| Ever wondered what essential oils are made of? | | | | helpful to know that any particularly oil is often |
| Here's a fun primer on essential oil chemistry, | | | | composed of one or more primary molecular forms, |
| describing what makes some oils smell especially nice, | | | | with many minor or 'trace' constituents, and that ALL |
| and how you can tell the difference between | | | | these molecules contribute to the oil's aroma and |
| mediocre and highly therapeutic varieties. | | | | therapeutic action. |
| Uh oh. Chemistry - the word itself can make one's | | | | Many factors in an essential oil's production affect the |
| eyes glaze over. But wait, this is 'essential oil | | | | total number and relative amounts of individual |
| chemistry'. MUCH more fun! While even beginning | | | | chemicals found in the final product. These include |
| aromatherapy students are put off by the mere | | | | where the plant was grown, soil and climate |
| mention of the subject, they eventually realize the | | | | conditions, time of harvest, distillation equipment, plus |
| importance of understanding at least the | | | | the time, temperature and pressure of distillation. This |
| fundamentals. The basics of essential oil chemistry will | | | | can give you an idea as to why two varieties of the |
| help you appreciate what gives a fine oil its unique | | | | same oil can smell so different: The full, beautiful |
| aroma, help you more carefully discern a good oil | | | | bouquet of a fine essential oil will contain a myriad of |
| from a second-rate one, and can improve your | | | | notes, telling you that all natural components are |
| practice of using essential oils therapeutically. The | | | | present and in balanced amounts. If the starting plant |
| greatest benefits of essential oils lies in their potential | | | | material was grown in sub-optimal conditions or |
| for true medicinal applications, where their antiviral, | | | | distillation was improperly performed, some |
| antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties are | | | | secondary or trace componentes may not be |
| effectively utilized. And it is the understanding of their | | | | present; this can result in a bland, lifeless aroma. |
| chemistry that enables the practitioner to select the | | | | To best understand this, we'll examine Lavender |
| right oils and use them most appropriately. | | | | essential oil; more than fifty individual molecules have |
| Convinced? Well here's a primer to get you started... | | | | been identified in pure lavender essential oil. The |
| So, why are essential oils called 'oils' anyway? Their | | | | aromatherapist must remember that ALL of these |
| texture is different, and they don't leave tell-tale | | | | chemicals found in pure and natural lavender oil work |
| stains like the more familiar edible fixed like grape | | | | together to produce a therapeutic effect. For |
| seed, sunflower, flax or hemp. Essential oils and fixed | | | | example, the linalool molecule is antiviral and |
| oils share a similar chemical foundation: their | | | | antibacterial; the linalyl acetate is also emotionally |
| structures are based on the linking of carbon and | | | | calming; other major components including cineol, |
| hydrogen atoms in various configurations. But this is | | | | limonene, pinene and others are all noted for specific |
| really where the similarity ends. Fixed oils are made | | | | biologic and aromatic activity. It is the combined, |
| up of molecules comprised of three long chains of | | | | balanced, synergistic action of these chemicals that |
| carbon atoms bound together at one end, called a | | | | make pure, high-quality lavender such a great healer. |
| triglyceride. Every fixed oil is made up of just a few | | | | No one chemical can be singled out and used to give |
| different triglyceride arrangements - olive oil, for | | | | the same profound results as the complete pure |
| example, is primarily made up of oleic, linoleic and | | | | essential oil. |
| linolenic acids (the names of particular | | | | So how is this synergy reflected in Lavender's |
| carbon-hydrogen chains forming the triglycerides). | | | | aroma? Each of these chemicals has a unique smell; |
| Their long-chain shape holds them in a liquid state | | | | some are sweet, some are camphorous, some |
| which does not easily evaporate. | | | | citrusy and some herbaceous. These notes act in |
| Essential oils are 'volatile' oils - oils that DO easily | | | | perfect concert, in an exact formula, to produce the |
| evaporate. Their chains of carbon atoms to which | | | | harmonious scent of a particular variety. And your |
| the hydrogens attach are not as long or heavy, and | | | | nose knows this! One can tell the difference between |
| are much more complex. Many essential oil structures | | | | a well-made, complex lavender oil with many notes |
| are not really chains, but ring, or multi-ringed shapes | | | | within the aroma, and one that is flat or plain, which |
| with diverse sub-units - called 'functional groups' - | | | | may be chemically imbalanced or missing some trace |
| sticking out in various directions. Like their fixed oil | | | | constituents. |
| counterparts, essential oils are lipophillic - meaning 'fat | | | | Lavender grown at native higher elevations will often |
| liking'. The fat-liking nature of both fixed and essential | | | | produce a greater percentage of linalyl acetate, which |
| oils makes them easily absorbed by our bodies. | | | | will result in a sweeter, more relaxing oil. Further, |
| Because of their typically smaller structures however, | | | | lower quality lavender plants may occasionally be |
| essential oils are absorbed more rapidly than fixed | | | | sprayed with linalool before harvest to enhance the |
| oils, and can easily penetrate deep into the body. | | | | production of linalyl acetate by the flowers. While the |
| Their non-polar, fat friendly composition enables swift | | | | end-product may smell sweeter, the process actually |
| passage through mammalian cell walls, bringing the | | | | creates an imbalance in the overall healing synergy of |
| healing potency of plants into even the tiniest spaces. | | | | the primary and trace molecules. All these oils will be |
| Most of the therapeutic activity of an essential oil can | | | | labeled 'Lavender' on the store shelf, yet the finer, |
| be attributed to the functional groups of the individual | | | | natural lavender will have a more beautiful, balanced |
| chemicals that make up the oil. There can be over a | | | | aromatic bouquet, and is considered the most |
| hundred identifiable molecules in one essential oil. Each | | | | holistically healing variety by the world's leading |
| of these molecules, as mentioned earlier, is a chain or | | | | aromatherapy practitioners. |
| ring (or multiple-ring) structure of carbon atoms linked | | | | This of course is not true of only lavender essential |
| together with hydrogen atoms bonded to them in | | | | oil. All essential oils are subject to similar variations in |
| various configurations. Every chain or ring has a | | | | production methods or the manipulation of their |
| functional group attached - a functional group is | | | | molecular make-ups through the addition of synthetic |
| defined by Salvatore Battaglia in 'The Complete Guide | | | | chemicals. For the most therapeutic benefit, it is |
| to Aromatherapy' as: "a single atom or group of | | | | always best to use true, carefully-made essential oils. |
| atoms that...has a profound influence upon the | | | | To do this, find a source that is dedicated to |
| properties of the molecule as a whole. It is often | | | | supplying only the highest grades of oils. Examine |
| referred to as the chemically active center of the | | | | their product's aromatic quality and business practices |
| molecule". | | | | and so that you are comfortable with their dedication |
| As you can see, essential oils are really very complex | | | | to your health, not just their bottom line. Listen to |
| in their chemical nature. There are nearly infinite | | | | your intuition and your own nose; they won't lie to |
| possibilities of functional group and ring or chain | | | | you! Practice, and you will continue to detect finer |
| combinations. And ONE essential oil alone can be | | | | and finer differences in grades of the same variety. |
| made up of HUNDREDS of these different molecular | | | | With even more education and skill, you'll start to |
| arrangements. Don't worry, though! While it sounds | | | | recognize individual chemicals within an oils aroma, and |
| complex, one needn't know all the precise chemical | | | | make the best decisions as to which oils will have the |
| details to use essential oils therapeutically. When | | | | most profound therapeutic affects for you, your |
| selecting between varieties of an essential oil, It IS | | | | family, or in your professional practice. |