Why Essential Oils Matter

No matter where we live, we all want certain things to smell and taste just right.

Take this woman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She lives in the heart of the desert—but when she bathes, she wants the water to smell like fresh rose essential oil.

Or consider a man in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. After a long shift on the oil fields, he relaxes with a glass of cinnamon whisky flavored with essential oils.

Of course, rose bushes don’t grow in the desert, and cinnamon trees don’t thrive on Arctic ice.

So how do we enjoy these scents and flavors anywhere in the world?
Essential oils. They carry the fragrance and flavor of nature—delivered globally with consistency and quality.

How Essential Oils Are Made

Essential oils are extracted from plants using techniques like steam distillation or cold pressing.

They’re made in small artisan batches as well as on an industrial scale for global brands. But whether you’re producing a vial or a thousand liters, one thing is critical:
Every batch must be ISO 592 compliant and meet strict quality standards.

Why We Measure Essential Oils

To ensure essential oil quality, authenticity, and consistency, labs measure:

• Density
• Refractive Index
• Optical Rotation

This video focuses on optical rotation testing of essential oils, a key requirement for meeting ISO 592 compliance.

ISO 592 Compliant Testing

The ISO 592 standard defines how to measure optical rotation in essential oils. Here’s what it requires:

• Wavelength: Must use the 589 nm sodium D-line. The Autopol® 1T uses this exact wavelength.
• Accuracy: Standard requires ±0.03°. The Autopol® 1T delivers ±0.01°—three times more precise.
• Temperature Control: Must be maintained at 20°C. The Autopol® 1T has built-in temperature control—no external baths, no guesswork.
• Colored or Dark Oils: Even heavy or richly colored essential oils are measured easily with a 10 mm path length and built-in optical density detection.

For calibration, the Autopol® 1T uses a Quartz Control Plate, which is faster and more reliable than outdated sucrose plates.

The Autofill™ Advantage for Essential Oils

What sets Rudolph apart in essential oil testing is the Autofill™ system:

• Filling the cell is automatic.
• Cleaning is fast and consistent.
• Reloading for the next sample takes one press of a button.

No spills. No bubbles. No wasted time.

Whether you’re testing a few essential oil samples or hundreds per day, Autofill™ saves time and ensures accuracy while keeping you ISO 592 compliant.

Essential Oils. ISO 592 Compliant. Trusted Worldwide.

Download the ISO 592 :1988 Essential Oils – Determination of optical rotation
From desert baths to Arctic drinks, essential oils bring comfort, fragrance, and consistency worldwide.

With the Autopol® 1T and Autofill™ system, measuring essential oils to ISO 592 standards has never been easier—or more precise.

Rudolph Research Analytical. Trusted. Proven. Ready.

Learn More about Autofill and the FillStation