Oil|Oil News and Videos
Aug
24
Filed Under (Alternative Medicine) by oil
Rebecca Noel asked:
In aromatherapy Lemon essential oil has an amazingly wide range of uses. The lemon conjures up images of freshness and cleanliness and sunshine and lemonade.
Research by Jean Valnet, M.D., showed that vaporized Lemon essential oil can kill meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, typhoid bacilli in one hour, staphylococcus aureus in two hours and germs causing pneumonia within three hours.
Even a 0.2% solution of Lemon essential oil can kill diphtheria bacteria in 20 minutes and inactivate tuberculosis bacteria. Its antiseptic properties will last for twenty days. It is perfect for destroying air-borne germs in hospital rooms, waiting rooms, and schools. It is particularly effective in neutralizing unpleasant body odors of patients suffering from cancer.
Lemon essential oil is an essential oil with high vibrations, comparable to a high-toned whistle. Sandalwood, in comparison, hums like a bumble bee. Essential oils with high vibrations lifts spirits, especially when one may be feeling mental fatigue.
Lemon especially brings a sense of warmth and fun to intellectual pursuits. Although Lemon essential oil is beneficial for both physical and psychological heaviness, it mostly stimulates the mind, increasing concentration and the ability to memorize.
Brain research concerned with the effects of fragrances has found that Lemon essential oil primarily activates the hippocampus. University researchers in Japan found that diffusing certain aromas in an office environment dramatically improved mental accuracy and concentration.
Diffused Lemon essential oil resulted in 54 percent fewer errors. When aromas were diffused during test taking, scores increased by as much as 50 percent. In other research Lemon essential oil has shown to have antidepressant effects.
A 1995 Mie University study found that citrus fragrances boosted immunity, induced relaxation, and reduced depression. Lemon essential oil is an immune stimulant. It increases white blood cells, improves microcirculation and is antiseptic.
Lemon essential oil consists of 68 percent d-limonene, a powerful antioxidant. Lemon has an approximate ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) of 6,619 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter. D-limonene has been extensively studied for its ability to combat tumor growth in over 50 clinical studies.
Some Great Therapeutic Uses for Lemon Essential Oil
For colds or throat and mouth infections, gargling with Lemon essential oil (2 drops diluted in half a glass of water) and taking Lemon essential oil orally by adding it to a propolis tincture is helpful.
Place a drop of Lemon essential oil on cold sores, herpes or other mouth ulcers to lessen pain and aid in healing.
For treatment of itchy eczemas and measles add Lemon essential oil to a sponge bath (1-2 drops to a quart of water)
Lemon essential oil because of its vitamin C content is beneficial for treating anemia.
Since oils strengthen vascular tissues, it is used for treating varicose veins by improving circulation and relieving pressure on the veins. It may be applied in skin lotions and compresses, mixed in a 1 to 1 ratio with Cypress essential oil.
Lemon essential oil acts as an astringent, an antiseptic, a disinfectant, and a styptic that stops wounds from bleeding. It becomes an excellent remedy when used in a compress or as a cleanser for treating bleeding wounds. Put a drop of Lemon essential oil on bleeding gums caused by gingivitis or tooth extraction.
Essential Lemon essential oil taken orally will help counteract a high acid content in body fluids by stimulating production of potassium carbonate, a neutralizing substance and is a preferred remedy for rheumatism and gout, since it cleanses the body of uric acid, a side effect of high acidity. In this case, the oil may be taken both orally and topically.
Lemon essential oil is a very good stimulant of the body’s own immune system. It activates white blood cell formation and helps protect the body during flu epidemics.
Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil on a wart morning and night until it disappears. Rub a drop of Lemon oil on a corn, callous or bunion mornings and evenings. Rub two drops of Lemon essential oil topically to clear athlete’s foot.
Rub several drops of Lemon essential oil on cellulite to improve circulation and help eliminate waste from the cells.
Put a drop of Lemon essential oil on oily skin or acne to balance sebaceous glands (oil glands).
CAUTION: Citrus oils should NOT be applied to skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight or ultraviolet light within 24 hours.
Some Great Household Uses for Lemon Essential Oil
Use 6-12 drops of Lemon essential oil in a spray bottle mixed with distilled water to use in the bathroom as an air freshener. Or you can diffuse Lemon essential oil to clean and disinfect the air in any room.
Use 1-2 drops of Lemon essential oil to remove gum, oil, grease spots or crayon.
Add 2-3 drops of Lemon essential oil to water and spray counter tops to sterilize them.
Soak your dishcloth overnight in a bowl of water and a drop of Lemon essential oil to disinfect and kill germs.
Add a drop of Lemon essential oil to your dishwasher before the wash cycle.
Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil on your hands after using a public bathroom.
Use a paper towel soaked with several drops of Lemon essential oil to sanitize bathroom fixtures and toilet seats.
Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil to clean a butcher’s block or other cutting surfaces.
Put 10-15 drops of Lemon essential oil in each gallon of carpet cleaning solution to help pull out stains and brighten the rug. This also leaves a fresh smell in the room.
Use 30 drops of Lemon essential oil in the washing machine instead of chlorine bleach.
Put Lemon rinds in your garbage disposal to disinfect.
PLEASE NOTE: The information in this article is based solely on the use of 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils due to their high quality and tested purity.
The use of a brand of uncertain quality and/or purity will provide you with potentially dangerous, if not lethal, results. The author assumes no responsibility for your improper use of this information.
The statements about these oils have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
BARRY
In aromatherapy Lemon essential oil has an amazingly wide range of uses. The lemon conjures up images of freshness and cleanliness and sunshine and lemonade.
Research by Jean Valnet, M.D., showed that vaporized Lemon essential oil can kill meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, typhoid bacilli in one hour, staphylococcus aureus in two hours and germs causing pneumonia within three hours.
Even a 0.2% solution of Lemon essential oil can kill diphtheria bacteria in 20 minutes and inactivate tuberculosis bacteria. Its antiseptic properties will last for twenty days. It is perfect for destroying air-borne germs in hospital rooms, waiting rooms, and schools. It is particularly effective in neutralizing unpleasant body odors of patients suffering from cancer.
Lemon essential oil is an essential oil with high vibrations, comparable to a high-toned whistle. Sandalwood, in comparison, hums like a bumble bee. Essential oils with high vibrations lifts spirits, especially when one may be feeling mental fatigue.
Lemon especially brings a sense of warmth and fun to intellectual pursuits. Although Lemon essential oil is beneficial for both physical and psychological heaviness, it mostly stimulates the mind, increasing concentration and the ability to memorize.
Brain research concerned with the effects of fragrances has found that Lemon essential oil primarily activates the hippocampus. University researchers in Japan found that diffusing certain aromas in an office environment dramatically improved mental accuracy and concentration.
Diffused Lemon essential oil resulted in 54 percent fewer errors. When aromas were diffused during test taking, scores increased by as much as 50 percent. In other research Lemon essential oil has shown to have antidepressant effects.
A 1995 Mie University study found that citrus fragrances boosted immunity, induced relaxation, and reduced depression. Lemon essential oil is an immune stimulant. It increases white blood cells, improves microcirculation and is antiseptic.
Lemon essential oil consists of 68 percent d-limonene, a powerful antioxidant. Lemon has an approximate ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) of 6,619 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter. D-limonene has been extensively studied for its ability to combat tumor growth in over 50 clinical studies.
Some Great Therapeutic Uses for Lemon Essential Oil
For colds or throat and mouth infections, gargling with Lemon essential oil (2 drops diluted in half a glass of water) and taking Lemon essential oil orally by adding it to a propolis tincture is helpful.
Place a drop of Lemon essential oil on cold sores, herpes or other mouth ulcers to lessen pain and aid in healing.
For treatment of itchy eczemas and measles add Lemon essential oil to a sponge bath (1-2 drops to a quart of water)
Lemon essential oil because of its vitamin C content is beneficial for treating anemia.
Since oils strengthen vascular tissues, it is used for treating varicose veins by improving circulation and relieving pressure on the veins. It may be applied in skin lotions and compresses, mixed in a 1 to 1 ratio with Cypress essential oil.
Lemon essential oil acts as an astringent, an antiseptic, a disinfectant, and a styptic that stops wounds from bleeding. It becomes an excellent remedy when used in a compress or as a cleanser for treating bleeding wounds. Put a drop of Lemon essential oil on bleeding gums caused by gingivitis or tooth extraction.
Essential Lemon essential oil taken orally will help counteract a high acid content in body fluids by stimulating production of potassium carbonate, a neutralizing substance and is a preferred remedy for rheumatism and gout, since it cleanses the body of uric acid, a side effect of high acidity. In this case, the oil may be taken both orally and topically.
Lemon essential oil is a very good stimulant of the body’s own immune system. It activates white blood cell formation and helps protect the body during flu epidemics.
Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil on a wart morning and night until it disappears. Rub a drop of Lemon oil on a corn, callous or bunion mornings and evenings. Rub two drops of Lemon essential oil topically to clear athlete’s foot.
Rub several drops of Lemon essential oil on cellulite to improve circulation and help eliminate waste from the cells.
Put a drop of Lemon essential oil on oily skin or acne to balance sebaceous glands (oil glands).
CAUTION: Citrus oils should NOT be applied to skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight or ultraviolet light within 24 hours.
Some Great Household Uses for Lemon Essential Oil
Use 6-12 drops of Lemon essential oil in a spray bottle mixed with distilled water to use in the bathroom as an air freshener. Or you can diffuse Lemon essential oil to clean and disinfect the air in any room.
Use 1-2 drops of Lemon essential oil to remove gum, oil, grease spots or crayon.
Add 2-3 drops of Lemon essential oil to water and spray counter tops to sterilize them.
Soak your dishcloth overnight in a bowl of water and a drop of Lemon essential oil to disinfect and kill germs.
Add a drop of Lemon essential oil to your dishwasher before the wash cycle.
Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil on your hands after using a public bathroom.
Use a paper towel soaked with several drops of Lemon essential oil to sanitize bathroom fixtures and toilet seats.
Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil to clean a butcher’s block or other cutting surfaces.
Put 10-15 drops of Lemon essential oil in each gallon of carpet cleaning solution to help pull out stains and brighten the rug. This also leaves a fresh smell in the room.
Use 30 drops of Lemon essential oil in the washing machine instead of chlorine bleach.
Put Lemon rinds in your garbage disposal to disinfect.
PLEASE NOTE: The information in this article is based solely on the use of 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils due to their high quality and tested purity.
The use of a brand of uncertain quality and/or purity will provide you with potentially dangerous, if not lethal, results. The author assumes no responsibility for your improper use of this information.
The statements about these oils have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
BARRY
Jul
10
Filed Under (Alternative Medicine) by oil
Www.aroma-gifts.com asked:
Aromatherapy is an improvement of mental and physical health with the help of the essential oils derived from aromatic plants. The contents of Essential Oils are known as hormones, antibiotics, thermions (unseen scents) and recycling cells (essential to the existence of a live plant) Due to these properties the immunity of plants to various diseases is heightened. Bacteria and viruses are eliminated and neutralized. By deriving valuable essential oils from plants, we can use the same curative properties to improve the conditions of our bodies. There are two ways in which essential oils work; psychologically - by way of the body’s sense of smell on the central nervous system by vaporizers or smelling of the oils; and physically - through the skin by mixing the oils for massage, foot baths or steam inhalation. Aromatherapy is the unique way of connecting our health with the riches of the world surrounding us. The pleasure in itself is therapy, but aromatherapy goes further, by transforming therapy into pleasure. Use caution when using essential oils. Concentrated essential oils are too strong to be applied directly on the skin. Carrier oils are used when thinning essential oils for massage. Try not to use essential oils on sensitive areas such as the eyes. Essential oils can be useful for certain disease applications but may not be suitable for others. Please do research to familiarize yourself with essential oils before use. Essential oils should be stored in a cool dark place in an airtight container.
Comments on Essential Oils
Essential oils are categorized by their lightness and are divided into oils of the top, average and base. Essential oils of the top evaporate rapidly due to their lightness and care should be taken when storing them. Base oils evaporate the least rapidly. Oils mixes that are the most stable and balanced are those that consist of oils from all three categories top, average and base. In this article we will explain how to make your own essential oils for massage or other applications.
Natural vs Synthetic Aromatherapy Oils
Natural essential oils contain a high content of vegetative extracts produced by extraction or evaporation from berries, seeds, roots, flowers, bark or citrus peels. The cost of essential oils directly depends on amount of the raw material necessary for the manufacturing of oil. It’s different for each plant. For example, rose oil manufacturers may make one drop of oil from thirty rose petals, this explains the high price. Synthetic aromas or flavored oils are created by artificial ways in laboratories. In technical language, flavored oils are actually not oils and are more likely artificial chemical compounds. The exotic names of these products are deceiving as they are not even made from those flowers or fruit. For example, there is no such thing as the true peach or strawberry oil. Despite the pleasant smell, flavored oils do not possess any curative properties and do not contain undiluted active ingredients of natural plants. They cannot be used for medicinal reasons and some can be dangerous when applied to the skin. As a precaution it is suggested that you not use these substances for aromatherapy applications as there is no information on their safety.
Ways of Making Aromatherapy Oils
Steam Distillation is the most widespread way of deriving essential oils. One method of direct distillation is where the steam distillatory is loaded with raw vegetative material. Steam is then forced into the distillatory and elements of the raw vegetative material mix with the steam. The steam and vegetative matter mix condenses into a liquid on top of which floats the essential oils. The essential oil are then separated from the water. Citric oils are usually made by the Cold Pressing method. This is very soft pressing in which oils are squeezed out of the crushed peel. Carrier oils are produced in the same way by pressing seeds. Using special solvents to extract the aromatic oils from vegetative matter is called Solvent extraction. The resulting absolute oils are extremely pure. It is a fine procedure in which the aromatic substance is extracted from a vegetative material by means of non-polar solvents. Solvents are separated leaving a wax-like deposit which is mixed with spirits and is very cautiously heated up. It is followed with a process of a filtration as a result of which the wax is removed. The pure oils remain once the alcohol is removed. Absolute oils have special certificates of quality.
Essential Oils vs Absolute Oils
Essential oils contain highly concentrated and scented vegetable extracts. Steam distillation is the normal method by which essential oils are derived from vegetative matter. Oils from a peel of citrus are derived using a pressing method. Absolute oils which are normally more concentrated than essential oils are obtained by the solvent extraction method.
Infused Aromatherapy Essential Oils
Plant flowers are submerged in olive or Soy oils for a reasonable period of time This allows the oils to receive the essence of the flower and use it for the manufacture of infused oils. For producing carrot oil the extract of the root crop is soaked in Soy oil for the most effective utilization of its aromatic properties.
Base Oils
Carrier or base oils are vegetable based and are very high in quality and nutrition. When combined with essential oils they allow the pure oils to be used for massage and body and skin care. Usually they are derived by cold pressing from nuts, seeds, grains and barks.
Pure Aromatherapy Essential Oils-3% Mix
In their pure form some essential oils are too concentrated to use so manufacturers dilute them so that they can be used. Generally, essential oil manufacturers make the essential oils useable by combining them with carrier oils in a 3% mix.
Massage Oil Blends
Essential oils used for massage come ready to use as they are blended with carrier oils. Carrier oils are obtained by the processing of nuts, apricots, grains or seeds of fruits. The carrier oils are combined with oils from new wheat to increase the stability and shelf life of the essential oils.
Herbal Creams
Well researched formulas of creams consist of essential oils and natural extracts from select vegetation. High grade lanolin is used as a basis for many formulas
BRUNO
Aromatherapy is an improvement of mental and physical health with the help of the essential oils derived from aromatic plants. The contents of Essential Oils are known as hormones, antibiotics, thermions (unseen scents) and recycling cells (essential to the existence of a live plant) Due to these properties the immunity of plants to various diseases is heightened. Bacteria and viruses are eliminated and neutralized. By deriving valuable essential oils from plants, we can use the same curative properties to improve the conditions of our bodies. There are two ways in which essential oils work; psychologically - by way of the body’s sense of smell on the central nervous system by vaporizers or smelling of the oils; and physically - through the skin by mixing the oils for massage, foot baths or steam inhalation. Aromatherapy is the unique way of connecting our health with the riches of the world surrounding us. The pleasure in itself is therapy, but aromatherapy goes further, by transforming therapy into pleasure. Use caution when using essential oils. Concentrated essential oils are too strong to be applied directly on the skin. Carrier oils are used when thinning essential oils for massage. Try not to use essential oils on sensitive areas such as the eyes. Essential oils can be useful for certain disease applications but may not be suitable for others. Please do research to familiarize yourself with essential oils before use. Essential oils should be stored in a cool dark place in an airtight container.
Comments on Essential Oils
Essential oils are categorized by their lightness and are divided into oils of the top, average and base. Essential oils of the top evaporate rapidly due to their lightness and care should be taken when storing them. Base oils evaporate the least rapidly. Oils mixes that are the most stable and balanced are those that consist of oils from all three categories top, average and base. In this article we will explain how to make your own essential oils for massage or other applications.
Natural vs Synthetic Aromatherapy Oils
Natural essential oils contain a high content of vegetative extracts produced by extraction or evaporation from berries, seeds, roots, flowers, bark or citrus peels. The cost of essential oils directly depends on amount of the raw material necessary for the manufacturing of oil. It’s different for each plant. For example, rose oil manufacturers may make one drop of oil from thirty rose petals, this explains the high price. Synthetic aromas or flavored oils are created by artificial ways in laboratories. In technical language, flavored oils are actually not oils and are more likely artificial chemical compounds. The exotic names of these products are deceiving as they are not even made from those flowers or fruit. For example, there is no such thing as the true peach or strawberry oil. Despite the pleasant smell, flavored oils do not possess any curative properties and do not contain undiluted active ingredients of natural plants. They cannot be used for medicinal reasons and some can be dangerous when applied to the skin. As a precaution it is suggested that you not use these substances for aromatherapy applications as there is no information on their safety.
Ways of Making Aromatherapy Oils
Steam Distillation is the most widespread way of deriving essential oils. One method of direct distillation is where the steam distillatory is loaded with raw vegetative material. Steam is then forced into the distillatory and elements of the raw vegetative material mix with the steam. The steam and vegetative matter mix condenses into a liquid on top of which floats the essential oils. The essential oil are then separated from the water. Citric oils are usually made by the Cold Pressing method. This is very soft pressing in which oils are squeezed out of the crushed peel. Carrier oils are produced in the same way by pressing seeds. Using special solvents to extract the aromatic oils from vegetative matter is called Solvent extraction. The resulting absolute oils are extremely pure. It is a fine procedure in which the aromatic substance is extracted from a vegetative material by means of non-polar solvents. Solvents are separated leaving a wax-like deposit which is mixed with spirits and is very cautiously heated up. It is followed with a process of a filtration as a result of which the wax is removed. The pure oils remain once the alcohol is removed. Absolute oils have special certificates of quality.
Essential Oils vs Absolute Oils
Essential oils contain highly concentrated and scented vegetable extracts. Steam distillation is the normal method by which essential oils are derived from vegetative matter. Oils from a peel of citrus are derived using a pressing method. Absolute oils which are normally more concentrated than essential oils are obtained by the solvent extraction method.
Infused Aromatherapy Essential Oils
Plant flowers are submerged in olive or Soy oils for a reasonable period of time This allows the oils to receive the essence of the flower and use it for the manufacture of infused oils. For producing carrot oil the extract of the root crop is soaked in Soy oil for the most effective utilization of its aromatic properties.
Base Oils
Carrier or base oils are vegetable based and are very high in quality and nutrition. When combined with essential oils they allow the pure oils to be used for massage and body and skin care. Usually they are derived by cold pressing from nuts, seeds, grains and barks.
Pure Aromatherapy Essential Oils-3% Mix
In their pure form some essential oils are too concentrated to use so manufacturers dilute them so that they can be used. Generally, essential oil manufacturers make the essential oils useable by combining them with carrier oils in a 3% mix.
Massage Oil Blends
Essential oils used for massage come ready to use as they are blended with carrier oils. Carrier oils are obtained by the processing of nuts, apricots, grains or seeds of fruits. The carrier oils are combined with oils from new wheat to increase the stability and shelf life of the essential oils.
Herbal Creams
Well researched formulas of creams consist of essential oils and natural extracts from select vegetation. High grade lanolin is used as a basis for many formulas
BRUNO
Jun
23
Filed Under (Alternative Medicine) by oil
Marilyn Flook asked:
Have you noticed lately that many household cleaning products and deodorizers are scented with “aromatherapy essentials” or with “Jasmine” or some other exotic fragrance like “Calming”? Do they really add essential oils to dishwashing detergent in quantities significant enough to be of any value and are they therapeutic grade? Well, of course not but with a growing popular interest in health and wellness, essential oils and aromatherapy make great marketing even when products only have artificially produced scents “inspired” by aromatherapy plant essences.
Most consumer products use fragrance oils to achieve their scent and although some mimic the scent of well known essential oils they are quite different.
Essential oils are natural and fragrance oils are synthetic
Essential oils are the natural aromatic oils that are extracted from plants. Technically they are not oils at all but complex mixtures of organic compounds that exist within the cells of the plant. Each essential oil is derived from a single plant source and depending on the species is extracted from the flower petals, leaves, stems, roots, rind of the fruit, seeds, or even the wood of trees. It is likely these compounds have evolved over time to aid the plants in survival by providing resistance to disease or by attracting pollinating insects with their fragrance.
Fragrance oils are man-made organic mixtures that are engineered by chemists to produce an attractive scent. This can be anything from “Lilacs” to “New Car” scent. Although fragrance oils may contain essential oils as ingredients they will also contain animal and synthetic fixatives, and synthetic compounds derived from petroleum.
Essential oils are therapeutic and fragrance oils are not
Essential oils are not only fragrant but they are also therapeutic and have been used for centuries, medicinally and cosmetically to improve physical and psychological health and well being. Specific pharmacological effects are produced by essential oils through skin absorption and inhalation, which is the very basis of Aromatherapy, a widely used form of natural alternative medicine.
Fragrance oils are used to scent hundreds of consumer products and their sole purpose is to improve the smell of the product. Although fragrance oils may contain many ingredients, they are biologically less complex than essential oils and provide no therapeutic benefits.
Why do most commercial products use fragrance oils?
With such a profound difference, why do most commercial products use fragrance oils and not essential oils? The main reason is cost but there are issues with supply and the range of scent as well.
The harvesting of plant materials and the production of essential oils can be very costly. Some plants such as lavender are grown on commercial farms and are harvested mechanically. But many are hand picked and in some cases from plants that grow in wild habitat. The yield of oil from the plant material is very small and can range from as much as 10% to as little at 0.02% by weight. The highly prized rose and jasmine essential oils are both derived from hand picked blossoms that yield only 0.02% oil by weight of fresh blossoms. Fragrance oils on the other hand, can be mass produced from relatively inexpensive organic chemicals.
Being crop-based, the supply of plant material and yield of oil will vary from year to year and some plant species have limited habitat. The supply of many essential oils is too limited and unreliable to economically serve the needs of large scale commercial production.
The essential oil industry is analogous to the wine industry. The quality of the final product will vary according to the plant subspecies, the growing conditions and the manufacturing. This variability is not suited to the mass production market.
Only a very tiny percentage of plant species can economically yield usable essential oils and although the range of scent is tremendous, all essential oils have a “natural” fragrance. So if you want to produce the scent of “fresh baked bread” or for that matter “Lily of the Valley”, you have to use fragrance oil.
Are there products available that use essential oils?
Yes. Essential oils are the perfect choice for adding fragrance to skin care and bath and body products that are made with natural ingredients. By selecting the right combination of oils, it is possible to achieve a wonderful scent and also enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the oils. The essential oils complement these products. They treat many skin conditions, contribute to healthier skin, relieve aches and pains and have a balancing effect on your mood and sense of well being.
Natural perfumes made exclusively from essential oils can also have a positive effect on your mood. They can reduce anxiety and stress, combat fatigue or be invigorating and stimulating. They tend to be softer than most commercial perfumes produced with fragrance oils. Essential oil based fragrances are not overpowering, and are less likely to irritate you and the people around you than commercial, synthetic scents.
If you enjoy fragrance, but are sensitive to certain synthetics and chemicals, essential oil fragranced products are a good alternative.
It’s your choice
Knowing the difference between fragrance oils and essential oils is an important first step in deciding which products are most suited to your needs. Mass produced low cost consumer products will use fragrance oils to produce an attractive scent. This is perfectly acceptable for dishwashing detergent but shouldn’t your face cream use pure essential oils? Don’t be fooled by the marketing. Read the labels carefully and make your choice.
GERARD
Have you noticed lately that many household cleaning products and deodorizers are scented with “aromatherapy essentials” or with “Jasmine” or some other exotic fragrance like “Calming”? Do they really add essential oils to dishwashing detergent in quantities significant enough to be of any value and are they therapeutic grade? Well, of course not but with a growing popular interest in health and wellness, essential oils and aromatherapy make great marketing even when products only have artificially produced scents “inspired” by aromatherapy plant essences.
Most consumer products use fragrance oils to achieve their scent and although some mimic the scent of well known essential oils they are quite different.
Essential oils are natural and fragrance oils are synthetic
Essential oils are the natural aromatic oils that are extracted from plants. Technically they are not oils at all but complex mixtures of organic compounds that exist within the cells of the plant. Each essential oil is derived from a single plant source and depending on the species is extracted from the flower petals, leaves, stems, roots, rind of the fruit, seeds, or even the wood of trees. It is likely these compounds have evolved over time to aid the plants in survival by providing resistance to disease or by attracting pollinating insects with their fragrance.
Fragrance oils are man-made organic mixtures that are engineered by chemists to produce an attractive scent. This can be anything from “Lilacs” to “New Car” scent. Although fragrance oils may contain essential oils as ingredients they will also contain animal and synthetic fixatives, and synthetic compounds derived from petroleum.
Essential oils are therapeutic and fragrance oils are not
Essential oils are not only fragrant but they are also therapeutic and have been used for centuries, medicinally and cosmetically to improve physical and psychological health and well being. Specific pharmacological effects are produced by essential oils through skin absorption and inhalation, which is the very basis of Aromatherapy, a widely used form of natural alternative medicine.
Fragrance oils are used to scent hundreds of consumer products and their sole purpose is to improve the smell of the product. Although fragrance oils may contain many ingredients, they are biologically less complex than essential oils and provide no therapeutic benefits.
Why do most commercial products use fragrance oils?
With such a profound difference, why do most commercial products use fragrance oils and not essential oils? The main reason is cost but there are issues with supply and the range of scent as well.
The harvesting of plant materials and the production of essential oils can be very costly. Some plants such as lavender are grown on commercial farms and are harvested mechanically. But many are hand picked and in some cases from plants that grow in wild habitat. The yield of oil from the plant material is very small and can range from as much as 10% to as little at 0.02% by weight. The highly prized rose and jasmine essential oils are both derived from hand picked blossoms that yield only 0.02% oil by weight of fresh blossoms. Fragrance oils on the other hand, can be mass produced from relatively inexpensive organic chemicals.
Being crop-based, the supply of plant material and yield of oil will vary from year to year and some plant species have limited habitat. The supply of many essential oils is too limited and unreliable to economically serve the needs of large scale commercial production.
The essential oil industry is analogous to the wine industry. The quality of the final product will vary according to the plant subspecies, the growing conditions and the manufacturing. This variability is not suited to the mass production market.
Only a very tiny percentage of plant species can economically yield usable essential oils and although the range of scent is tremendous, all essential oils have a “natural” fragrance. So if you want to produce the scent of “fresh baked bread” or for that matter “Lily of the Valley”, you have to use fragrance oil.
Are there products available that use essential oils?
Yes. Essential oils are the perfect choice for adding fragrance to skin care and bath and body products that are made with natural ingredients. By selecting the right combination of oils, it is possible to achieve a wonderful scent and also enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the oils. The essential oils complement these products. They treat many skin conditions, contribute to healthier skin, relieve aches and pains and have a balancing effect on your mood and sense of well being.
Natural perfumes made exclusively from essential oils can also have a positive effect on your mood. They can reduce anxiety and stress, combat fatigue or be invigorating and stimulating. They tend to be softer than most commercial perfumes produced with fragrance oils. Essential oil based fragrances are not overpowering, and are less likely to irritate you and the people around you than commercial, synthetic scents.
If you enjoy fragrance, but are sensitive to certain synthetics and chemicals, essential oil fragranced products are a good alternative.
It’s your choice
Knowing the difference between fragrance oils and essential oils is an important first step in deciding which products are most suited to your needs. Mass produced low cost consumer products will use fragrance oils to produce an attractive scent. This is perfectly acceptable for dishwashing detergent but shouldn’t your face cream use pure essential oils? Don’t be fooled by the marketing. Read the labels carefully and make your choice.
GERARD
Apr
08
Filed Under (Alternative Medicine) by oil
Juliet Cohen asked:
Aromatherapy carrier oils can be used to dilute the essential oil, making them safer to use. Carrier oil is also known as base oil or vegetable oil. These oils are extracted from the fatty portions of the plant. These oils can be employed on their own as well, possessing both medicinal and health promoting properties. Carrier oils and bases are important to the practice of aromatherapy and to the soap making industry. Essential oils must be combined with a carrier oil or base to be used safely on the skin. Carrier oils are base oils are used as a solvent to dilute essential oils, since essential oils are too strong to be used for aromatherapy massage on their own.
Aromatherapy carrier oils are usually vegetable oils that are cold-pressed, meaning no heat was used in pluck them from the fatty portions of a plant. Aromatherapy carrier oils that are processed properly possess a substantial amount of vitamins and other beneficial properties. Also, when applied to the skin, they should feel smooth and light, not greasy or sticky. There are many different kinds of fixed oils that can be used to dilute essential oils. Apricot kernel oil is good for skin that has aged prematurely. Sweet Almond oil is one of the most popular vegetable oils, which is also used in the form of carrier oil or base oil in Aromatherapy.
It’s good for dry skin, eczema, and minor skin irritations especially when it’s mixed with cocoa butter. Grape seed oil is very thin and light. It’s absorbed easily into the skin, and is presumabled the closest to skin oil of all the plant oils. Apricot kernel carrier oil is of great value for giving a face massage. The oil is extracted from Apricot, the botanical name of which is Prunus armeniaca. It is easily absorbed by the skin and the best part is that it doesn’t lend any kind of oily feel to the skin. Hazelnut oil is considered valuable in giving ****** and body massages. It has a high content of essential fatty acids like linoleic acid.
Olive oil is used in hair maintenance and cosmetics as easily as cooking. It’s too been recommended as a calming oil in rheumatic conditions. Soy oil is still another helpful merchandise of the popular soya. Jojoba oil contains protein, minerals, and a waxy textile that acts like collagen. It’s really better for insignificant rind inflammations, psoriasis, eczema, and hair maintenance. Carrier oils that you buy should be normal and unmitigated. Exceptions include buying carrier oils that have normal vitamin E added. Vitamin E acts as a normal preservative. Sesame oil makes a fantastic moisturizer for the rind.
BRUNO
Aromatherapy carrier oils can be used to dilute the essential oil, making them safer to use. Carrier oil is also known as base oil or vegetable oil. These oils are extracted from the fatty portions of the plant. These oils can be employed on their own as well, possessing both medicinal and health promoting properties. Carrier oils and bases are important to the practice of aromatherapy and to the soap making industry. Essential oils must be combined with a carrier oil or base to be used safely on the skin. Carrier oils are base oils are used as a solvent to dilute essential oils, since essential oils are too strong to be used for aromatherapy massage on their own.
Aromatherapy carrier oils are usually vegetable oils that are cold-pressed, meaning no heat was used in pluck them from the fatty portions of a plant. Aromatherapy carrier oils that are processed properly possess a substantial amount of vitamins and other beneficial properties. Also, when applied to the skin, they should feel smooth and light, not greasy or sticky. There are many different kinds of fixed oils that can be used to dilute essential oils. Apricot kernel oil is good for skin that has aged prematurely. Sweet Almond oil is one of the most popular vegetable oils, which is also used in the form of carrier oil or base oil in Aromatherapy.
It’s good for dry skin, eczema, and minor skin irritations especially when it’s mixed with cocoa butter. Grape seed oil is very thin and light. It’s absorbed easily into the skin, and is presumabled the closest to skin oil of all the plant oils. Apricot kernel carrier oil is of great value for giving a face massage. The oil is extracted from Apricot, the botanical name of which is Prunus armeniaca. It is easily absorbed by the skin and the best part is that it doesn’t lend any kind of oily feel to the skin. Hazelnut oil is considered valuable in giving ****** and body massages. It has a high content of essential fatty acids like linoleic acid.
Olive oil is used in hair maintenance and cosmetics as easily as cooking. It’s too been recommended as a calming oil in rheumatic conditions. Soy oil is still another helpful merchandise of the popular soya. Jojoba oil contains protein, minerals, and a waxy textile that acts like collagen. It’s really better for insignificant rind inflammations, psoriasis, eczema, and hair maintenance. Carrier oils that you buy should be normal and unmitigated. Exceptions include buying carrier oils that have normal vitamin E added. Vitamin E acts as a normal preservative. Sesame oil makes a fantastic moisturizer for the rind.
BRUNO
