New Directions UK - Fake oils? Frangipani, Neroli, Linden blossom etc

[LuisJavier]

Mystic moments are possibly none the wiser about their repackaged nduk products, the fact they sell larger quantities in plastic bottles also raises alarm bells for me, this just isn't industry standard.

The proof that you're asking about was shown to me in their response to my complaint in that the neroli 'essential oil' was in fact a blend of naturals and not true nerli oil and that was 'reflected in the price' so I'm assuming they rely on the customer to determine the authenticity of their products based on price which is already a red flag not to mention that I had to download 3 different very confusing analysis firms to discover that the 'frangipani absolute' was synthetic. Why call it an absolute then?

Further proof in my evaluation of the linden blossom 'absolute' is not mere suspicion, it barely resembled true linden blossom in any way and like yourself, I had a hard time accepting that I'd been mis-sold/robbed.

Ive lost all faith in them, they prob don't aldulterate the cheaper oils like cedarwood and peppermint but they did send me basil oil labelled tarragon and their Mandarin oil to my nose way way past its sell by date.

There should be stricter laws against this type of fraud but who to complain to? In the meantime they continue to focus on profits and not on transparency, ligitimacy or customer care

I agree that they could do with some improving to their standards when it comes to packaging larger amounts in glass, not selling oils that have gone rancid (happened to me once with a cheap 10 ml bottle of a carrier oil; I didn't bother complaining because it was quite a while back and I suspected that may have just been the smell of the product normally (I didn't know what the smell of rancidity was until later) (in the past, they have swiftly dealt with refunds into my account whenever I brought up an issue; e.g. they delivered 10ml instead of 50 ml bottle, so they refunded me and let me keep the 10 ml free) and to also be transparent with the true nature of the oils they sell. I do suspect that their cheaper oils are probably not adulterated as you have mentioned, but then again, I guess I cannot be 100% certain. I think I'll continue to just buy their aromachems and some of their cheaper EOs.

On page 12 of the latest document for neroli EO, Mystic Moments have even called it ''composition', 'mixture' and listed out the individual aromachems present. Now this may refer to synthetics or the composition of the natural with or without having anything added in. I could call them up in regards to this and ask them if they've added in any synthetics. I doubt they have.

If you question Mystic Moments on adulteration, I could send you a list of suppliers that sells their EOs at similar or cheaper prices.

In regards to the frangipani absolute you mentioned, the letters 'PQ' are very clearly listed in the name of the product and in the description below is written: 'Please Note: Perfume Quality Frangipani Absolute Oil is a mixed natural and synthetic fragrance composition.'

Is this not transparency?

 

[neroli1970]

I agree that they could do with some improving to their standards when it comes to packaging larger amounts in glass, not selling oils that have gone rancid (happened to me once or twice I recall) and to also be transaprent with the true nature of the oils they sell...

Are you saying you had essential oils go "rancid" or are you saying some of their carrier oils were rancid?

 

[LuisJavier]

Are you saying you had essential oils go "rancid" or are you saying some of their carrier oils were rancid?

It was a single carrier oil (among a large order of carrier oils I made) in a 10 ml glass bottle which arrived smelling very rancid. I've never received an EO from them that smelled 'off'.

 

[Bobby7]

I agree that they could do with some improving to their standards when it comes to packaging larger amounts in glass, not selling oils that have gone rancid (happened to me once with a cheap 10 ml bottle of a carrier oil; I didn't bother complaining because it was quite a while back and I suspected that may have just been the smell of the product normally (I didn't know what the smell of rancidity was until later) (in the past, they have swiftly dealt with refunds into my account whenever I brought up an issue; e.g. they delivered 10ml instead of 50 ml bottle, so they refunded me and let me keep the 10 ml free) and to also be transparent with the true nature of the oils they sell. I do suspect that their cheaper oils are probably not adulterated as you have mentioned, but then again, I guess I cannot be 100% certain. I think I'll continue to just buy their aromachems and some of their cheaper EOs.

On page 12 of the latest document for neroli EO, Mystic Moments have even called it ''composition', 'mixture' and listed out the individual aromachems present. Now this may refer to synthetics or the composition of the natural with or without having anything added in. I could call them up in regards to this and ask them if they've added in any synthetics. I doubt they have.

If you question Mystic Moments on adulteration, I could send you a list of suppliers that sells their EOs at similar or cheaper prices.

In regards to the frangipani absolute you mentioned, the letters 'PQ' are very clearly listed in the name of the product and in the description below is written: 'Please Note: Perfume Quality Frangipani Absolute Oil is a mixed natural and synthetic fragrance composition.'

Is this not transparency?

That's great news! They have updated that since my complaint, before it was not on the listing for frangipani, not on new directions site at least. I still won't buy from them however

 

[LuisJavier]

That's great news! They have updated that since my complaint, before it was not on the listing for frangipani, not on new directions site at least. I still won't buy from them however

If they updated their website to include that in the description to frangipani PQ, then I'm glad your complaint was listened to and acted upon. I think I will ask them about some of their other EOs such as neroli and virginian cedarwood. Aside from these two EOs, there's not much else I want to chase up.

Which supplier are you planning on using instead?

 

[LuisJavier]

I did not hear anything back from them after this. The linden blossom was not a genuine absolute although they try to tell me it is, wrong smell wrong consistency, just a whole world of wrong. Their tarragon oil smelled exactly like the basil oil I ordered from them 2 years ago, I mean you cannot tell them apart.

I think I might order the basil EO and compare it to their tarragon EO and see whether this is still the case.

 

[Bobby7]

If they updated their website to include that in the description to frangipani PQ, then I'm glad your complaint was listened to and acted upon. I think I will ask them about some of their other EOs such as neroli and virginian cedarwood. Aside from these two EOs, there's not much else I want to chase up.

Which supplier are you planning on using instead?

I've just checked and yes they have indeed updated their site to clarify that 'PQ' means synthetic. Their listing for neroli remains unaltered so I left a 1 star review stating the truth! I honestly wouldn't waste your time with their neroli, as someone else said, even their 'premium' neroli seemed like straight up petitgrain meaning that even if it is authentic, it's the poorest quality.

Oils4life are good for bargain oils of varying qualities and hermitage for splashing out on the best. Some things from perfumers world in thailand are good and I like that you can buy per gram but both their neroli and orange blossom were awful unfortunately. Eden botanicals in USA for reliable good quality and authenticity.

 

[Bobby7]

I think I might order the basil EO and compare it to their tarragon EO and see whether this is still the case.

Oh good idea, keep us posted on it!

 

[LuisJavier]

I've just checked and yes they have indeed updated their site to clarify that 'PQ' means synthetic. Their listing for neroli remains unaltered so I left a 1 star review stating the truth! I honestly wouldn't waste your time with their neroli, as someone else said, even their 'premium' neroli seemed like straight up petitgrain meaning that even if it is authentic, it's the poorest quality.

Oils4life are good for bargain oils of varying qualities and hermitage for splashing out on the best. Some things from perfumers world in thailand are good and I like that you can buy per gram but both their neroli and orange blossom were awful unfortunately. Eden botanicals in USA for reliable good quality and authenticity.

I've got plenty of oils from Hermitage and they are good oils. No complaints there, but I have plenty of oils from Mystic Moments too and I honestly so far haven't found faults with their EOs. Oils4life seems like a decent website with a nice presentation for their products. It seems slightly more expensive than MM on the whole, but still within a similar price range. I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about Eden Botanicals.

 

[neroli1970]

Oils4life are good for bargain oils of varying qualities and hermitage for splashing out on the best. Some things from perfumers world in thailand are good and I like that you can buy per gram but both their neroli and orange blossom were awful unfortunately. Eden botanicals in USA for reliable good quality and authenticity.

Oils4life just recently had their lavender oil fail testing by a third party lab. Again, they are selling essential oils below market cost and in the case of this lavender, selling from a country that doesn't have any known producers of lavender essential oil.

 

[LuisJavier]

Oils4life just recently had their lavender oil fail testing by a third party lab. Again, they are selling essential oils below market cost and in the case of this lavender, selling from a country that doesn't have any known producers of lavender essential oil.

Do you have a source for your claim that their test by a third party lab failed? What alternative supplier do you suggest people to use? Oshadhi is clearly over-priced. Florihana in France is doable although I don't think postage prices would be very cheap and their essential oil range don't seem feasible for a manufacturer when they sell 50 ml as maximum quantity for only some of their oils and 15 ml for others. That is unless they have a wholesale option somewhere.

 

[neroli1970]

Do you have a source for your claim that their test by a third party lab failed? What alternative supplier do you suggest people to use? Oshadhi is clearly over-priced. Florihana in France is doable although I don't think postage prices would be very cheap and their essential oil range don't seem feasible for a manufacturer when they sell 50 ml as maximum quantity for only some of their oils and 15 ml for others. That is unless they have a wholesale option somewhere.

Yes, you can follow Essential Oil University's facebook page. Dr. Pappas test EOs for quite a few companies and also will test companies that he believes are selling fraudulent essential oils. He also has a great series where he discusses what the actual cost is to produce essential oils and what they should sell for on the market.

Once you learn what an essential oil should sell for on average, you can easily spot companies that are selling adulterated essential oils or just plain fragrance oils.

 

[LuisJavier]

Yes, you can follow Essential Oil University's facebook page. Dr. Pappas test EOs for quite a few companies and also will test companies that he believes are selling fraudulent essential oils. He also has a great series where he discusses what the actual cost is to produce essential oils and what they should sell for on the market.

Once you learn what an essential oil should sell for on average, you can easily spot companies that are selling adulterated essential oils or just plain fragrance oils.

I've followed his page on Facebook; thanks for telling me about him. His first written post that I see is him mentioning people that have been asking him about EOs to protect themselves against the coronavirus and flu. He then goes on to promote his own blend of EOs and calls it 'my personal favourite of all protective blends'. I think EOs won't really help much in this context. Now that seems shady. Reason being that if he critiques the EOs of others, and then sells EO blends himself for protection purposes, having mentioned the concerns of people on the coronavirus and flu, then that calls his conclusions on the EOs of others into question.

Edit: After reviewing the post where he mentions the Oils4Life lavender EO, he has put up a GCMS of the oil. Now, whether the GCMS is of that oil and not another is a different question.

 

[Bobby7]

Oils4life just recently had their lavender oil fail testing by a third party lab. Again, they are selling essential oils below market cost and in the case of this lavender, selling from a country that doesn't have any known producers of lavender essential oil.

Oh god, seems we are not safe hardly anywhere, and with lavender oil too, seriously why bother? I've never had any problem with any of their oils though not the highest quality they always seem authentic to me. I'm 1 step away from buying a distillery kit and making my own at this point! I'd like to say that it's really important for us all to share our findings and dealings with these companies, I imagine that it's not difficult for any company to receive a dodgy batch of oils without knowingly trying to dupe the customer so that should be taken into consideration too I feel

 

[neroli1970]

Oh god, seems we are not safe hardly anywhere, and with lavender oil too, seriously why bother? I've never had any problem with any of their oils though not the highest quality they always seem authentic to me. I'm 1 step away from buying a distillery kit and making my own at this point! I'd like to say that it's really important for us all to share our findings and dealings with these companies, I imagine that it's not difficult for any company to receive a dodgy batch of oils without knowingly trying to dupe the customer so that should be taken into consideration too I feel

Lavender oil is definitely an oil that is going to be commonly adulterated. I've read that France exports more lavender oil than it produces in a year (same with India and peppermint oil). It is very easy for suppliers to cut lavender oil with cheaper lavandin (which is the main adulteration).

One way to be safe is again, know how much it costs to produce and sell these oils. That is why companies like New Directions UK, Mystic Moments, Oils4Life, etc. stick out. They are selling EOs below what it costs for retailers to purchase these oils wholesale in many cases. Another way to reduce your chances of not getting scammed is to purchase from companies that supply third party GC-MS results for each batch of oil they sell. Now I have seen some companies alter reports so that isn't a guarantee but the honest companies would never do this.

I really don't know a lot of suppliers in the U.K./Europe. It seems that the U.S. has a lot more choices when it comes to reputable companies right now.

 

[neroli1970]

I've followed his page on Facebook; thanks for telling me about him. His first written post that I see is him mentioning people that have been asking him about EOs to protect themselves against the coronavirus and flu. He then goes on to promote his own blend of EOs and calls it 'my personal favourite of all protective blends'. I think EOs won't really help much in this context. Now that seems shady. Reason being that if he critiques the EOs of others, and then sells EO blends himself for protection purposes, having mentioned the concerns of people on the coronavirus and flu, then that calls his conclusions on the EOs of others into question.

Edit: After reviewing the post where he mentions the Oils4Life lavender EO, he has put up a GCMS of the oil. Now, whether the GCMS is of that oil and not another is a different question.

While I don't agree with his lack of transparency in his essential oil dealings (selling and what not), I would not question his analytical testing of oils. He could be sued for everything he owns if he were to falsify tests. He is going to be absolutely sure that an oil is adulterated before publishing results that state that. The oil he tested was shipped directly to him from Oils4Life. He tested it, it failed. Not surprisingly because the price for it was ridiculously cheap and from a company not known for any viable lavender production. Yet you seem to want to believe that it is pure.

 

[LuisJavier]

While I don't agree with his lack of transparency in his essential oil dealings (selling and what not), I would not question his analytical testing of oils. He could be sued for everything he owns if he were to falsify tests. He is going to be absolutely sure that an oil is adulterated before publishing results that state that. The oil he tested was shipped directly to him from Oils4Life. He tested it, it failed. Not surprisingly because the price for it was ridiculously cheap and from a company not known for any viable lavender production. Yet you seem to want to believe that it is pure.

I understand your argument and I don't think I'll disagree, but I think I'll add that I'd rather have a lavender EO with added linalool and linalyl acetate than the idea that it will protect me from the coronavirus in real-world conditions. That is serious dishonesty or serious ignorance.

 

[Jolieo]

I am not condoning anyone putting out medical or protection advice online. I will state that eos do kill virus’ , bacteria, fungus etc.
they can complement any course of action, and they smell nice: they won’t hurt. Since there is nothing to be done for this virus except duck! I was surprised by the amount of double blind , and physical testing eos in general have gone through, and they can be effective. So he needs to tone it down a bit , because eos might be able to help but too soon to say.

 

[LuisJavier]

I am not condoning anyone putting out medical or protection advice online. I will state that eos do kill virus’ , bacteria, fungus etc.
they can complement any course of action, and they smell nice: they won’t hurt. Since there is nothing to be done for this virus except duck! I was surprised by the amount of double blind , and physical testing eos in general have gone through, and they can be effective. So he needs to tone it down a bit , because eos might be able to help but too soon to say.

I have used tea tree oil to fight off an infection I had myself. I had a wound in my finger and it started to go green and spread day by day. I dropped like 3 drops of tea tree oil and the infection disappeared. However, I don't think that EOs will, in real-world scenarios, in most cases, prevent someone from contracting the coronavirus. Now, whether it may help fight the illness once you have the illness is another thing altogether.

 

[Gabriella1]

Hi,
I realise this is a very late reply to this thread but i have some thoughts of my own about this matter, I always used New Directions UK as a source for all my essential oils until now, i have recently started taking up perfumery and ordered quite a few absolutes and more essential oils from them. For one the tuberose absolute was very cheap (5ml- £39.13), Also carnation absolute which is listed as PQ the same as the frangipani but does not actually give clear information on the oil being partly synthetic! Any way these oils came along with a lot of others and the carnation smells like pencils and not strong at all, the tuberose smells exactly the same as the carnation but stronger! i was so upset because i thought id finally found a tuberose and it smells horrible! I also have a lot of oils from them that smell exactly like eucalyptus blue gum!
Also has anyone ever heard of Ekoface oils? I know they are very cheap and i was extremely sceptical but it was the only place i could seem to find Lily Absolute, so i did by it and im not sure.