When choosing essential oils, as with most products, we tend to rely on the labels they carry to identify quality products. But it is not always easy to navigate this profusion of labels, each of which seems more virtuous than the other, especially since we sometimes read contradictory information on the Internet. As is often the case, to choose well, you must understand what the choice of this or that label entails.
First of all, it seemed useful to us to find an official definition of the term “label”.
A label is a collective brand which is materialized by distinctive signs (a name, a logo, etc.) and which can be used by different brands complying with the specifications of the label in question. It aims to ensure and facilitate the recognition of certain product characteristics.
There are different types of labels, public labels and private labels.
Let us understand clearly, it is not because a label depends on a private organization that it means nothing (and conversely, it is not because another label is “public” that it is a guarantee of quality). To know with certainty what a label is worth, we must look precisely at what it guarantees (its specifications) and who controls it (how it is obtained).
Ecocert, this name is not unknown to you; you have in fact seen it on all of our essential oil technical sheets (and certainly elsewhere...). Ecocert is not a label but the control and certification body which can, as its name indicates, certify that the composition of a product after control is in agreement with the label in question.
For example, Ecocert certifies that our oil can benefit from the AB label because it meets the conditions set by the Ministry of Agriculture in charge of this label.
So how does this work in real life?
Mr. After having read the regulations in force, the producer, Mr. If, after inspection, it complies with the specifications specific to the AB label, then it's a win!
La Compagnie des Sens, itself committed to the Ecocert certification body, will then be able to obtain 100% ORGANIC Fine Lavender essential oil and package it in wonderful little bottles!
Good to know...
Ecocert is not the only AB control and certification body in France. Nowadays, 9 certification bodies are approved (i.e. the Ministry of Agriculture has authorized these organizations to control and issue the AB label or other labels and mentions): Ecocert, Agrocert, Certipaq Bio, Bureau Veritas, Certisud, Certis, Bureau Alpes Controles, Qualisud, Biotek Agriculture.
Consuming organic today means adopting responsible consumption for your health but also for the environment around us. It’s Good, It’s Beautiful, It’s ORGANIC!
You all know this ORGANIC label. He roams all the shelves of your supermarket, but who is he exactly?
THE AB label (Organic Agriculture) is a French quality label created in 1985. It is the exclusive property of the French ministry in charge of agriculture, agri-food and forestry. It is this ministry which defines the specifications that must be respected by products wishing to benefit from the AB label. The AB label can be used in France by professionals who wish to do so and who respect the specifications.
These specifications guarantee:
And l’organic Agriculture it's what ?
It is an agriculture that guarantees a mode of production that respects the environment and animal welfare. This mode of production is notably based on:
Did you know ?
The AB label is officially reserved for food-type products, that is to say which can be ingested. But, not all essential oils are ingestible you tell me? Yes, yes, you have carefully studied all of our technical sheets, I congratulate you!
Indeed, this distinguishes essential oils from common products but in this case the requirements relate to the production and packaging of the product.
Good to know
On a European scale, a logo was created in 2010 respecting the same conditions of use. Both logos still appear on products, the AB logo being better known to consumers, but this aims to be completely replaced by the “European green leaf”.
Finally, we don't just choose with the wave of a magic wand that our product can benefit from the AB label. It is an organization which must control and certify that the product complies with the specifications of the label...
Cosmetics consumers know it well, it is the label Cosmebio.
Cosmébio is an association bringing together natural, ecological and organic cosmetics professionals. Since 2002, this association has worked to promote the development of natural and ecological cosmetics based on products from organic farming and green chemistry. The Cosmébio label has points in common with the AB label. However, Cosmébio is only used in the cosmetics field, as its name indicates...
Since January 1, 2017, the Cosmébio association, accompanied by four other members, have set up and made compulsory the European COSMOS standard (Cosmetic Organic Standard) which in fact aims at the international level.
To carry this Cosmébio label with or without the mention COSMOS NATURAL or COSMOS ORGANIC, the product formula must respect a series of criteria specific to the standard and the label in question.
For example, to affix the Cosmébio COSMOS ORGANIC label, the criteria to be respected by the product are as follows:
This COSMOS standard therefore has a promising future, it aims to reach nearly 85% of organic certified cosmetics in the world.
Did you know ?THE foreign labels known as BDIH in Germany, Soil Association in England or even ICEA in Italy better watch out because soon, just like Cosmebio, they will be replaced by the term COSMOS. You will no longer be lost when traveling abroad!
In the farandole of labels adapted to essential oils, we also find so-called private labels since they were created by independent organizations. They are rather called “brand” or “mention” and do not benefit from external control to be certified.
Among these mentions, we find theHEBBD for Botanically and Biochemically Defined Essential Oil. This is a label created by a company producing and selling essential oils in order to stand out from the competition.
This mention is supposed to guarantee:
We also find an equivalent, theHECT for Chemotyped Essential Oils. This mention is also a guarantee of the quality of essential oils on a biochemical and botanical level.
However, these two labels have serious problems:
To the Company of the Senses we guarantee to respect all of these criteria, but:
Average grade: 4.7 ( 155 votes)
Work : de la Charie, T. (2019). Treat yourself with essential oils. Why and how does it work? Editions du Rocher.
This aromatherapy article was written by Théophane de la Charie, author of the book “Treat yourself with essential oils”, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team made up of pharmacists, biochemists and agronomists.
La Compagnie des Sens and its teams do not encourage self-medication. The information and advice provided comes from a reference bibliographic database (books, scientific publications, etc.). They are given for information purposes, or to suggest avenues for reflection: they should in no case replace a diagnosis, consultation or medical follow-up, and cannot engage the liability of the Compagnie des Sens.