Gas Chromatography & Mass Spectrometry: What's the big deal?

Essential oils has become a fast growing industry throughout the world. With new essential oil companies popping up everywhere the question many are asking is which ones have pure essential oils. This question is actually easy to answer and prove the purity of the essential oils with a Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry testing, GC/MS for short. This testing is done not only to prove the purity of the essential oils it is also shows the chemicals and the percentage of the chemicals in the oils. Knowing the chemical and percentage allows the Aromatherapist to create the correct strength of a blend without producing a unnecessary and/or dangerous blend.

What is Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry?

1.GC/MS is an instrumental technique comprising a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer, by which complex mixtures of chemicals may be separated, identified and quantified. 2.The GC is the part of the test that determines how many components and the percentage that is in the sample that is being tested. The MS is the part that basically does a fingerprint of the molecules. The fingerprint show the chemical structure of the sample. The GC/MS was invented by Robert Sant and is used in many applications like environmental monitoring/cleanup, criminal forensics, law enforcement, drug analysis, chemical warfare agent detection as well as essential oil testing. Understanding how the GC/MS is used in other applications helps us understand it is not just a test used in the essential oil companies but is a qualified test to prove the purity of the oils.

The GC/MS of an essential oil.

3.A essential oil is taken down to a vapor/gas that is then place in the GC/MS to start the process. The GC portion separates the volatile components in the oil and creates a chart of the components. The MS identifies each one of the components and the percentage/strength of each one. Through this process the essential oil can be determine to be pure or adulterated. The full report of the GC/MS is important information to show the therapeutic benefits and safety issues of the oils.

What is an essential oil GC/MS report?

After the GC/MS report has proven the oil to be a pure and unadulterated we now have the proper information to show how the oil will be a benefit to the Aromatherapist. 4.This information is which chemicals and percentage of those chemicals are in the essential oil. This is very important to have this information as to know which essential oil to use for each specific person . Depending on the chemicals in the essential oils the report will tell us which ones are safe to use on an adult, child, or elderly. For example peppermint has been known to cause respiratory issues in child. The knowledge of the chemicals also tell us which ones are safe to use with certain health issues such as diabetes, hyperglycemic, high or low blood pressure, blood thinners, asthma, COPD, thyroid, and pregnancy just to mention a few. 5.Essentail oils containing eugenol should be avoided by those on blood thinners. Citral essential oils should be avoided for those on antidiabetic medications. Chemicals farnesene and alpha-bisabolo should be avoided with some antidepressants. There are also essential oils that are a concerned for those pregnant depending on which trimester the pregnancy is in. Some the chemicals in these oils are camphor, citral, methyl salicylate, pinocamphone to mention a few of them. So therefore knowing what exact chemicals are in the essential oil is vital to ones safety. These chemicals that are an issue for some are also the same ones that can be a great benefit for others depending on ones age and health.

GC/MS reports should be taken seriously in the essential oil community. Without this information the Aromatherapist could be putting their customers in a serious situation with their health not to mention just the essential oil enthusiast. As an Aromatherpist that would be the complete opposite of why we have chosen to be professionally trained using essential oils. Yes, GC/MS is a big deal to have the knowledge to protect ones self as well as service those we love and care about.

1. http://www.bris.ac.uk/nerclsmsf/techniques/gcms.html

2. https://www.researchgate.net/file.PostFileLoader.html

3. https://www.aromatics.com/learn/gc-ms

4. https://stillpointstudies.com/essential-oils/essential-oil-gcms-report

5. Aromahead Institute