| The ancient art of aromatherapy is connected to | | | | and is collected. |
| both the perfume industry and the natural health | | | | Cold-pressed, or expressed, oils are created by |
| industry. Essential oils can be extracted in three basic | | | | mechanically pressing the oils from the rinds of fruit. |
| ways: steam distillation, cold-pressing, and | | | | Only organic fruits should be used in this process of |
| solvent-extraction. | | | | oil extraction because the pesticides used on |
| Steam distillation is the most traditional and widely | | | | non-organic fruit will be concentrated in the oils. |
| used method of oil extraction. The distillation process | | | | Although they are not technically essential oils, |
| begins by using boilers to heat purified water and | | | | expressed oils are still deemed highly therapeutic and |
| produce steam. This steam is then passed into a | | | | are generally less expensive than steam and solvent |
| stainless steel chamber containing the plant material. | | | | distilled oils. |
| As the plant is heated it releases the aromatherapy | | | | Flowers containing a small, volatile amount of oil that |
| oils into the air which mix with the steam and is | | | | is not easily extracted using steam distillation are |
| carried upwards into a system of pipes called the | | | | processed by distilling the plant with a hydrocarbon |
| condenser. | | | | solvent. After this distillation a concrete remains, |
| The steam is then cooled using cold water and | | | | which is a mixture of essential oil, wax, resin, and |
| condenses into a mixture of water and essential oils. | | | | plant material. This concrete is then distilled again |
| Next this mixture is transferred into a separation | | | | using grain alcohol to extract the pure essential oil. |
| device in which the oil floats to the top of the water | | | | |