to quality and pure essential oils, doTerra is among the trusted brands. Being reputable to produce industry-standard essential oils such as peppermint, lemon, and lavender essential oils, the company take pride to deliver satisfying and beneficial products.
All their essential oils passed the (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) standard. The company is composed of professional researchers and doctors who conduct both laboratory and scientific evaluations.
Furthermore, doTerra is also using the cold-pressed method in producing citrus base essential oils. The company delivers a wide variety of oils that are effective for topical, internal, and aromatic purposes. The essential oil company is also using steam distillation when extracting the most valuable compounds from the highest quality plants. They always make sure that their therapeutic oils are 100% pure and can meet and satisfy the needs of the end-users.
Conclusion
100% pure grade essential oils are considered as one of the most important health-promoting products. However, it is necessary to ensure that the essential oil you are buying is 100% pure and quality so that you will be able to enjoy all the health benefits.
Hope this helped!
Cheers Again ,
Hazel
