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Essential oils are derived from plant cells. The most common process used to obtain essential oil is distillation. Many times essential oils are referred to as essences, however this is an incorrect classification. Essence (which is produced naturally by the plant) does not become an essential oil until after the distillation process. Some oils are derived from the plant by pressing or squeezing. These oils are still essences. Another method of obtaining oil from plants is by solvent or chemical extraction. This does not result in an classified essential oil, but instead is classified as an absolute. Essential oils are highly concentrated and must be diluted properly before use. Many essential oils when blended together are actually stronger than the sum of their parts.
Therapeutic grade essential oils are extremely concentrated particularly when they have been derived through distillation, which is the most effective method of extraction. Because essential oils are so highly concentrated, most of them are at least 50 times more therapeutically potent than the herbs or plants they came from. When herbs are cut & dehydrated for therapeutic use, they can lose as much as 90% of the healing nutrients as well as the vast majority of the vital oxygen molecules. Not so with essential oils, which are many times more potent than dried herbs.
Essential oils can be used in a variety of ways, but in general, they may either be applied to the skin (when diluted with an appropriate carrier oil) or released into the air. If you want to experience the feeling of being enveloped in the aroma of your essential oils, you will want to let them evaporate into your home environment with the use of a good diffuser, such as a lamp ring or a candle. If, on the other hand, you want to benefit your skin or hair by applying the oil directly to your body, essential oil products like shampoos, shower gels, massage oils, and bath salts are an excellent option. At A Scent's Worth, we strive to present our customers with a wide range of products that appeal to different aromatherapy styles and needs. In addition to the many varieties of pure, organic, undiluted essential oils available on our site, you will also find a range of essential oil products to help you integrate our essential oils into every area of your personal care routine. Some of these products include our Muscle Healing Massage Oil with rosemary, marjoram, and clary sage, our Soothing Comfort Bath Salts with lavender and tea tree oil, and our Muscle Relief Bath Salts with lavender, eucalyptus, and ginger.
Some essential oils can be hazardous and therefore you should avoid using them. The following is a list of those essential oils that are considered hazardous: Bitter Almond, Aniseed, Arnica, Boldo Leaf, Calamus, Camphor, Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Costus, Elecampane, Fennel (Bitter), Horseradish, Jaborandi Leaf, Mugwort (Armoise), Mustard, Origanum, Origanum (Spanish), Pennyroyle (European), Pennyroyle (N. American), Pine (Dwarf), Rue, Sassafras, Sassafras (Brazilian), Savin, Savory (summer), Savory (Winter), Southerwood, Tansy, Thuja (Cedarleaf), Thuja Plicata, Wintergreen, Wormseed, and Wormwood.
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