ESSENTIAL OILS

Our sense of smell is very powerful in directing our emotions, a scent evokes memories - pleasant or unpleasant - which arouse emotions which in turn affect our physical wellbeing.  Right from birth we learn to recognise things - and people - by their smell.

History
Aromatic plants existed on Earth before human life appeared.  Fossils 20-30 million years old have been found containing roses.  Throughout history extracts from these plants have been so highly prized that lands were discovered in search of them and cities grew where trading occurred.  Some resins, incense and perfumes were so highly prized that they were costlier than gold.  Ancient Sumerians, Assyrians and Egyptians developed extraction methods and produced a wide range of  scented items including skin lotions.  The Egyptians were so enthralled with the different scents available that they would sometimes wear a different scent for each part of the body, there are records of men using 16 different ones in a day.

Egyptian priests were the healers of their day and the first to manufacture aromatic products on a large scale.  Each temple had a laboratory for extraction and mixing resins and oils which were blended and supplied to royalty and prominent people.  Ancient Greeks took up the use of aromatic oils both for pleasure and for healing.  The Romans used scented water at banquets - a use which survives to this day in many cultures, scented garlands as prizes, oils and perfumes at their many public baths.  China and India also have long traditions of using scented products in many ways.

In early mediaeval Europe incense was largely used by the Church which condemned the personal use of aromatics.  In an effort to keep these items exclusive to itself, the Church branded indulgence in perfumes as degenerate and sinful.  Consequently the use of resins and aromatics came to an abrupt halt in most of Europe although it continued in the Middle and Far East.

During the Black Death in the 14th Century (and the plague of 1665) herbs, resins and oils were burned in the streets and hospitals in a desperate effort to prevent spread of the disease.  It was said that those who handled the aromatics had a much higher survival rate than the norm.  In Elizabethan times herbs and flower waters regained popularity and were used in many different ways such as pot-pourri, in bedlinen, in hair and in food.

In the mid 19th Century scientists began producing synthetic replacements for the natural products.  These came mostly from petroleum derivatives which have harmful side effects for the users and their production pollutes the environment.  Today people are returning to the natural essential oils which are in harmony with the Earth.

 Production
Steam Distillation:  steam from boiling water releases the essential oils from the plant, the steam is cooled and condensed into liquid.  The oils float on top and are skimmed off, producing a good quality product.
Carbon Dioxide Gas Extraction: a) Select: the oil is extracted at around 31^oC.  Compressed CO2 is passed through the plant material, taking the components into solution.  Pressure is lowered and the extracted components precipitate out.  The CO2 is recompressed and re-used.  Quality of oil extracted by this method is good.
b) Total: similar to the above but under higher temperature and the oil contains more components.  The CO2 method is costly so the oils are more expensive.
Mechanical or Cold-Pressed Expeller: Plant material, including seeds, nuts, fruits etc, is pressed without heat being added.  High quality oil is produced but is often refined later, using harsh chemicals and high heat, removing many of the nutrients from the oils.
Maceration:  the plants are soaked in hot oil until their cells rupture and the oil absorbs their essence.
Solvent Extraction: the plants are bathed in solvents which can include toxic chemicals.  A greater amount of oil can be extracted than in many other methods, and it is less costly but the toxic residues can linger in the oil making them unsuitable for aromatherapy.
Refining (carrier oils): After the plant oil has been extracted, it usually goes through degumming to remove chlorophyll, vitamins and minerals.  Then it is refined by adding lye, bleached by adding Fuller's Earth which is then filtered out along with any other nutritive substances.  At the stage the oil becomes clear.  It is then deodorised by steam distillation at very high temperatures, followed by cooling and filtering (sometimes called winterising) which prevents the oil going cloudy when cold.  Only the fatty acids are left in the oil, all other nutrients have been extracted.

Definitions
Essential oil: Pure unadulterated  individual oil
Carrier oil: Vegetable oil used to dilute the essential oil for massage
Oil Blend:  One or more essential oils mixed in a carrier
Fragrance Oil: Usually synthetic chemicals mixed to produce a particular fragrance
Skin Care Oil: A blend of carrier oils, sometimes containing an essential oil or synthetic

To find out the properties of our essential oils, or to buy them, please click here.

If you are new to aromatherapy, you may be interested in a 30-page booklet written by Angel, who wrote down her discoveries when learning about essential oils.  There is simple information and some easy recipes using easy to find and inexpensive oils.  This booklet is a great starting point.  You can read about it and buy it on http://angelmaree.tripod.com/AROMATHERAPY/