Aromatherapy helps life.Here is a response I received from AFNOR: They speak french as they are based in France. I have translated using babelfish.altavista.com.
I was insighted to investigate after I received the email below from a man who purchased oils for his wife at Christmas. This letter also verifies that we stand by our guarantee.
> -----Message d'origine-----
> De: Computers [SMTP:scott@kobashi.to]
> Date: vendredi 4 janvier 2002 12:26
> À: norminfo
> Objet: Re: DHM Information Request Form
>
> >Dear Help
>
> >Do you certify Essential oils to say they are theraputic grade?
>
> >Do you certify Essential oils to say they have better quality than
> others?
>
> >What do you actually certify for an essential oil company?
>
> >
> >Thank you
> >
> >Scott Ballard
Bonjour,
En réponse à votre demande, nous vous signalons à titre de première
information qu'AFNOR élabore des normes mais ne certifie pas sur les huiles
essentielles.Hello,
In response to your request, we announce you for information purposes first that AFNOR works out standards but does not certify on essential oils.
59, boulevard Vincent Auriol
75013 PARIS
téléphone : 01 44 87 17 17
télécopie : 01 44 97 30 43
Salutations distinguées.-----------------------------------------
AFNOR
Pôle Norm'Info
11 avenue Francis de Pressensé
93571 Saint-Denis La Plaine Cedex
Téléphone : 01 41 62 76 44
Télécopie : 01 49 17 90 00
norminfo@afnor.fr-------------------------------------------------------
Because of misinformation I received this letter.
I have received Order Number: CD158 comprised of various essential oils totaling $194.11 that I purchased for my wife as a Christmas present. Unfortunately, my wife has advised me that the oils she needs are those that are of "Therapeutic Grade" and that can be applied to the skin and taken internally, such as those certified by AFNOR or ISO as therapeutic in distinction to Grade A.. She researched the literature on your website and found that, although your oils are excellent ones in the scope of their intended usage, they are not what she needs for her purposes. Therefore, I would like to return the oils, all of which are brand new as received. Not a one has been opened. Please advise of return policy and procedures. The order was placed on my VISA account which I would like to have credited. I would be happy to accept a reasonable restocking fee, if applicable, for your inconvenience.
Thank you for your assistance.
Alfred
Reply:
Dear Alfred
We are happy to refund your money on receipt of the oils.
AFNOR or ISO do NOT certify oils for Therapeutic Grade quality. AFNOR certifies a companies manufacturing standards (good house keeping), such as batching and labeling. ISO certifies oils for companies such as perfume companies which commandeer different batches of oil to create a standardized oil. Such as the Geraniol level in Palmarosa. Standardizing oil has NO place in Professional Aromatherapy. We are strongly against such practices as natural variations in nature are what we want. Standardizing also leads to adding chemicals natural and synthetic to get the standard chemical profile. Viruses, bacteria and funguses will certainly adapt to a standardized product.
Afnor does not do Gc-Ms testing on the oils of the companies it certifies. If they do it will be to make money on the testing. Each Gc-Ms test cost hundreds of dollars per oil, for each sample. This will not be included in the annual fee.
Very few companies in the world do what we at Kobashi are doing.
All Kobashi essential oils have been tested by Gc-Ms for phthalates, pesticides, herbicides, unwanted ethanol, chemical composition and many other chemicals and structures.
We could join every club and certifying company if we wanted to. Big Deal! It wouldn't make our oils any better.
Our Essential Oils are the best 100% Pure Essential Oils on the Market.
The difference between Kobashi Essential Oil and the majority of suppliers is that we can prove in a court of law that are selling 100% Pure Essential oil.
Another difference with Kobashi Essential Oil is we suggest you dilute our oils before putting them on your skin, as they are the REAL THING. Many companies would like you to pour it on neat, as this makes them more money. They also say you can pour it on neat because they are more than likely diluted.
Another difference with Kobashi Essential Oils is we suggest you do not take them internally, as our oils are the same as used for "theraputic grade". Don't take them internally unless qualified to do so. One drop of Kobashi Melissa is the same as ingesting oil of 500grams of plant material
There are some companies trying to make people think as if the oils were made by Harry Potter or by the Lords of Rings. "Therapeutic Grade"
At times they are magical for me, but quite frankly:
An Essential Oil is a distilled plant. You place plant material in a vessel. You pass steam through the plant material. The steam releases the essential oil from the plant material and it rises. The steam now mixed with the vaporized essential oil (from the plant material) is cooled in a tube, column or coil (condenser). The steam turns to distilled water which has some of the water soluble aspects of the essential oil in it, such as the alcohols. The vaporized essential oil condenses and both the distilled water and the essential oil drip into a holding vessel. The essential oil floats on the distilled water in the vessel, with the exception of oils like clove which sink to the bottom of the distilled water, as it is heavier than water. The essential oil is removed from the water and is bottled to send to you.
You have to start with nature to have magic. And the magic for me, in reference to essential oils, starts with pure essential oils from the proper plant material. I don't care what other name ones gives to an essential oil ie; "Therapeutic Grade""Grade A" It's not magical to me if "Therapeutic Grade""Grade A" means standardizing a natural or unatural product. The mechanisms of life are not rigid; they are alive and changing. If I make references to "Therapeutic Grade""Grade A" or the like I hope it is to expose the hype. Aromatherapy says it all, but no that's not enough. Companies have to come up with something new like Real Aromatherapy, Clinical Aromatherapy or Aromatherapy by the Ancients to lure you in. I have even felt drawn into using these tactics in order to play on a level field. The reality is if you have plant material from the correct plant variety and distill it as stated above it is still an essential oil.
I don't want to destroy anyones faith in magic, as magic takes faith to see it and to implement it.
Best Regards,
Scott Ballard
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