What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are made from harvested plants through different methods. The compounds that create essential oils are extracted from plants and packed into separate bottles. The definition of essential oils is “a natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant or other source from which it is extracted.”
How are these Essential Oils created?
There are different techniques when it comes to creating essential oils.
- Steam Distilling
The steam distilling method is known as the most customary technique used to make essential oils. The procedure for the extraction isn’t complicated. You first have to take the collected plants, flowers, leaves, wood, bark, root, seed, or peel and place them in a distilling apparatus. The boiling water will begin to create steam inside the apparatus. The steam will eventually pull the oil from the plant, rise with the steam and enter into the tube. Once the steam cools down, it will condense into water, making the oil separate itself. Later the oil is extracted.
Mechanical Expression
This is another method to extract oil, however, this includes the entire fruit in the process. The fruit is taken and placed in a container where it is granulated. Once the oil is seen making its way out of the fruit, water is sprayed and mixed in it. The oil is then separated from the water again to create an essential oil.
As easy as the procedures of creating essential oils may sound, it still takes a large number of plants and fruits to create only one bottle of essential oil. The time taking process demands a lot of dedication and hard work.
Uses of Essential Oils
Essential oils are often practiced in Aromatherapy as the extracts that are taken are the essence of the plant. Aromatherapy is a kind of therapy where the essence of these extracts is used to make individuals feel better. Once the scent of the essential oil is inhaled, it travels all the way to the emotion-controlling section of your brain to calm down your nerves resulting in making you feel less agitated or stressed. They are often used to ease stress, relieve pain from headaches or migraines, help with a good night’s sleep, boost moods and quell nausea, and even repel mosquitoes and bugs.
Other uses of essential oils include using them as scents for laundry or an alternative to an air freshener for the house. They are typically diffused into the air so that the aroma of the oil would continuously loom in the air. If you are looking for great diffuser products I highly recommend Organic Aromas for any of your diffuser needs. Essential oils are not only inhaled, and in fact, are used as skincare products as well. A drop or two of the oil is placed on the skin and gently rubbed so that the skin can absorb the oil. ( an air of caution must be used when applying oils to the skin as some can be a bit caustic) All oils have different properties, Lavender oil is typically utilized by those who want to release stress or encourage sleep. Lemon oil has a stronger citrusy scent that instantly enhances the mood. We often find that scent in different cleaning products as it is a good natural disinfectant. Tea Tree oil is used for skin repairs such as healing someone from bad acne or insect bites as it has great antibacterial and antifungal properties.
However, these should be used as prescribed by a professional. Essential oils are natural chemicals nonetheless and should not be experimented with or used incorrectly.
Distribution of Essential Oils
Essential Oils were discovered 6000 years ago and to this day a large number of the population uses them. Aromatherapy and Essential oils have gained a lot of recognition in the past few years as well, resulting in multiple companies creating and distributing them. Many people prefer natural chemicals over other skincare products. Natural extracts tend to react to the skin in a less harmful way when used correctly. There are many companies worldwide that create plant extractions, many of which are not only cruelty-free but also vegan-free, unlike other skincare and cosmetic companies that test on animals. The quality and price of essential oils variate from company to company. In some places, you might get the same oils for a cheaper price but the quality and quantity could be compromised. It’s better to consult with a professional before starting any sort of aromatherapy or skincare oils.
