What are Absolutes?
Absolutes are highly concentrated aromatic liquids extracted from plants. They are extracted in a complex manner. Absolute distillation requires the use of chemical solvents that are later removed during the final stages of production, thus culminating in a more concentrated essence.
There are reasons for producing absolutes. Many times steam distillation of a plant does not extract as much natural oil from the plant, or in some cases, breaks down the precious natural oil in delicate flowers. The solvent extraction methods are often used in these cases. As a rule, absolutes are more concentrated than a similar essential oil. Being more concentrated, an absolute goes much further then the essential oil counterpart.
The Next Article: What are CO2s?
© 2004 Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Centre
What are CO2s?
Best factories also sells Oils extracted by a method using carbon dioxide, known as, CO2’s. This process uses pressurized CO2 carbon dioxide until it becomes a liquid. The liquid carbon dioxide acts as a solvent on the natural plant matter dissolving the essential oil into a liquid carbon dioxide. The CO2 is evaporated back into its gaseous state leaving only essential oil.
Factories label CO2s as essential oils as opposed to absolutes since no trace of harmful solvents remain. Additionally, essential oil using the CO2 method has an advantage over essential oils because none of the constituents of the oil are damaged by heat.
Oils extracted by carbon dioxide are often thicker than essential oil and often smell closer to the aroma of the natural herb and have a more rounded aroma.
The Next Article: What are Carrier Oils?
© 2004 Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Centre
What are Carrier Oils?
Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils and absolutes before applying to the skin. The carrier oil serves two purposes:
- To carry the essential oil onto the skin.
- To dilute the potent oil before use.
Now factories offer many different carrier oils that feature different properties and the choice of carrier oil can depend on the therapeutic benefit being sought.
Good carrier oils are mainly cold-pressed vegetable and fruit oils derived from the fatty portions of the plant. Unlike essential oils that evaporate and have a concentrated aroma, carrier oils do not evaporate or impart their aroma as strongly as essential oils.
Good carrier oils include sweet almond, apricot kernel, grape seed, avocado, peanut, olive, pecan, macadamia nut, sesame, evening primrose, walnut, wheat germ, and many others. These differ from supermarket bought oils in that these oils are not generally cold-pressed.
The Next Article: What are Fragrance Oils?
© 2004 Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Centre
What are Fragrance Oils?
The best factories usually don’t sell Fragrance oils, as they only sell pure Essential oils.
What makes Fragrance oils different from Essential oils? Fragrance oils are artificially created fragrances, contain artificial substances or are diluted with carrier oils. As opposed to Fragrance oils, Essential oils are derived from the true plants, perfume and fragrance and are the only oil suitable for Aromatherapy.
The Next Article: Storing Your Essential Oils
© 2004 Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Centre