Why Are Essential Oil Botanical (Latin) Names So Important?
Essential Oil "Common" Names Can Be Confusing
Essential oils are usually called by their "common" names, such as "lavender," "chamomile," "eucalyptus," etc. While these common names are usually familiar, problems can arise because an essential oil may have more than one "common" name. Examples are neroli, which also goes by "orange blossom," and helichrysum, which is sometimes called "immortelle." Common names can also sound misleading. For example, "rose geranium" may sound like a mixture of rose essential oil and geranium essential oil, but in fact rose geranium essential comes from a unique, single species of plant.
Article:
What Is Aromatherapy? >>
Article: Essential Oil Safety Tips>>
Article: Aromatherapy for Emotional Health >>
Another source of confusion from common names is that more than one essential oil may go by the same “common” name, but the oils may have very different properties. For example, there are many different varieties of eucalyptus essential oil available, and each has its own unique therapeutic actions. Similarly, "chamomile" may mean Roman chamomile, German chamomile, or some other type.
Related Article: Guidelines for Purchasing Essential Oils >>
The only way to really know which aromatherapy oil is which is to identify the oils using their botanical (Latin) names. Examples of latin names:
Pelargonium graveolens (geranium)
Lavandula augustifolia (lavender)
Cedrus atlantica (Atlas
cedarwood)
For Safety, Know What You're Buying and Using
Since each essential oil has its own unique therapeutic properties and safety precautions, and these can vary widely from oil to oil, it's important to identify the oil by its botanical (Latin) name in addition to its "common" name.
Always check the botanical (Latin) name of the essential oil to make sure there is no confusion about which oil is being used. Become familiar with both common names and Latin binomials, and make a habit of confirming the botanical name of an essential oil before purchasing it.
