NOWⓇ, the largest family- and employee-owned manufacturer of natural products, continues its commitment to product quality and transparency in the essential oil industry by recently evaluating 28 lavender essential oil products purchased from Amazon using GC-MS/FID analytical testing.
The goal of this project was to determine whether products marketed as “Lavandula angustifolia” or “pure lavender essential oil” were consistent with the composition expected of authentic lavender essential oil, according to ISO standards for French/Bulgarian lavender oils. The results were concerning.
Why Lavender Essential Oil?
Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of the most recognized and widely used essential oils in aromatherapy and personal care products. Genuine lavender oil has a naturally balanced chemical profile dominated by compounds such as linalool and linalyl acetate, along with a characteristic terpene distribution unique to authentic lavender. Because lavender oil is both popular and relatively expensive, it is also vulnerable to dilution, substitution, and fragrance formulation. These practices can affect not only aroma and quality, but also overall product authenticity and therefore label accuracy.
Testing Methodology
Samples were analyzed using GC-MS/FID (Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry/Flame Ionization Detection) with a non-polar analytical column. The MS detector was used to identify individual compounds, while the FID detector was used for semi-quantitative evaluation of the overall composition.
The testing focused on:
- confirmation of authentic lavender species,
- detection of carrier oils, mineral oils, or extender materials,
- and identification of synthetic or fragrance-related compounds not expected in pure lavender essential oil.
Product Testing Results
Of 28 tested products, only three brands (11%) met ISO criteria for authentic Lavandula angustifolia essential oil and showed no evidence of adulteration.
Among the remaining products:
- Eleven samples (55%) showed profiles inconsistent with authentic Lavandula angustifolia and appeared to contain lower-grade lavender materials, blended lavender-type oils, or non-authentic lavender species.
- Twelve samples (60%) showed evidence of dilution with carrier oils, mineral oil-type substances, fatty esters, or other extender materials.
- Thirteen samples (65%) contained synthetic fragrance-related compounds or compositional patterns not expected in genuine lavender essential oil.
- Eight additional samples are noted at the end of this report as failing due to not claiming or containing Lavandula angustifolia.
Several samples showed severe suppression of natural lavender constituents, while others appeared to be heavily formulated fragrance blends rather than true essential oils. Notably, eight of the tested brands are from China, and four are from India. Of these foreign brands, ALL failed testing due to the criteria above. Additionally, imported brands were four of the top five lowest-priced products. The three products that passed (including NOW) were among the four highest priced on Amazon. This analysis revealed that buyers should beware: the lowest-cost Lavender Oil products tested were the lowest quality.
See testing detail in charts below.
Conclusion
These analyses underscore the importance of analytical testing in the essential oil marketplace. Although many of the tested products were labeled and marketed as “pure lavender essential oil,” the majority did not fully match the chemical profile expected of authentic Lavandula angustifolia lavender oil. Buyers should be cautious when purchasing lavender oil products on Amazon. NOW® Lavender Essential Oil was among the few products that met ISO authenticity criteria, with no evidence of dilution or synthetic formulation. NOW will continue evaluating products sold through major online marketplaces and sharing analytical findings to support transparency, authenticity, and higher quality standards across the industry. This report will be shared with the FDA and Amazon.
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