Essential oils are volatile aroma compounds derived from plants extracted by distillation, either from whole plants or specific parts of the plant (leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant). They are recognized by distinctive scents and are sometimes also used in culinary arts or for making perfumes or incense sticks etc. Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant it was derived from and are highly concentrated.
Essential oils vary widely in price, depending largely on the amount of plant material needed to make them. The citrus oils are quite economical to make, since the citrus rind contains a lot of oil, and thus less expensive than the oils derived from flowers, which contain very little oil. Jasmine, Rose and Neroli (orange blossom) are among the most costly of all the essential oils.
Essential oils, contrary to the word "oil", are not oily to touch. They vary in colour from clear, orange, yellow, red, brown and green, depending on the plant.
Peanut and Grapeseed oils in particular are used in order to cheapen the end product. If you notice a poor shelf life of your essential oils, or they are going rancid - this may indicate dilution. Quality essential oils should not have an oily texture to touch like olive oil. |
Essential oils and fragrances are just not the same thing. Essential oils are derived from natural botanical sources whereas fragrances are synthetic, developed for perfumery and are made in laboratories. As they are developed synthetically, they have very little therapeutic use. |
Absolutes are very, very similar to essential oils but they are extracted or distilled in a different way. Absolutes are made up of delicate or rare species of plants, especially the flowering varieties. Flowering plants promptly lose their sweet scent when excessive heat is applied, this is why they are difficult and expensive to obtain. |
Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils for safe application on the skin. Carrier oils such as: Almond, Apricot, Hazelnut, Macadamia nut are the base oils of nut, plant or vegetable origins which are cold pressed. Carrier oils are fatty in texture; they do not readily evaporate like essential oils and have a low scent. Almond oil is the professional oil of choice for massage. Combinations of other carrier oils are beneficial for conditioning particular skin types. Essential oils should never routinely be diluted with any carrier oil and sold as pure essential oils (other than as discussed above. |
