| It's true that essential oils are an essential part of | | | | the oils were squeezed into a container so they could |
| aromatherapy. But contrary to what some people | | | | be decanted. |
| think, the term 'essential' doesn't mean essential as in | | | | |
| 'being a necessary part of'. Instead, essential oils are | | | | Ecuelle a Picuer |
| the oils extracted from the 'essence' of a plant - | | | | |
| those parts that contain the plant's aroma molecules. | | | | Another expression method involved sticking pins into |
| | | | | the skins of fruit for the purpose of damaging the |
| Using different methods of extraction guarantees | | | | cells that contain the essential oils. The apparatus |
| that the highest concentrations of oils can be | | | | used had a built-in container for collecting the oils and |
| extracted. Essential oils are gathered from many | | | | the other parts of the fruit that ended up in the |
| different types of plants and many different parts of | | | | collection area. The final steps involved separating the |
| those plants. Flowers, fruits, herbs, stems, roots, | | | | essential oils and decanting them. This is called the |
| leaves, buds, blossoms, seeds, nuts and even tree | | | | ecuelle a picuer method. |
| bark produce some of the most aromatic and | | | | |
| therapeutic essential oils. Essential oil extraction | | | | Machine Abrasion |
| methods fall under three main categories: expression, | | | | |
| solvent extraction and distillation. The following is an | | | | Those were quite laborious processes, and thankfully, |
| overview of these extraction processes and | | | | technological advances led to the invention of |
| methods. | | | | machines to do this type of tedious work. Nowadays, |
| | | | | oils from rinds are extracted using centrifugal force. |
| Expression | | | | This rapid process is called Machine Abrasion. |
| | | | | |
| The expression form of essential oil extraction does | | | | Cold Pressed |
| not involve the use of a heat source. This is the | | | | |
| method commonly used to extract oils from the rinds | | | | This form of expression extraction is also used to |
| of citrus. In earlier times, rinds were squeezed by | | | | extract essential oils from nuts and seeds and from |
| hand and a sponge was used to collect the essential | | | | the rinds of citrus. Mechanical pressure is used to |
| oils. The fruit would be removed and then the rinds | | | | force the oils out. The oils extracted contain water, |
| along with the pith would be soaked in water to | | | | but this water will, in time, evaporate, leaving just the |
| make them easier to work with. They'd then be | | | | essential oils. The downside of using this extraction |
| turned upside-down. Turning them upside-down | | | | method is that the cold pressed oils spoil more |
| caused the cells containing the oils to break apart. | | | | quickly than those extracted using other methods. |
| Once broken, the oils would drip out and soak into a | | | | That's why, to eliminate waste, it's important to |
| nearby sponge. When the sponge became saturated, | | | | purchase these essential oils in small quantities. |