What is aromatherapy? Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to promote health and well-being of body, mind and spirit. When applied to the skin, these oils are absorbed to affect the physical body. When inhaled, the aromas affect moods and feelings.
What are essential oils? Essential oils are concentrated substances distilled from plants that have been used for health and fragrance for centuries. Essential oils come in many grades. We use therapeutic grade oils, because they retain the most of the plant’s healing qualities.
Many companies say their products are natural but they really aren't. How can you tell the difference? Read the labels. Ingredients are listed in descending order on the label. If all the natural ingredients are at the bottom of the list, chances are they make up only a small percent of the product. Look for the percent of natural ingredients on the label. All our products contain at least 99% natural ingredients and we say so on the label.
Why aren't your products 100% organic? It is not possible to make a lotion or body wash with 100% certified organic ingredients. Water, a main ingredient, does not count toward the percentage of organic ingredients. Wildcrafted ingredients (like shea butter which is gathered in the wild) are not certified as organic and therefore, according to the California Organic Products Act of 2003 we cannot count it in the percentage of organic ingredients. There are many ingredients (like decyl polyglucose, a plant-based foaming agent) that are not available as organic.
Why do you use preservatives in some of your products? Any non-refridgerated product containing water needs a preservative to prevent molds and bacteria from growing. Some companies use alcohol or grapefruit seed extract as preservatives. We don't want to use alcohol because of its drying aspects and our lab tests have determined that grapefruit seed extract is not an adequate preservative. We use a very small amount of food grade preservative (about 1/2%) in the products that require it.
Where are your products from? We source ingredients from all over the world. The products are produced by several specialty manufacturers who follow our custom-formulas to produce small batches; most are located in northern California.
Why can't I find your products at a store near me? We do not yet have sales representatives in all parts of the country; however, any store can order from us directly. If you like our products and what we are committed to, please support Pharmacopia by suggesting us to the buyers at your favorite store. You can also contact us and we'll send them a catalog and order form.
