In this article, I will discuss various different classifications of plant-based oils for the purpose of providing resellers with the information they may need when it comes to essential oils classifications.

Check out my previous article for more details on reselling organic essential oils wholesale.

Classifying Essential Oils

First of all, organic essential oils can be classified in multiple ways. As a reseller, you should be aware of them. Also, people classify these plant oils according to their uses, extraction methods, type of plants, benefits, and grades.

Essential Oil Grades: A Marketing Term

Although there is not a certain organization that certifies oils with certain grades, essential oil grades are one of the most common ways to classify these plant oils. However, marketing an essential oil as pure therapeutic grade does not really mean anything. Most noteworthy is that they are not certified by any authority. Thus, everyone can label their oils however they like.

Some companies and resellers are also throwing words around such as Grade A, B, C, D. Interestingly enough, there is no essential oil brand that labels their oils as non-therapeutic oil or Grade B, C, or D.

For example, Aura Cacia is a brand that sells natural, pure, and quality essential oils. Like many other brands, they claim that there is no grading system for essential oils on their frequently asked questions page:

There is no such grading system for essential oils. Companies sometimes use this term in marketing to try to differentiate aromatherapy oils from essential oils used in flavoring and food. Aromatherapy oils should be pure, complete and unadulterated high quality oils. But because the term “therapeutic grade” isn’t based on established standards or regulation, it can be — and often is — used without regard to the quality of the oil.

Extraction Methods

However, some  classify essential oils according to their extraction methods. Today, there are three main methods that we use to extract these oils from their plants. These include steam distillation, solvent extraction, and cold press.

Steam distillation is the most common method of extracting plant-based oils. In order to extract plant oils with this method, processors break down plant issue with steam, which causes the pure essential oil to vaporize. The vaporized essences, along with the steam and other substances, pass into a pipe through the condensers. The vapors separate from the water and return to liquid form, where the processor captures it as essential plant oil.

Solvent extraction is used if a plant is too delicate for steam distillation or when a plant produces very little oil, which makes steam distillation impractical.

Cold press, on the other hand, is a mechanical extraction method, which is appropriate on citrus plants such as orange, lemon, bergamot and more.

Organic Essential Oils

Essential oils cannot be certified pure therapeutic grade. However, they can be certified organic. According to Aura Cacia, “certified organic oils come from plants that are cultivated, harvested and distilled in accordance with certified organic regulations. Therefore, certified organic growers must always take long-term sustainability into account as part of the certification process, and supporting organic farmers is a way for the consumer to commit to the health and sustainability of our planet.” Most noteworthy, all organic Aura Cacia oils are certified organic by USDA and QAI.

Fragrance Oil vs. Essential Oils

Resellers and customers should be aware that there is a clear distinction between the two. Essential oils are distilled from certain parts of plants. They are pure and concentrated. Also, their aromatic scents directly come from the plants that they were extracted. On the other hand. fragrance oils may include essential oils but they also contain synthetic aroma chemicals.