Essential Oils : Broken Down

 Essential oils

What are 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, aetherolea, or simply as the oil of the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove. An essential oil is "essential" in the sense that it contains the "essence of" the plant's fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived.The term essential used here does not mean indispensable as with the terms essential amino acid or essential fatty acid which are so called since they are nutritionally required by a given living organism. In contrast to fatty oils, essential oils usually evaporate completely without leaving a stain or residue.

Essential oils and aromatherapy

Essential oils, in particular, are key to aromatherapy and the calming effect that it can provide. Aromatherapy is the art and science of using essential oils to treat a variety of physical and psychological conditions. The oils are derived from various parts of plants such as flowers, leaves, bark, roots or peel. They’re extracted through steam distillation or cold pressing processes in order to preserve their quality and therapeutic benefits. These natural substances have been shown to reduce stress levels and promote feelings of well-being. They may also help relieve headaches and muscle soreness while promoting relaxation. For these reasons, aromatherapy is commonly incorporated into massage therapy and spa treatments around the world as a way to aid in recovery after a workout or simply relax after a long day at work.

Chemical make-up of essential oils

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a class of chemicals that consist of a variety of carbon atoms joined together by chemical bonds. The composition and structure of these compounds vary wildly, but they’re united in their ability to vaporize at relatively low temperatures into the gases you can breathe in and enjoy.

VOCs are the reason essential oils have such distinct smells and flavours. The VOCs contained within any given oil depend on the plant it was extracted from—the more sharp-smelling VOCs, the stronger and more noticeable a scent will be. How quickly an oil evaporates depends on how large its molecules are; those with smaller molecules tend to evaporate faster and have fresher scents, while those with larger molecules linger longer on your skin or clothes before dissipating into the air.

Although this classification system is useful for aromatherapists looking to decide which essential oils they want to use, it’s important to remember that “essential oils” aren’t all chemically identical; there are thousands of VOC compositions out there, so every bottle you open will have its own unique characteristics!

Scent and their uses

When you hear the phrase "essential oil," you might think of a scent or smell. That's certainly part of it, but there's more to know about essential oils than just that.

Scent can be divided into two categories: floral and non-floral. The most common non-floral scents are rosemary, peppermint, eucalyptus, sweet orange, and lemon. On the more floral side is lavender, tea tree, cinnamon, rose and neroli (orange blossom), and jasmine.

The flavours of these essential oils vary widely, with many having antioxidant properties that have been proven to have health benefits when consumed orally. In addition to its effects as an essential oil in aromatherapy treatments with massage therapists and spas, sweet orange has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels in rats when ingested orally; studies have shown lavender oil may reduce anxiety levels; some research suggests a combination of sandalwood oil and almond oil may help people with mild psoriasis; other research indicates inhaling cinnamon oil may boost brain function—the list goes on!

Common essential oils and their uses

Essential oils are extremely versatile. Once you've chosen the oil you want to use for an intended purpose, there are several ways of applying it:

Aromatherapy: When applied topically, inhaling essential oils can be a soothing way to combat stress and boost your mood.

Massage: Using essential oils on your skin can have powerful effects, but you should dilute them with carrier oils such as sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil or grape seed oil first.

Steam: Inhaling steam infused with essential oils can help loosen up congestion in your nose and chest when paired with water vapor—just pour hot water into a bowl and add some drops of your favourite oil before placing a towel over your head.

Baths: Adding essential oils to bathwater will infuse the room with their scent while also allowing you to take in the benefits through inhaling their vapors and absorbing them through your skin. Be sure not to add too much though—a little goes a long way with these products.