| An essential oil by definition is a concentrated, | | | | in steam distillation. Rather, a solvent is used to |
| hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma | | | | extract the oils. Depending on the solvent used, the |
| compounds from plants. A hydrophobe is a molecule | | | | extracts are called concretes, which are a mixture of |
| that is repelled from a mass of water. Other names | | | | essential oil, waxes, resins, and other oil soluble plant |
| for essential oils are volatile oils, ethereal oils, and | | | | material. Although the concretes are highly fragrant, |
| aetherola; a very simplified definition is the oil of the | | | | they contain material (resins, waxes, etc.) that are |
| plant from which it was extracted. Essential means | | | | not fragrant and not needed. A second, different |
| that the oil carries a very distinctive scent of the | | | | solvent (ethanol) is then used on the concretes which |
| plant from which it was obtained. | | | | extracts only the fragrant molecules; when the |
| Most oils are obtained by the process of distillation. In | | | | ethanol evaporates an oil called the absolute remains. |
| this process the flowers, leaves, bark, roots, seeds, | | | | Absolutes are more fragrant than essential oils and a |
| wood, and peel of the plant are put in a distilling | | | | truer fragrance that is closer to the original plant is |
| apparatus then placed over water. The water is | | | | usually obtained. Trace amounts of the solvents are |
| heated and the steam goes through the raw plant | | | | left in the absolute; therefore it is not considered |
| matter, vaporizing the volatile compounds. The | | | | appropriate for use in aromatherapy. The perfume |
| resultant vapors then pass through a cooling coil | | | | industry, however, can and does use these absolutes |
| which turns them back into a liquid (water) and | | | | to produce a fresher smell. Some examples of oils |
| collected in a separate container. This water is called | | | | that are extracted by this third process are neroli, |
| a hydrosol or plant distillate and may be sold as | | | | jasmine, mimosa and tuberose. |
| another fragrance product, such as rose water. | | | | Producing the oils can be a simple or a more complex |
| Lavender, rose, clary sage, lemon balm, and orange | | | | process. The variation in price of different essential |
| blossoms are common hydrosols. | | | | oils depends on the extraction method used and the |
| Another method of obtaining these oils is by | | | | amount of the original plant material needed to make |
| mechanical expression (cold pressed). Most of the | | | | a significant amount of the essential oil. Precautions |
| citrus scented oils are extracted by this method. | | | | must be used when dealing with both essential oils |
| Lemon and sweet orange essential oils are made this | | | | and absolutes. Both are very concentrated and should |
| way. This method was the way all essential oils were | | | | be mixed with another carrier oil before being placed |
| produced before the advent of distillation. | | | | on the skin. (See 7 Important Facts You Absolutely |
| The third way to obtain essential oils is by a process | | | | Need To Know When Buying Essential Oils). |
| known as solvent extraction. A large number of floral | | | | More and more people are turning to the essential oils |
| scents are produced by this method because the | | | | and absolutes for their fragrance needs. There are so |
| flowers do not have a lot of volatile oil to be | | | | many different fragrances from which to |
| extracted and their chemical components are very | | | | choose-surely there is something for everyone! |
| fragile and easily broken down by the high heat used | | | | |