What
are Essential Oils?
An essential
oil is a liquid that is generally distilled (most
frequently by steam or water) from the leaves,
stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of
a plant. Essential oils, contrary to the use of
the word "oil" are not really
oily-feeling at all.
aromatherapy:
The use of volatile plant oils, including
essential oils, for psychological and physical
well-being.
Essential oils are the
volatile oily components of aromatic plants,
trees and grasses. Essential oils are extracted
by four main methods: steam distillation,
expression, solvent extraction and efleurage
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ESSENTIAL
OILS
Essential
oils are not the same as fragrance Oils.
What
are fragrance oils?
Fragrance oils are artificially created
fragrances, which contain artificial
substances.
How are EO
extracted?
In the first
method the oil is extracted by the action
of hot steam and then selectively
condensed with water from which it is
separated. In the second method the oil
is extracted by pressure or
centrifugation. In the third method the
oil is dissolved in a volatile solvent
that when evaporated leaves a heavily
natural wax substance called concrete.
When separated from the wax, the
resulting liquid is called an absolute,
the most concentrated from of aroma
available. Efleurage is a longer process
involving the dissolution of the oils in
animal fat and its separation using
alcohol. Although essential oils main
usage is in cosmetics and perfumery, many
of them do have proved therapeutic
properties.
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