Are All Essential Oils the Same? (Why Purity and Documentation Matter)

A bottle of pure essential oil with black peppercorns.

What are essential oils - and are they really all the same?

The short answer: no, no two essential oils are the same.  And if you’ve ever shopped for essential oils UK, you’ve probably noticed that prices, quality and even authenticity can vary wildly.

One of the reasons we started selling ingredients was because we were frustrated seeing our clients buy what they believed were pure essential oils – when in reality, many weren’t pure at all. 

At Cosmetic Safety Solutions Ltd, we combine our regulatory expertise with a passion for quality ingredients. Whether you’re buying natural essential oils, organic essential oils or pure essential oils, you know exactly what you’re getting - and you’ll have the paperwork to prove it.

In this blog, we’ll explain:

  • The differences between pure essential oils and cheaper alternatives
  • Why full documentation matters for compliance and safety
  • The truth about “natural” essential oils and commercial blends
  • How to spot red flags when buying essential oils UK
  • Why quality and trust should guide your ingredient sourcing

Let’s dive in!

Buying pure essential oils or organic essential oils in large quantities? 

We offer bulk discounts so you can enjoy premium, fully documented oils at a lower cost - perfect for artisan makers, start-ups & established brands alike.
Explore our discount essential oil packs & enjoy FREE UK shipping on orders over £150!

Full Documentation with Every Essential Oil, UK & EU

When you purchase essential oils from us, they will always come with complete, accurate documents. As CPSR specialists, we make sure IFRA limits are updated to reflect the typically lower EU-restricted levels where relevant.

Our allergen documents are also future-proof – covering the 80+ allergens required under the latest cosmetic safety regulations. If you’re ahead of the curve, we’ve got you covered.

This level of precision isn’t just an added bonus – it’s part of why our essential oils UK & EU range stands apart from cheaper alternatives.

Meet Our Cosmetic Safety Experts
Curious who’s ensuring your pure essential oils & compliance are handled with care? Head to our About Us page to discover the team that powers our trusted service. 

Fast & friendly, backed by decades of expertise with authenticity you can trust. 

Why Some ‘Natural’ Essential Oils Aren’t Truly Natural

A bottle of lavender essential oil with fresh lavender flowers.

And Why Choosing Pure Essential Oils Matters

So, what are essential oils really? Genuine pure essential oils are plant-derived oils extracted directly from flowers, peels, leaves or fruits. But not everything marketed as “natural essential oils” is truly pure.

When sourcing suppliers, we compared technical analyses and discovered that some sellers offer “natural grade” oils. These are blends of natural aromatic ingredients designed to mimic a specific oil’s scent - but they are not true, pure extractions.

These blends, sometimes called “commercial blends,” are common in the market. Geranium oil, for example, is often substituted with cheaper mixtures because the real oil is expensive. Unless you examine the documentation closely - if it’s even provided - you might never know.

When you choose pure essential oils from Cosmetic Safety, you benefit from:

  • Speed and Efficiency: Express 24-hour CPSR assessments and a one-week turnaround mean you can bring products to market faster.

  • Regulatory accuracy: Every oil is reviewed with compliance in mind, so you can confidently meet UK and EU cosmetic safety requirements.

  • Customer-first service: Whether you’re an artisan maker or a larger brand, we guide you through every step of the compliance process.

Signs Your Essential Oil Isn’t Pure 

The truth is, if you wanted a blended fragrance, you’d buy a fragrance oil. When you choose pure essential oils, you should get the real, unaltered plant extract - nothing else.

Here’s how you can tell if an essential oil is pure: 

Check Pure Essential Oil Impure (Commercial Blend/Natural Grade)
INCI Name Lists only the botanical name (e.g. Vetiveria zizanioides (Vetiver) root oil) Includes multiple plant names or “blend of natural ingredients”
Documentation Full IFRA, allergen report, SDS, CoA approved Limited or no supporting documents
Scent Profile Complex, with subtle natural variations Flat or overly uniform fragrance
Price Reflects rarity & natural extraction cost Significantly cheaper than the market average
Supplier Transparency Clear sourcing & traceability Vague origin or undisclosed supplier info

Choose Only the Best Essential Oils for Your Brand

When it comes to essential oils, the difference between a genuine, plant-derived extract and a blended imitation can make or break your product’s quality, compliance and customer trust.

A bottle of chamomile essential oil beside fresh chamomile flowers.

At Cosmetic Safety Solutions Ltd, we don’t just sell pure essential oils - we provide:

  • Verified authenticity with full IFRA, allergen and safety documentation
  • Qualified expertise from experienced assessors with decades in the cosmetic industry
  • Support for every maker, from artisan start-ups to established brands, with bundled packages and bulk discounts

Your customers deserve the best, and your business deserves ingredients you can trust. Don’t risk your reputation on oils of uncertain origin - choose quality and compliance with Cosmetic Safety.

Browse Our Essential Oils Collection Now and experience the difference for yourself.