Substitution: It is interesting to note that the volume of rose and lavender oil traded exceeds the world production of these oils. Rose otto is often substituted by rose geranium oil, which costs approximately one tenth the price of the pure rose otto. Similarly lavender is often substituted by the cheaper lavendin.
Synthetics: These are chemicals which have been made in a laboratory or by an industrial process. They can be used to substitute all or part of an oil. For example many of the 'melissa' and 'verbena' oils on the market are fabrications from synthetic ingredients, while 'sweet birch' and 'wintergreen' are often synthetic methyl salicylate.
Additions: Synthetic chemicals are sometimes added to oils to enhance a particular property. This is common in the perfumery industry where chemicals such as alcohols may be added to make the oil more volatile.
Cutting: This is where a synthetic ingredient is added to the oil in order to 'stretch it'. These chemicals are usually odourless and are simply added to the oil to bulk it out. For example diethyl phthalate is often added to sandalwood, while dipropyl glycol is added to rose otto.
Adulteration during extraction: It is important that essential oils are obtained by steam distillation or, in the case of citrus oils, expression. Methods such as solvent extraction can result in the oils being contaminated by chemicals such as alcohols and diethyl ether, which can be used during the process...................click here or on the arrow below for more