Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are "Alma de la Plant" oils pure? Are there any additives or incipients?
Yes, they are pure. And, no, they contain no additives, incipients, or diluting oils. If an oil in question is not "pure," it is not truly a medicinal essential oil. The dilution or adulteration of essential oils is common in the massage oil business, but no serious producer of medicinal oils would ever dilute their oil. Moreover, since there are protocols for using select medicinal oils internally (see question below), it can actually be dangerous to contaminate medicinal oils with other impure substances -- something we would never do.

2. What method is used to extract your essential oils?
We use steam distillation for all of our oils, except for myrrh, for which we use solvent extraction (using the purest, natural solvent in the business, benzyl benzoate). In all our citrus essential oils, we use a "cold press" technique, as this is the only way to do the extraction and preserve the medicinal components, which are well-established as having "heat lability" issues.

3. Why are your medicinal essential oils so much cheaper than the vast majority of comparable items in the marketplace?
It is not our position that Alma de la Planta products are too low . . . but that market forces exist which have taken these natural medicinals which should be regarded as a natural household commodities, and turned them into luxury items.
Two primary market forces exist which have caused this to occur: the first is the multi-level marketing (MLM) channel, where markups of 1,000% are often necessary to fund the extravagant marketing plans that are designed to enrich a select few and impoverish the everyday, working "MLM distributor." We discuss this at length in my essay, MLM 101.


The second major marketing force that has exerted pressure to keep essential oils artificially high is that of perfumery. By their olfactory similarity to perfumes, essential oils are affected by the same pricing dynamics that affect this market. Enormous sums are devoted to advertising and marketing of various fragrances annually under the rubic, "You get what you pay for." Out of this phenomenon comes the pejorative expression, "cheap perfume."
Advertisers work to convince you that a brand name perfume is expensive because it's superior in quality . . . and to anyone who has worked in the advertising field, this is known to be pure nonsense.
Likewise, you have hoards of resellers of pricey oils (many of them MLM distributors) who will try to convince you that a certain brand of essential oil is expensive because it's better.
It's all nonsense.
Pure oregano oil from wildcrafted or organic sources, for example, is pure oregano oil. You can pay under $10 for a 30 ml. bottle, or you can pay $50. It's the same product. Same plant. Same oil. Same medicinal effect. The difference is how it's been marketed. If you want to pay more, pay more. That is entirely your choice.

4. Where do "Alma de la Planta" products ship from?
Currently, they ship from the United States, but we will soon be adding to the line and shipping from Ecuador and Peru, as well.

5. Can "Alma de la Planta" essential oils be taken internally?
There is considerable debate -- both online and in the extant literature as to whether or not essential oils should be taken internally. There is no question that since essential oils contain the distilled, concentrated essence of the plant, there is considerable room for abuse and harm if one takes them internally without proper guidance.
At the same time, those in the orthodox community who brand all internal consumption of essential oils as dangerous, only make themselves look foolish. Specifically, many medicinal oils come from foods, such that to consume the essential oil is to be taking one small component of the food itself. Is there anything inherent dangerous about oranges, grapefruit, lemon, basil, fennel, ginger, or peppermint?
Many practitioners use protocols that employ medicinal oils that come from "natural foods." One or two drops are taken with a teaspoon of flaxseed, olive, castor, or other "carrier oil." There is nothing wrong with this approach, but still, our standing advice is that you are better off working with an experienced practitioner than doing it yourself -- particularly if you have any concerns in this area.

6. What is the "shelf-life" of Alma de la Planta oils?
Well made and bottled, pure essential oils take many years to go rancid, if they do, at all. We've have essential oils we made in the lab in 2008 that are good today. The manner in which we process our oils, stored in dark, amber dispenser bottles (commonly used throughout the essential oil business), ensure a long-shelf life. (Though you must keep the oils in a cool, dark place . . . refrigerating if necessary.)
Nonetheless, when used for professional purposes, taking into account that all natural materials lose therapeutic value over time, a practical shelf-life of two years from the date of purpose should be observed. The exception is citrus oils (like lemon, orange, and grapefruit) and oils from plants of the Coniferinae class (like pine, yew, cypress, etc.), which -- because of high "terpene" content -- will oxidize quicker over time. Adopt a date of six months from the date of purchase for maximum therapeutic value.

7. There are many "grades" of myrrh and frankincense on the market. Which do you use?
The myrrh we sell is the "resnoid oil," derived from "Commiphora myrrha" in India. This is a frequently asked question because there is a purified myrrh oil that is much more expensive to make and far more expensive on the market. In our work with essential oils, we never found the additional cost to be commeasurate with increased medicinal effect. For the vast majority of users, the resnoid oil is the best choice.
In the case of frankincense, we use Boswellia serrata from India, one of several species of the Boswellia genus from which frankincense is derived.

8. Do you provide chemical analysis with each oil?
We do not -- for seveal reasons. First of all, "Alma de la Planta" is a "lose leader." It is our way of "giving back," by providing high quality, medicinal oils at much lower prices that are generally found on the market (see above). The cost of running quantitative analysis (like the analytical lab we had in the States) is prohibitively expensive.
Secondly, there are going to be small variances from batch to batch no matter who on this planet is making medicinal essential oils. It is the same with nutrients in food. Take it out to fractional micrograms, and it would not be inaccurate to say that no two oranges, lemons, or grapefruit on this planet has the same exact quantity of Vitamin C.
The focus of "Alma de la Planta" is to make the best, most medicinally active, essential oils we can for the money . . . and with or without daily, batch runs of analytical reports, this is precisely what we do.