Detecting Peppermint Oil Adulteration: A Simple Guide

Pure peppermint essential oil is made through a steam distillation process that separates the plant matter and water from the aromatic "essence" of the plant. True essential oils are highly concentrated and only a few drops are necessary for therapeutic treatments. However, sometimes essential oils have been diluted with vegetable oils such as olive oil. It is easy to test peppermint essential oil, or any other essential oil to see if it has been adulterated.

Things You'll Need

• Bottle of essential oil
• Blotter paper

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Instructions

• 1

  Place one drop of essential on blotting paper.

• 2

  Wait 3-5 minutes for the oil to evaporate.

• 3

  Check to see if an oily residue remains on blotting paper.

• 4

  Oily residue means that the essential oil has been diluted with a vegetable oil such as olive oil.

• 5

  No oily residue means that essential is pure and unadulterated by vegetable oil.