Risks of the Essential Oil Industry: Marketing Myths and Safety Concerns
The essential oil (EO) market has exploded into a multi-billion dollar industry, frequently marketed as the ultimate "natural" solution for everything from cleaning to healthcare. However, behind the wellness aesthetic lies a sector rife with misleading marketing, environmental strain, and significant safety concerns that are pretty much always ignored, especially in crunchy circles on social media.
While many of these plants are medicinal in their whole forms, the super-concentrated volatile compounds found in essential oils represent a pharmaceutical-grade extraction that I think we need to use caution with, and reconsider daily use in our homes, and on our bodies.
The purpose of this article is to provide informed consent about essential oils.
The "Therapeutic Grade" Marketing Myth
One of the most pervasive misconceptions in the industry is the idea of "Therapeutic Grade" or "Certified Pure" oils.
Despite the implications of these fancy marketing terms, there is no regulatory body that grades essential oils. The FDA does not certify EOs, nor does any other government agency. Terms like "Therapeutic Grade" or "CPTG" are trademarked marketing terms invented by the companies themselves. They are effectively meaningless from a regulatory standpoint and are used to justify higher price points rather than guarantee a medically standardized product.
Endocrine Disruption & Hormonal Health
Because essential oils are highly concentrated lipophilic (fat-soluble) substances, they can easily penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream. Research suggests that certain popular oils may act as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with the body's natural hormone systems.
The Link to Gynecomastia
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Gynecomastia is the enlargement or swelling of breast tissue in males, typically caused by an imbalance between estrogen and testosterone levels.
A landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine highlighted the potential dangers of lavender and tea tree oils. The study investigated cases of prepubertal gynecomastia (abnormal breast tissue growth) in young boys. The researchers found that repeated topical application of products containing lavender and tea tree oil caused the condition.
Mechanism: The study demonstrated that these oils possess estrogenic (mimicking estrogen) and anti-androgenic (blocking testosterone) properties.
Resolution: In the studied cases, the symptoms subsided once the use of the oils was discontinued.
Other studies have continued to investigate the estrogenic effects of components like linalool and alpha-terpineol, raising valid concerns about the cumulative effect of daily EO exposure on hormonal balance.
Potency, Solvents, & Production Issues
Extreme Potency and Sustainability
The environmental cost of essential oils is staggering. To produce a single pound of essential oil, an immense amount of plant material is required. This low yield makes EOs an inherently unsustainable commodity for casual use.
Rose Oil: It takes approximately 10,000 pounds of rose petals to produce just one pound of rose oil.
Lavender Oil: It requires roughly 250 pounds of lavender flowers to make one pound of oil.
This hyper-concentration also means the final product is far more potent than the whole herb. While a cup of peppermint tea is gentle, a single drop of peppermint oil is equivalent to dozens of cups of tea. This concentration increases the risk of adverse reactions, liver taxation, and chemical burns.
The Solvent Problem
Not all oils are steam distilled. Delicate aromatics (like jasmine or rose) are often extracted using chemical solvents such as hexane or acetone to create "absolutes." These solvents are neurotoxic and not safe for inhalation or skin application, yet trace amounts can remain in the final product. Also, unless an oil is certified organic, the massive amount of plant matter used means the pesticides from thousands of pounds of crops are also being concentrated into the final bottle. Pesticides are known to be linked to various cancers, poor gut health/microbiome disruption and other chronic health issues.
Oxidation and Inflammation
Essential oils are volatile and unstable. Exposure to heat, light, and oxygen causes them to oxidize. Oxidized oils are no longer therapeutic; they become skin sensitizers.
For example, when the limonene in citrus oils oxidizes, it turns into a potent allergen.
Using "aged" oils increases the likelihood of contact dermatitis and inflammation, effectively causing the opposite of the intended healing result.
The MLM Model: Legal + Ethical Concerns
A significant portion of the EO market is dominated by Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) companies. Beyond the irritation of aggressive social media sales tactics, these business models have faced serious legal scrutiny. I’ll avoid naming names here, but many of the main brands everyone is recommending online are MLMs.
Major MLM essential oil companies have been the subject of class-action lawsuits and regulatory warnings.
Pyramid Scheme Allegations: Lawsuits have alleged that the structure of these companies incentivizes recruitment over retail sales, a hallmark of pyramid schemes.
False Health Claims: The FDA has issued warning letters to major EO MLMs for allowing their distributors to make unverified medical claims, such as suggesting oils can cure viruses, cancer, or other serious diseases.
Specific Concerns by Oil and Type
| Oil / Category | Specific Issue |
|---|---|
| Lavender & Tea Tree | Linked to endocrine disruption (gynecomastia) in prepubertal males due to estrogenic activity. |
| Citrus Oils (Lemon, Bergamot) | Highly prone to oxidation. Many are phototoxic, causing severe chemical burns if skin is exposed to sunlight after application. |
| "Absolutes" (Jasmine, Rose) | Often extracted using hexane or other petrochemical solvents rather than steam distillation. |
| Wintergreen | Contains methyl salicylate. Highly toxic if ingested; a small amount can be fatal to children or pets. |
| MLM Blends (e.g., "Thieves," "OnGuard") | Often marketed for internal use (ingestion), which contradicts standard safety advice from certified aromatherapists. |
What I Use Instead
I like to prioritize safety, sustainability, and the synergy of the whole plant. We’ve evolved using the whole plant, with the wide array of balancing constituents. Here are the alternatives I recommend for scent and cleaning that avoid the risks of concentrated oils.
As usual, this information is not medical advice, just letting you know what I do in my own home. Please consult with a trusted healthcare provider, I'm not a doctor, etc. 1. Hydrosols
Hydrosols (also known as flower waters) are the byproduct of steam distillation. They contain the cellular water of the plant and minute amounts of essential oil. They smell really nice, are gentle, safe for skin, and sustainable.
Use: Facial toners, linen sprays, or gentle room refreshers.
2. Simmer Pots
Instead of diffusing a processed oil, simmer the whole herb on your stove. This releases the aromatic compounds gently and humidifies your home without concentrating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can irritate lungs and pets.
Recipe: Simmer cinnamon sticks, orange peels, and whole cloves in a pot of water on low heat.
3. Infused Vinegars and Alcohols
Before I knew better, I bought a bunch of EOs, and have been adding them to my DIY cleaning products to use them up. So if you’re like me and bought a bunch of them, this is a safer option than using on skin or diffusing, and many of them have antibacterial and/or antifungal properties that can help with cleaning.
You do not need oils to use the beneficial plant compounds in cleaning products. You can extract the antimicrobial and scent properties of herbs directly into vinegar or high-proof alcohol by infusing them.
How to make: Fill a jar with citrus peels, pine needles, dried flowers or cloves/ginger and cover with white vinegar, and let sit for 2-4 weeks. Strain and use as a surface cleaner. This doesn’t need to be exact ratios, just measure with your heart!
I have been using white vinegar as a nontoxic replacement for fabric softener in my laundry for years, but recently started infusing it with lavender flowers or cloves and ginger for a few weeks before using it and it has made my laundry smell so nice! I buy my herbs in bulk from Mountain Rose, but sometimes I overbuy slightly and this is a great way I’ve found to use up aging herbs.
Need Some Whole Herbs?
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About Mountain Rose Herbs:
based in Oregon USA
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