GC Reports and Blending
In a FB group that I occasionally view, they were having a big discussion about some particular EO that is marketed by another company that was sent to this one 3rd. party tester. Some people are all in a huff about his report being wrong and basically trying to discredit him. The problem there is that it would be very hard to discredit the report and tester due to his long history of being on the money and pretty much always right. I trust him even though he is arrogant as all get out. I do see some of his ideas from a tad different point of view when it comes to blending, but still when it comes to testing he is usually pretty right on the money. Anyway, back to blending. What that deal is is this, that he says it doesn't matter what order you blend the oils, it will come out the same every time when you use equal amounts. Yeah, I have seen that when equal amounts are used, sometimes. But when different ratios are used, yes it does make a difference. I have learned that the hard way. I have bottles and bottles of oils in my lab that can't be used because of mess ups. lol. When I say bottles, I mean 16 ounce bottles and that represents a lot of wasted $$$.
Now back to testing. There are other people out there doing testing and some are good and some thinks they are good. I have mentioned about what Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt told me once in a seminar class, that being that he has sent some samples of the same oil to different labs, even to the same lab at the same time only labeled different and didn't get back a single GC that agreed with each other. But many times it is not that aspect that matters but it does matter in other areas. To me a GC report is just a reference point. As Far as I am concerned, it doesn't matter what the report says, I just need to know what the report says.
My reason for posting this is to discuss some points. These GC reports that this tester showed (but asked that they not be shared as in posting in other groups, etc.), do not say "This is a synthetic". What it does is registers a peak of a certain constituent. To determine if it is synthetic entails much more than the system spelling it out. It requires knowledge of a number of other factors. The way this system analyzer interprets the data is that that certain constituent is registering way too high, ie; outside of parameters. Then other factors such as the relationships to other constituents. When I look at a report, I take and look at the high numbers. I call these the majors. Depending on the oil, there are tell tale signs that usually can be observed quite easily. Then I go down and look at the minors. This tells me if the major numbers are legitimate or not. Why? Because of this being a zero sum game. As the majors move up then they push out the minors. Next if you have certain types of synthetics will, cancel out if you will, certain minors. Sometimes this is by dilution, sometimes by chemical bonding and morphing into something different. Some times that morph will show up, many times it won't.
So in doing blending I use these reports to tell me about the oil. I use this information to determine ratios and order of blending. Now I am getting in to some very complicated stuff and I can't really explain how it is done in this format. I don't have a problem telling all of you, I just can't in this setting and do justice to it. I am sorry, but work with me here. Also you have to look at what the target is, purpose of the blend, and then look at what options will likely do the job. I usually try to pull off of the lower priced oils list, not lower quality, lower priced oils and work up from there. I like doing it that way because scammers aren't as likely to try to adulterate the oils as it would cost more to do so than they would gain. Plus, it helps you, as the oil user's pocket book.
So every once in a while, well quite often, we have people that "demands" a GC report. The they take and compare the report with another company's and they go off of the one or two top numbers in determining the quality of the oil. The highest number is the best quality, so they think. Thus the purpose of this post and using the example of what this one respected chemist is talking about right now, sort of "trending" lol. So I use this to explain a concept.
I really don't have a problem posting the numbers, at least the top half a dozen maybe as it pertains to the type of aromatherapy being practiced here and the numbers that people ought to know for that setting. But I have posted a complete GC report in this group before and as you know those numbers can run up into over a hundred. It gives most everyone the deer in the headlights look. lol. Most of these numbers are useless anyway, but for people that understand how to read a report and what numbers actually matters, then it is a different story. Most anyone can learn how to read and understand a report, it just requires education, experience over time. Just like anything else in this world. It does come easier for some than others, but any one can learn, nothing special to it.
So when it comes to testing, make sure your testing is done by a good, well respected tester. In house or out house, (lol), testing??? Which is best? The bottom line is still how well does the oil work? Does it meet it's target? Lastly. please don't fall for the trap of the "turbo know it all" types that claim the higher number the better the quality, being an indicator of quality, when comparing various oils.
Written by Kent King.
