Defining Essential Oils
Essential oils have been referred to as the quintessence of a plant's being. The Oxford English Dictionary defines quintessence as "An extract from anything, containing in concentrated form its most essential principle." Essential oils are concentrated aromatic liquids extracted from a variety of aromatic plant material through the process of distillation.
Essential oils are natural organic substances that are produced in various glands and sacs within aromatic plants. Each essential oil is usually produced in one part of the plant, except in a few cases. Where a plant produces essential oils in more than one of its parts, differences of odour and hence differences in chemical composition occur. For example, the oil from the leaves of the cinnamon tree has a cinnamon and clove like odour; where as the oil from the bark has the characteristic ‘cinnamon’ odour. Another example is from the bitter orange tree: Bitter orange oil is produced from the peel, petitgrain from the leaf and neroli from the blossom; all have different odors yet similar properties.
Essential oils are extracted from:
1) Culinary Herbal plants: Basil, Clary sage, Rosemary, Peppermint, Thyme.
2) Seeds: Angelica, Coriander, Black Pepper and Cardamom.
3) Fruits: Lemon, Mandarin, Bergamot, Grapefruit and Lime.
4) Flowers: Rose, Ylang ylang, Jasmine & Lavender.
5) Resins: Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoin and Elemi.
6) Trees (Wood): Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Camphor and Cinnamon.
7) Leaves and Twigs: Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Melissa, Petitgrain & Patchouli.
8) Grasses: Lemon grass & Palmarosa.
9) Roots, Rhizomes & Bulbs: Angelica, Ginger, Garlic & Vetiver.
Each plant contains a percentage (which varies between 5% - .01%) of essential oil and it is this fact that dictates the amount of plant material needed for distillation to create a specified amount of essential oil. E.g. it takes up to 100 kilo's of rose petals to produce 1/2 liter of rose whilst 100 kilos of lavender will yield approximately 3 liters of lavender essential oil. The quantity of plant material needed also dictates pricing of the individual essential oils.
The quality of an essential oil is influenced by a number of factors, such as its geographical and botanical source, the prevailing climate, the standards of local farming, the time of harvesting and the skill of individual harvesters and distillers.
Where do we find essential oils being used?
The essential oils used in aromatherapy are only a small proportion compared with that of the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic trade.
a) In the food trade essential oils are used as flavorings.
b) In the pharmaceutical industry they are used for medicines, toothpastes, gargles, cough sweets and inhalations. (Friars Balsam, Vicks Vaporub)
Examples:
c) In the cosmetic trade essential oils are used in face creams, make up and perfume.
How to smell an essential oil
Always approach essential oils with the awareness that they are very powerful. It is best to begin by holding the bottle or smell strip approx. 4-5 inches away from your nose and then move it upwards towards your nose depending on how much you can smell and how close you need it to be in order to enjoy its aroma.
As you hold the smell testing strip or the bottle of essential oil below your nose, gently move it back and forth from the left nostril to the right. This way you receive the full spectrum of aroma the oil has to give. The aroma should expand as you continue to smell, with several layers to the aroma.
1. hold the essential oil under your nose (about 1" away)
2. Move your nose from left to right
Which Essential oils to start with?
Lavender Lavendula vera syn. Angustifolia
Good for just about everything!!! Stress, wounds, burns, various skin disorders, calming, soothing, good for insomnia, uplifting, healing, good for children, relaxing.
T tree Melaleuca alternifolia
Wonderful antiseptic, wound healing, good for general skin care, cold remedies.
Bergamot Citrus bergamia
Uplifting, clearing to the mind, calming, use for insomnia, excellent antiseptic.
Geranium Pelargonium graveolens
Slight astringent, useful for acne, hormonal imbalance, PMS, soothing, comforting, relaxing.
Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus
Good for cleaning the whole house!! Laundry. Strong antiseptic, good for poor circulation, cleansing, detoxing, stimulating.
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
Refreshing, stimulating, good for poor circulation, muscular aches and pains.
Eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus or radiata
Great expectorant and soothing to colds, flus, coughs and other respiratory issues, good antiseptic, muscular aches and pains.
Clary sage Salvia sclarea
Balancing, soothing, good for PMS and other hormonal upsets, relaxing.
Peppermint Mentha x piperita
Stimulating, muscular aches and pains, good for migraines, use in respiratory blends.
Tangerine, red Citrus reticulata
Calming, soothing, a great citrus to add to emotion based blends, slightly warming.
Frankincense Boswellia carteii
Wonderful healing oil on all levels, good for skincare, useful for respiratory conditions, calming.
| This article was written by Jade Shutes of the Institute of Dynamic Aromatherapy. Visit them at www.theida.com. |
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