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Correcting the misinformation perpetuated by some
aromatherapy companies concerning AFNOR and Therapeutic Grade essential Oils.
AFNOR is a state-approved organization, placed under the supervision of the
Ministry for Industry. Its mission is to pilot and coordinate the preparation of
standards, represent French interests within all standardization bodies, approve
standards, promote and facilitate the use of standards, develop NF certification
and products, services and systems certification.
AFNOR supervises all of the technical work within 16 major standardization
programs. Program areas include electrical engineering and electronics, health,
environment, hygiene and work safety, materials and materials processing and
transportation.
Let's face it: It's a jungle out there. And the more aromatherapy becomes
mainstream in the minds of marketers, the more likely you are to see junk oils
on store shelves.
This is a serious issue for you, and anyone looking for the many health benefits
offered through aromatherapy.
What's the big deal here?
One of the main issues here is that many oils on the market today are totally
synthetic — lifeless. Others that have real essential oil in them are doctored
with synthetic chemicals to extend them or punch up their fragrance. (Not to
mention the problems of chemical contamination in either the growing or
processing of many oils.) And, while it's true that chemists have successfully
recreated the main constituents and fragrances of some essential oils in the
laboratory, they simply cannot fabricate anything with all the properties of a
therapeutic-grade essential oil.
Why is that?
These Franken-oils lack therapeutic benefits for two primary reasons:
1. Many essential oils contain molecules and isomers that are impossible to
manufacture in the laboratory. And while their absence might not significantly
affect the fragrance of the oil, it does impact their therapeutic properties.
2. It's impossible to create the frequency of a therapeutic-grade oil in the
laboratory. (Frankenstein was, after all, just fiction.)
But, whether it's a synthetic oil or just a junk oil, you will not get the
amazing health benefits from them that you would from a truly therapeutic-grade
essential oil, and you could even face significant risks.
Why?
Because the chemical constituents found in a quality oil form an intricate
mosaic, and play important roles in enhancing and balancing the properties of
one another. Consider this: Have you ever wondered how an herb that has been
used for thousands of years in folk medicine — without serious side effects —
can "all of a sudden" come to market as a dangerous pharmaceutical? It's because
the "active ingredient" has been isolated from the other constituents in the
herb that, in its natural state, balance its effect on the body. You can get
something of the same effect from junk oils: They either don't work as expected
or they create negative side effects.
So, just how are you — assuming you don't have an advanced degree in chemistry
and a high-tech lab at your disposal — to know which oils are therapeutic-grade?
The answer is: There is no easy answer
Here is where the record must be set straight. For years, I was taught that the
answer to "How do you know … ?" was AFNOR. When I was first getting started with
aromatherapy, my mentors told me that AFNOR certification is the most reliable
indicator of an essential oil's quality is. The only problem is: there is no
such thing as AFNOR certification; AFNOR has no such program for certifying
essential oils, based on its standards. Its standards cover all specifications
for essential oils, but do not include any reference to therapeutic grade.
AFNOR (the Association French Normalization Organization Regulation) acts as a
standards-setting body for a variety of products and services — not just
essential oils. Contrary to what I had been led to believe, it is not a
government agency — something like the USDA; it is a private company, and the
name AFNOR is a registered trademark, and as such, protected property.
The true meaning of AFNOR
AFNOR is an agency that sets minimum standards by which the quality, safety,
reliability and performance requirements described in French, European and
International Standards can be validated. With regard to essential oils, it
exists mainly to dictate the standards to which essential oils are held in
laboratory analysis.
However, this is not the same as certification of a product or service.
The act of certification designates that a recognized body, independent of the
interested parties, gives written assurance that a product, process or service
conforms to specified requirements. AFNOR does not do that; it merely provides
reference documents, used by professional and commercial buyers and sellers,
that indicate the "norm" for a product. Hence, AFNOR standards for essential
oils only gauge their conformance to standards set and agreed upon by the
participating parties.
The typical AFNOR standard for an essential oil usually lists only the primary
chemical constituents that provide its taste and/or aroma — the minimum chemical
profile set by the industry. So, while an essential oil can have from 80 to 400
chemical compounds, the AFNOR standard might set the minimum concentrations — or
percentages — of only five or six of them. In some cases — as with peppermint (Mentha
piperita) oil — the standard for a species of oil might be defined by only one
compound (menthol). Thus, the hundreds of healing compounds that comprise a
therapeutic grade of oil are not considered at all.
Therefore, AFNOR standards simply do not address the therapeutic aspects of an
oil. That an oil tests within AFNOR parameters means only that it fits a certain
minimum chemical profile, as set by the industry. And, since the essential oil
industry is predominantly governed by the needs of the food and cosmetics
industries, the mere fact that an oil meets AFNOR standards says very little
abouts its suitability for use in medicinal aromatherapy.
AFNOR and therapeutic-grade oils
And so, contrary to what I was taught as I began my adventure into aromatherapy,
the appearance of AFNOR on a label does not prove its therapeutic quality, nor
does the absence of AFNOR indicate that an oil is not therapeutic. An essential
oil could fulfill all the AFNOR criteria, and still not be therapeutic. In fact,
many commercial oils do meet that standard, and the are not.
Unfortunately, the existence of AFNOR standards — such as they are — causes many
companies, who wish to sell their oils to the food or fragrance industries, to
compound, manipulate, refine, denature and adulterate oils to make them comply
with the "norm". To the untrained nose, these oils might seem fine, but they
will not give you therapeutic effects.
What is the Young Living Coined term "therapeutic grade" and what does it
mean?
Young Living, in an ingenious marketing move coined the term "therapeutic grade" to describe their essential oils due to the fact that there is no certification for essential oils. Understandably, Young Living wanted consumers interested in essential oils to realize that their is a real difference in high quality oils and what is available in most health food stores; which is pure junk. However, "therapeutic grade", the term, means absolutely nothing. The term "therapeutic grade essential oils", found either in literature or on bottles, means absolutely nothing. Nor does "therapeutic grade essential oils" guarantee quality, organic certification, lack of adulteration, or that one brand is a higher quality than another. It is simply a marketing term that every essential oil company and seller is now using to make their essential oils seem superior. At Bella Mira we use the term only in keywording for those who have been taught that this is the only way to purity. We used to put it on our bottles as well as AFNOR certification but we decided not to sink to that level.
What Certifications are Available for Essential Oils?
Quite simply, yet complicated enough, these are the only certifications available for essential oils worldwide. They mean very little as you can see.
The Pharmaceutical Trade: British Pharmacopoeia (BP) 2004 is published on
recommendation of the Medicines Commission UK. Oils specifications are also
published in the European Pharmacopoeia 4th edn 2002 (Eur. Pharm 4th edn);
United States Pharmacopoeia (USP); also the pharmacopoeia’s of individual
nations such as China, India etc. Earlier editions of The British Pharmaceutical
Codex (BPC), such as BPC 1949, contain many essential oil standards still in use
today.
Essential Oil Trade: Monographs on individual essential oils (EOA Standards)
were produced by the Scientific Committee of the Essential Oil Association Inc.
Flavorings Industry: Food Chemicals Codex IV (1996, US) produced at the request
of the FDA (1992), is widely used for guidance by the food flavorings industry.
Aroma Companies: Many larger established Flavor & Fragrance Houses have their
own internal purchasing standards.
Independent Certifying Bodies: International Standards Organization (ISO
Standards TC 54) & Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR) both have
detailed standards for e.o.’s, however they are only for 1-3 markers for only
the mainstream oils. Some companies will put ANFOR on their blends bottles just
because one of the oils is certified.