Ah! Shopping! When we go shopping in brick and mortar stores or on the Internet we usually know precisely what we are shopping for. We are rarely just browsing while looking for a trinket that might catch our eye. We shop with a purpose usually. Not always, of course, I’ve been known to just browse and so have you but that isn’t the usual way we shop.

We look for items that meet our personal specifications. If we want white heels, black flats won’t do. If we need a dress for a formal affair, there is no point in wasting time on sports wear. If we are looking for a product that will take a stain out of carpet, we aren’t likely to be side-tracked by bathroom cleaning products.

The reason that we are such good shoppers is because we know what we want. We have had experience with particular brands or know someone who has. We know what we want the products to do for us. In other words, we are INFORMED shoppers. We are informed shoe shoppers. We are informed clothing shoppers. We are informed cleaning product shoppers.

To purchase the aromatherapy products and supplies that will provide you with what you want and need, you need to be an INFORMED aromatherapy shopper.

The first and maybe the most important piece of information that you need in order to be an informed aromatherapy shopper is this: essential oils are pure. They contain nothing but the essential oil. There are no additives. If any essential oil that you are considering buying has anything in it other than the essential oil it is not a pure essential oil product. Avoid products that say, ‘contains essential oils’. Buy real and pure essential oil. There are many brick and mortar stores that sell essential oils and they can also be purchased online. The key word is PURE...don’t settle for less.

Carrier oil comes in many varieties. Carrier oil can be nut based. There are pure carrier oils that contain nothing but pure oil and then there are carrier oils that contain other ingredients. This choice is yours to make. The pure oil will add nothing but you may not wish to have anything added. Some people are highly allergic to nuts, for example, and you may wish to avoid any carrier oil that is nut based. You may not even need to purchase carrier oil at all. Olive oil makes wonderful carrier oil and you can purchase it in any grocery store.

Cotton balls are cheap. You can buy them in any grocery store, pharmacy, or discount store in America for very little money. But don’t be fooled here. Cotton balls are not the best way of delivering aromatherapy. Cotton wool balls are much better. They are softer and they will absorb essential oil much easier. Cotton wool balls are not all that expensive. Spring for the good ones. You’ll be glad that you did.

Be a well informed aromatherapy shopper. Do your homework before you buy.