Plants that are lacking in certain nutrients yield oils low in therapeutic value. Harvesting is done at the most appropriate times for each oil grown on our farms. For example, German Chamomile must be harvested in the late afternoon to maximize certain beneficial consituents. No solvents or synthetic chemicals of any kind are used in or added. The cookers are made of costly stainless steel alloys to minimize the possibility of the essential oils being chemically altered by more reactive metals, such as aluminum, steel or copper.
Essential oils have many chemical components.
Some of these components contribute to the therapeutic value of the oil. Cypress requires 24 hours of distillation at 245 degrees F and 5 lbs of pressure to extract all of its active ingredients. To cut costs, some processors increase pressure and heat and cut distillation times dramatically. Even though the oil is considered pure, it may only contain a fraction of its possible complex chemistry AND therapeutic value. Every single batch of essential oils received at Young Living, whether grown on our farms or in a foreign country is quarantined, inspected, and tested for purity and quality.