NOW has called the results of a product quality and transparency test it recently conducted "concerning."
The company evaluated 28 lavender essential oil products purchased from Amazon using GC-MS/FID analytical testing, finding that the majority failed to meet ISO standards for lavender oils or showed evidence of adulteration.
Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) is widely recognised for its use in aromatherapy and personal care products.
Authentic lavender oil features a balanced chemical profile dominated by linalool and linalyl acetate.
However, due to its popularity and higher cost, it is often diluted or substituted, which can compromise its aroma, quality and label accuracy.
NOW's testing aimed to determine whether products marketed as "Lavandula angustifolia" or "pure lavender essential oil" were consistent with the composition expected of authentic lavender essential oil, as defined by ISO standards for French/Bulgarian lavender oils.
Samples were analysed using GC-MS/FID (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Flame Ionisation Detection) with a non-polar analytical column.
Of the 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.
Now added that eight additional samples were noted at the end of the report as failing due to not claiming or containing Lavandula angustifolia.
Several samples demonstrated a significant reduction in natural lavender constituents, while others seemed to be heavily formulated fragrance blends rather than genuine essential oils.
Notably, eight of the tested brands were from China and four were from India. All of these foreign brands failed the testing based on the aforementioned criteria.
Furthermore, the imported brands comprised four of the five lowest-priced products. In contrast, the three products that passed testing (including NOW) were among the four most expensive options on Amazon.
Key takeaways
These analyses underscore the importance of analytical testing in the essential oil marketplace.
Although many of the tested products were labelled and marketed as "pure lavender essential oil," the majority did not fully match the chemical profile expected of authentic Lavandula angustifolia lavender oil.
As consumer trust becomes a key differentiator for brands in the nutraceutical space, transparency and authenticity are crucial to successfully building long-term loyalty.
NOW said it will continue evaluating products sold through major online marketplaces and will share analytical findings to support higher quality standards across the industry. It added that the report will also be shared with the FDA and Amazon.