Introduction to Essential Oils

Introduction to Essential Oils

An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils,ethereal oils or aetherolea, or simply as the "oil of" the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove. An oil is "essential" in the sense that it carries a distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant. Essential oils do not form a distinctive category for any medical, pharmacological, or culinary purpose.

Most plants produce a single essence, such is the case with chamomile. Chamomile essential oil is only contained in the flowering tops of the plant.

However, some plants produce multiple essences. For example, the orange tree has 3 different essential oils (essences) found in 3 distinct parts of the plant. The fruit peel produces a sweet, fruity smelling essence known simply as orange. The blossoms produce a rich, floral smelling essence know as neroli. The leaves & twigs produce a fresh, herbaceous smelling oil known as petitgrain.Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation. Steam distillation is often used. Other processes include expression or solvent extraction. They are used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps and other products, for flavoring food and drink, and for adding scents to incense and household cleaning products.

Essential oils have been used medicinally in history. Medical applications proposed by those who sell medicinal oils range from skin treatments to remedies for cancer and often are based solely on historical accounts of use of essential oils for these purposes. Claims for the efficacy of medical treatments, and treatment of cancers in particular, are now subject to regulation in most countries.

What's the difference between essential oils and synthetic fragrances?

Essential oils come from plants. They have medicinal properties and are useful for human healthcare.

Synthetic fragrances come from synthetic petroleum chemicals. They do not come from plants. They have no medicinal value. Their sole purpose is to lend scent to a product.

Lavish Aromatic Botanical Products DO NOT contain synthetic fragrances. We create 100% of our aromas with pure essential oils. Lavish is one of the few companies that refuses to use synthetic fragrances.

Consumers should be aware most products on the market, even those sold at health stores labeled "natural" are scented with fragrance oils, or a combination of synthetic fragrance oils and essential oils. Unfortunately, there is lack of regulation in the use of the terms botanical, natural and essential oil. Thus, companies often purposely misuse these words to make their product appear more wholesome. The most effective way to distinguish the good from the bad is to familiarize your nose with how real plant oils smell, and learn which plants do not have essential oils so you can spot the fakes.

That said, the table below outlines some of the main reasons companies use synthetic fragrances to scent their products.