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What Goes Into Aromatherapy Products?

Have you used or received aromatherapy products as a gift? You have probably heard of essential oils when reading about aromatherapy, but do you know what oils are considered to be essential oils and what they are used for? Do you know what absolute or CO2s are? Have you heard of carrier oils or know why they are important to the use of essential oils? What do resins, hydrosols, floral waters, or fragrance oils have to do with aromatherapy products? So many questions and where are the answers? Keep reading and perhaps you will discover a few answers to these aromatherapy questions.

A liquid that is distilled using steam or water that comes from plant parts such as bark, leaves, flowers, and stems is called an essential oil. The liquid that comes from this process is not really even oily. It usually is clear or yellow in color. The true essence of the plant is captured in the essential oil. These oils are highly concentrated so they are generally very economical as just a little goes a long way.

The difference between fragrance oil, perfume and an essential oil is that essential oils are taken from true plants and man creates perfume oils from artificially created fragrances or they contain artificial substances. Only essential oils offer therapeutic benefits. You can reap both psychological and physical therapeutic benefits from using essential oils.

Absolutes are highly aromatic liquids that have been extracted from plants. They are extracted in a complex manner using chemical solvents that are then removed in the final stage of producing the product. Absolutes are generally more concentrated than the essential oils. Absolutes last even longer than essential oils do.

CO2 extracts are oils that have been extracted by a method called CO2 (carbon dioxide). The liquid carbon dioxide is a solvent on the natural plant matter, which dissolves the essential oil content. The process evaporates the CO2 and all that is left is the essential oil. You will find them labeled sometimes as essential oils rather than absolutes. The process does not damage any of the essential oil as heat processing does.

A carrier oil must be used when applying an essential oil directly to the skin. If the carrier oil is not used when applying an essential oil to the skin the result can be skin irritation or other skin reactions. Carrier oils dilute the essential oil before it is applied to the skin. This is how they receive the name "carrier" oil because they in effect carry the essential oil onto the skin. The carrier oil can have different properties and different colors. The color can range from clear to dark. The carrier oil can make a huge difference when it comes to shelf life or aroma of the final product. Cold pressed vegetable oil and sweet almond oil are two popular carrier oils.

Infused oil is a carrier oil that has been infused with one or more herbs. This use of infused oil adds therapeutic benefit from the oil and the herb.

Resins are a thick, sticky substance that is sometimes a solid that come from plants or trees, usually when they are injured. A tree is cut in multiple areas to encourage a tree to produce a resin. A common resin is the benzoin (styrax benzoin). Resins provide a therapeutic benefit to individuals due to their thick and stick in nature. A good example of a resin in use is Frankincense tears used in oil infusions and in making incense.