How to Tell If Your Olive Oil Is Actually Good for You

Not all olive oils are created equal. And when it comes to health, the difference can be significant. The label might say “extra virgin,” but that doesn’t always mean it’s fresh, potent, or rich in the compounds linked to real health benefits.

Here’s how to tell if an olive oil is genuinely doing something for your health and how we make sure Lumen One does.

1. Check the Harvest Date

Olive oil is generally at its best within 12-18 months of harvest, depending on how it’s stored. Heat, light, and oxygen can gradually reduce freshness over time, which is why storing olive oil in a cool, dark place with the lid tightly sealed helps maintain quality.

Some bottles list a harvest date, while others only show a “best before.” A harvest date gives you clearer context about when the oil was produced.

Lumen One is produced in small batches and clearly labelled with harvest and batch details, so you know exactly what you’re getting.

2. Look for Lab Testing

Lab testing adds an extra layer of transparency. Some olive oil brands choose to share independent lab results that give insight into freshness, stability, and naturally occurring compounds. When available, these results can help you better understand what’s in the bottle.

At Lumen One, every batch is independently tested for:

• Free Fatty Acids (<0.2%)
  Lower levels are associated with careful handling of olives and gentle extraction.
• Peroxide Value (<12)
  Indicates how stable the oil is over time and how well it has been protected from oxidation.
• Total Polyphenols (400+ mg/kg)
  These compounds are linked to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Lab testing helps provide clarity around quality and composition, especially for those using olive oil as part of a daily health routine.

3. Smell and Taste

Your senses can offer useful cues. Fresh extra virgin olive oil often smells bright and expressive, with notes that can include grassy, green, fruity, or peppery. A peppery sensation is commonly associated with higher polyphenol content.

Over time, aroma and flavour naturally soften, which is why freshness and storage both play a role in how an oil tastes.

The Lumen One Standard

We hold ourselves to a high internal benchmark.

Every bottle of Lumen One is produced in small batches, cold extracted, and independently tested for freshness, stability, purity, and polyphenol content. Batch details are clearly labelled, so you know exactly what you’re using.