For some aromatics measured in aqueous solutions, the value of pure water is included in the measurement range.

Oechsle scales are set at 0 °Oe for pure water. The same applies for alcohol meters at 0% vol. or 0% mass, and for saccharimeters for sucrose solutions at 0% mass. sucrose.

In practice, these devices do not show the expected zero value even in distilled water. Oechsle scales and saccharimeters show a value over 0, alcohol meters show a 0 value. The reason for this is mentioned below as an example for Oechsle scales.

Testing such areometers can therefore only be done in a very rough manner. If one would like to ensure that an areometer is correct for important measurements, a calibrating laboratory must confirm the correctness of the meter, because they are low-cost measuring instruments, verifying their accuracy is expensive.

Standardised areometers (best with a standardisation slip) must be used if the precision specifications are high. In an emergency, one can use standardisable as well as normal devices with an official test slip. One must assume that measurements are more or less imprecise with areometers without an official test slip.

Must scales when measuring distilled water don’t display  0 °Oe, but, depending upon the geometric parameters in the glass - about 2 to 3 °Oe. Oechsle scales are adjusted at  0 °Oe to the surface tension value of pure water; this is very high and, in practice, is not achieved due to various contamination in water, such as dust or the smallest particles in the air. In addition, in the case of water, complete and correct wetting of the stem is poor, and very intense cleaning of the areometer is required.  In practice, this is not done. Both lead to an increase Oechsle value when measuring distilled water. For these reasons, must scales are not adjusted using water at the factory.

One must always assume a deviation of +/- 1 to 2 °Oe for normal must scales. One must use officially tested must scales for precision measurements.