What's in the testing??
Are the GC-MS tests the final answer? Anyone who is beginning to dive deep into essential oils will sooner or later come across the term GC-MS. The first thing that someone will find confusing is the fact that these terms are often spoken about as if they are the same thing. GC stands for gas chromatography, while MS refers to mass spectrometry. While typically spoken about synonymously, they are actually two completely separate pieces of equipment.
On a basic level, these machines are simply used to determine the quality of an essential oil. Each of these is used in conjunction to draw conclusions regarding the quality of essential oils differently. Although these are the most common tools used for this purpose there are others that can also determine factors about quality with their results.
Because Young Living has an unwavering commitment of producing genuine, AUTHENTIC therapeutic-grade essential oils, we conduct several ROUTINE quality tests on EACH and EVERY batch of essential oil. In fact, Young Living runs between 15-20 tests on EVERY BATCH OF OIL, most of which are repeated 3 times after distillation, and then again, another 3 times AFTER bottling; far more than any other company. Yes, I said 3 times TWICE! That means Young Living conducts between 90 to 120 tests on EVERY batch of essential oil. – NO OTHER ESSENTIAL OIL COMPANY in the world goes to the same great lengths (and expense) to ensure the quality of their oils.
Young Living has bought and compiled an essential oil retention index and mass spectral reference library that currently contains over 400,000 components. Young Living has more than 1.3 million oil molecule references in their library. It’s the only library of it’s kind in the world. Using this research reference library, Young Living conducts the tests on every batch of essential oil! It’s part of our whole SEED-to-SEAL process which is your assurance that we have the highest quality, pure, genuine, AUTHENTIC therapeutic-grade essential oils in the world.
Adulteration of essentials oils will become more and more common as the supply of top-quality essential oils dwindles and demand continues to increase. Adulteration may occur by diluting the essential oil with fatty lipid oils. This is a common practice by some essential oil companies to increase supply and reduce cost. These adulterated essential oils will jeopardize the integrity of aromatherapy and essential oil use. Adulteration has become such a major concern that each essential oil Young Living offers is tested in the manner above by Young Living’s trained research and quality control scientists. Batches that do not meet established standards are rejected and returned. This process ensures that you are getting the world’s best and purest essential oils available.