dōTERRA quality
The CPTG® standard: how every batch is tested
CPTG® stands for “Certified Pure Tested Grade”. It is the testing protocol dōTERRA applies to every one of its oils, from distillation to bottle.
Every batch goes through 3 checks and 4 families of analyses.
Why an in-house standard
There is no official purity standard
No regulation requires anyone to check that an essential oil is pure. An oil can be cut with a cheaper oil, enriched with synthetic molecules or contaminated, without the label saying so.
That is why dōTERRA created its own protocol, CPTG, together with its chemists and third-party laboratories.
Three checks per batch
From distillation to bottle
Check 1
After distillation
The oil's chemical composition is analysed on site, as soon as it leaves the still.
Check 2
On arrival at the plant
A second analysis confirms that the oil received is the same one that was distilled and tested.
Check 3
Before bottling
A final check confirms that nothing has changed during production.
The analyses
4 families of tests, one question per test
Each test answers a specific question about the oil. Together, they rule out oils that are cut, synthetic, contaminated or unstable.
Chemical analysis
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Chromatography
Which compounds does the oil contain? It is separated into its constituents to identify them.
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Mass spectrometry
In what quantities? Each constituent is measured.
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Isotopes
Do all the constituents come from the same plant? A different profile reveals a cut oil.
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Chirality
Are the molecules natural? Their orientation gives away a synthetic additive.
Physical analysis
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Organoleptic
Are the aroma, colour and texture as expected?
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Infrared (FTIR)
Does this batch match the reference batches?
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Density, refraction, optical rotation
These measurements must match those of a pure oil from the same plant.
Contaminants
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Heavy metals
A properly distilled oil should contain none.
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Microbes
Bacteria, fungi and moulds are screened for at the plant and before shipping.
Stability
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Ageing
The oil is placed in a temperature and humidity chamber to check how well it keeps over time.
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Packaging
The bottle and cap are checked to protect the oil until it is used.
For you
What it means when you buy
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A pure oil
No cutting oils, no synthetic molecules, no contaminants.
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The same oil in every bottle
Every batch is compared with previous ones: you get the same quality from one order to the next.
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A verifiable batch
The batch number printed on your bottle lets you view its analysis and origin.
Frequently asked questions
Learn more
Are dōTERRA oils organic?
CPTG is not an organic certification. It guarantees something else: that every batch is pure and matches its expected composition, regardless of how the plant was grown or harvested.
Are all the tests carried out on every batch?
No. Some analyses, such as microbial testing, are carried out on every batch; others, such as chirality, are used as spot checks to detect synthetic additives.
Who carries out these analyses?
dōTERRA's chemists and third-party laboratories, independent of the brand.
How can I check my bottle?
Find the batch number on the bottom of your bottle and enter it on dōTERRA's Source to You® website: you will find the analysis of your batch and the origin of the plant.
