What Is the Meaning of Essential Oils?
Essential oils are created by distilling and pressing plant materials to produce a concentrated oil that retains the aroma and characteristics of the original plant. Essential oil extracts can be harvested from all parts of a plant and each plant produces the desired reduction based on its inherent properties.
Types
With some plants, the essential oil distillation may come solely from the roots of the plant and for other plants it may come from the stems. Some essential oil extracts use the entire plant. Since plant bodies retain aroma and oils in different ways and in different parts of their structure, how each is pressed is specific to producing the right combination. Many seeds have oily properties and the flowers, stalks and roots are often sources of aroma. Some plants, like mints and lavenders, have strongly perfumed leaves.
Steam Distillation
Steam distillation, sometimes known as steam stripping, is the most common form of essential oil manufacturing. In this process the plant material is steamed in a still so the volatile elements vaporize and condense along with the water being used. This process purifies the mixture and produces a quality oil. This purification process can also remove undesirable scents and flavors. More than 3,000 plants are suitable for essential oil production but reducing plant material in this way is expensive. According to A World of Aromatherapy.com, it takes 8 million jasmine flowers to produce two pounds of jasmine essential oil.
Pressing
Distillation processes also include pressing, or maceration, in which a part of a plant (such as a seed or rind) is crushed and the juices from the crushing process are harvested. Additional separation also occurs, for example oil and water separate as they settle. The pressing process for essential oil tries to capture the flavor and odor of the plant so that the oil can be used in perfumes. The plants selected for the creation of essential oils are volatile oils rather than fixed triglyceride oils.
Enfleurage Pomade
Enfleurage pomade is a process used to extract flower oils. In this process an odorless (solid at room temperature) fat is used as a base. The base is heated and the flower petals and parts are mixed with the oil to infuse the oil. During this process of infusion the flower parts may be replaced many times to create the degree of infusion that is required. Sometimes this is further reduced by using ethyl alcohol to produce a enfleurage pomade absolute.
Benefits
Essential oils are used in many ways, including as a base ingredient in perfumes, as a food additive to enhance or give certain flavors, and in the manufacture of incense. Essential oils are incorporated into candles, spray scents, soaps, deodorizers and mood modification systems being used in some hotels and other large service businesses. Aromatherapy uses essential oils to promote and improve health. Other traditional medicinal practices use essential oils as part of treatments. Essential oils can be made at home through small stills designed to extract these fine oils.
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