The Best Essential Oils

Definition of an Essential Oil

Essential oils are volatile aromatic oils that plants produce. Plants create oils and resins in order to warn predators, attract pollinators, and protect themselves from diseases. These aromatic substances are concentrated through several methods to produce what we know as essential oil. It is not infused herbal oil which is a common misconception.

Ways That Essential Oils are Extracted

Distillation

Vaporization is used to capture most plant aromatics. This process, referred to as distillation, can be accomplished utilizing water, using steam, or by totally submerging the plant material in water. Most essential oils created this way include leaves, flowers, roots, and bark. Examples are ylang ylang, lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, valerian, fir needle, and sandalwood.

Cold Press

Some oils, such as citrus peel, use a method called cold press to extract their aromatics. This process is done by puncturing the skin of the entire fruit or the fruit peel and pressing the oils out. A small amount of juice is also extracted during this process. The juice is later separated from the essential oil. Although citrus peel oils can be found, they are mostly used within the fragrance industry and are not ideal for aroma therapeutic use. Examples include grapefruit, orange, lime peel, tangerine, and lemon.

Solvent Extracted

There are plant aromatics that are too wrapped up in the resin or too fragile for distillation. In these situations a solvent is used to extract the oils. The solvents used can vary and include both toxic and non-toxic substances like alcohol, hexane, acetone, and propane. Check with the supplier to see what substance is used. The solvents should be completely evaporated from the finished product if it is good quality. Due to the fact that trace amounts of the solvent may still be possible, these oils are not recommended for aroma therapeutic uses. Examples are vanilla, jasmine, Oakwood, oak moss, benzoin resin, and rose absolute.

Where to Find High Quality Essential Oils

The first step is to make sure the essential oils you are interested in are pure plant oils with no diluents. Some essential oils that are available on the market are diluted with a lesser quality substance. Next, check for the botanical Latin name to be certain that you are buying the right thing. It should be clearly listed. Peppermint, for example, will be listed as Mentha piperita. Buy oils that come from a supplier you can trust or that are certified organic. Remember that some oils are made from plants cultivated without chemicals or from wild harvested ones that will lack the organic certification. Avoid essential oils that use the term “Fragrance Oil.” These are often not botanical essential oils. They may be synthetically produced instead.

Therapeutic Grade

Many new aromatherapy enthusiasts will seek out oils that are said to be Therapeutic Grade. This is not an industry standard, and it is not regulated or endorsed by any government agency. Therapeutic Grade is simply a marketing phrase.

Buying and Storing

Do your research before purchasing oils to find out which production method was used and what part of the plant the oils come from. You may discover several different options for one single plant. For example, fresh ginger and dry ginger or cinnamon bark and cinnamon leaf offer different options for one type of plant.

Buy small portions to start with. One drop of the oil will go a long way. A one ounce bottle can last a very long time. Essential oils can be expensive. It is best to experiment a little to find out which oils you will use the most often before buying them in large quantities.
Look for oils sold in dark colored glass or amber bottles. Store the essential oils in these containers in a cool, dark place to keep them away from light and heat. Do not keep the rubber topped dropper in the bottle. The essential oils may break the rubber down over time. Remove the dropper and place the screw cap on the bottle. Drop by drop reducers that are found in smaller oil bottles are okay to leave in.

Recommendations

Those that are looking to get started in aromatherapy and its benefits will find the Radha Beauty Aromatherapy 16 Essential Oils is a great set to experiment with. It is affordable and offers a variety of scents like peppermint, teatree, lemongrass, rosemary, orange, frankincense, eucalyptus, ylang, bergamot, geranium, patchouli, cinnamon, grape fruit, and sage. This is ideal not only for beginners, but it is a wonderful gift as well.

More experienced aromatherapy masters like buying individual oils in larger bottles. The Majestic Pure Peppermint Essential Oil comes in a four ounce size with a dropper. It has no additives, is unfiltered, and undiluted. Peppermint works well as a natural insect repellant and helps keep ants, mice, spiders, and fleas away. Majestic’s Pure Essential Rosemary Oil is also available in the four ounce size. This oil is perfect for anyone looking to elevate their spirits and neutralize anxiety and stress.

If bringing pleasant, beneficial aroma into your home is your main goal, try the top selling Art Naturals Aromatherapy Top 8 Essential Oils. They are 100% pure and high quality. All eight are derived with steam pressing techniques, and they offer multiple aromatherapy cleansing, healing, and fragrance benefits. Use these oils in a diffuser, humidifiers, vaporizers, or as an alternative to incense and candles when it comes to adding pleasant fragrances to your home.

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This page about Essential Oil was composed by V. Tobies and published by Alternative.me.
It was last updated on 2024-05-19 08:17:12 and has been viewed 3756 times.