We use the common name for plants and flowers we know, but that might not be enough to identify an essential oil. Several species of the same plant can have one common name. 

Lavender, for example, is the common name for at least five different plant varieties. Knowing which plant the essential oil comes from is vital in understanding some of its characteristics and benefits. 

Each plant has some similarities; however, there will be enough differences to significantly change how they are applied or used in an aromatherapy product.

Chemical Chemotype:

Some plants, like sweet oranges, are the same no matter where they grow in the world. Minimal variation is detected regardless of country of origin

Safety considerations for some chemotypes can set them apart from others in the same plant family.

Understanding the origin of your essential oil and what benefits and limitations it can have in your applications is a matter of safety.

When identifying the proper botanical name of a plant used in aromatherapy, typically the Latin name is used, the first word is the Genus, and it will be in capitals, then the species follows in lower case. The full name should be in italics.

Knowing the botanical name of a plant is also essential from the conservation and sustainability point of view. Certain plants are endangered or on the list of semi-endangered species. This also has implications for the native population of that area and further economic and sometimes political consequences.