How Are Essential Oils Created?
There are several methods to create essential oils, and the best extraction process depends on the oil’s source and how its phytoconstituents respond to extraction. The most common methods are distillation and using solvents. For plants or oils too delicate for distillation, mechanical crushing or solvent extraction is used. Whole citrus fruits, for example, can be mechanically rolled over needles to release essential oils, a process known as the ecuelle or scarification method.
Distillation
Distillation can be done in three ways: water distillation, water and steam distillation, and steam distillation. Pure steam distillation is the gentlest method. In water distillation, the plant material is boiled, and the essential oils are separated from the water. Water-steam distillation involves both boiling and steaming the plant material.
Steam distillation occurs in a still. If the essential oils are processed fresh, this usually happens near the field where the plant is harvested to preserve the delicate phytochemicals. The heat from the still forces the plant matter to release its oils at the lowest temperature possible to prevent burning or denaturing the fragile phytochemicals. The steam carries the essential oils through the equipment to condense in another section of the still with the water. The essential oils are then separated from the water. This water, called hydrosol, contains the water-soluble, aromatic phytoconstituents of the plant and is often used in cosmetics for its subtle aroma and gentle, beneficial effects on the skin.
Enfleurage
Enfleurage is an old, labor-intensive, and expensive method of collecting essential oils, historically used for fragile plant sources like jasmine flowers that couldn’t tolerate more aggressive extraction methods. The process involves placing flowers on top of a fatty medium, such as scent-free vegetable oil or lard, so the volatile oils transfer into the fat. The flowers are regularly replaced until the medium is thoroughly imbued with the desired oils. Alcohol is then used to separate the essential oil from the fatty medium by allowing the alcohol to evaporate away.
Solvent Extraction
A relatively new technology for extracting essential oils is supercritical CO2 extraction. This method uses high barometric pressure under specific temperature conditions to release the oil from its source. Liquid CO2 is used as a solvent and poured over the plant matter to release the essential oils. Sometimes ethanol is added to this process. Afterward, the CO2 (or ethanol) evaporates, leaving only the essential oil.
Alcohol tinctures are another method of extraction that uses ethanol to release essential oils. The plant matter is submerged in alcohol, and the volatile oils are extracted by the ethanol. However, these tinctures can contain as much as 60-90% alcohol, which may not be suitable for everyone.
How to Select Essential Oils
The best quality essential oils are 100% pure, organically grown, and minimally processed. Many phytochemicals are sensitive to heat, light, and harsh chemical solvents, so they must be handled gently to retain their beneficial constituents. If an essential oil provider doesn’t openly explain their extraction methods, consider choosing a different brand.
Though the scientific community is skeptical, some aromatherapists believe in an idea called an energy signature. They think that living beings resonate at a particular frequency and that life experiences or processes, such as essential oil extraction, change the speed at which their molecules vibrate. This energetic signature is believed to provide the many health benefits of essential oils.
The Top 33 Uses of Essential Oils
Essential oils do more than just smell nice; they have a variety of health-promoting and helpful uses. Here are some ways you can use essential oils:
Clean Surfaces, Air, and Clothes
Many natural and organic cleaning products contain essential oils due to their antimicrobial properties. For example, you can use eucalyptus and tea tree oil to freshen humid rooms like the bathroom, add a few drops of lavender oil to a dry washcloth and throw it in the dryer with your wet clothes, or use lemongrass or rosemary to freshen and disinfect the fridge or freezer by sprinkling a few drops on a damp washcloth and wiping down surfaces. Freshen up your gym bag, locker, car, or shoes with a few drops on a cotton ball or piece of felt.
Get Rid of Shower Mildew
Shower mold is unsightly and unhealthy. To get rid of it, sprinkle eucalyptus oil liberally on any areas that have darkened, especially grout or the tracks of sliding shower doors. You can also apply it to stubborn spots with a cotton swab.
Promote Skin Health
Essential oils provide several skincare benefits. Patchouli and clary sage slow skin aging and increase cell turnover to reveal fresh, glowing skin. Orange oil revitalizes aging skin by promoting collagen production, similar to the vitamin C in whole oranges. Apply a drop of bergamot oil to soothe dry, cracked, or inflamed skin. Chamomile also helps moisturize dry skin to soothe itchiness. For dandruff, add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo bottle and shake well to distribute evenly. Patchouli also calms irritated skin and expedites wound repair. Slow or stop a small cut from bleeding with a small dab of cypress oil.
Moisturize Hands and Nails
For a DIY cuticle oil, dilute lemon or rosemary oil into sweet almond oil and rub into bare nails.
Clear Blemishes
Basil, bergamot, and cedarwood help clear blemishes. A compress made with bergamot oil promotes the healing process by soothing swollen, painful skin eruptions. Cedarwood and orange oil help balance the production of skin oils.
Encourage Supple Lips
Topical bergamot oil minimizes pain from lip conditions, while lemongrass and peppermint promote clear, moisturized lips.
Calm Anxiety and Promote Relaxation
Essential oils are well known for their ability to improve mood. Lavender is thought to be so effective at reducing feelings of anxiety that it’s encapsulated and taken orally by some people. Diffuse oregano, basil, black pepper, and cedarwood in a humidifier to create a calming home or work environment.
Discourage Harmful Organisms
Several essential oils are good for addressing topical Candida overgrowth, so you’ll have no trouble finding one that suits your preference. These include lavender, peppermint, sage, tea tree oil, thyme, tulsi, and clary sage. Make sure to apply them correctly. If your preferred essential oil requires a carrier oil, mix it into lotion or coconut oil to apply. For athlete’s foot, rub a few drops of cedarwood into your skin, or mix a couple of drops of tea tree oil into a teaspoon of a carrier oil and massage into the skin. For nail fungus, use a cotton swab to apply 100% tea tree oil to the affected area.
Create a Rejuvenating Bath Elixir
Add a few drops of lavender, lemon balm, jasmine, or chamomile to your next hour-long soak. Drop the oil on your bath salts, on your bath bomb, or add it directly to the water. Boost the efficacy of your foot bath by resting tired feet and killing fungi. If you’re prone to urinary tract discomfort, using bergamot oil in the bath helps keep your bladder and kidneys healthy.
Assist Recovery After a Workout
Add a few drops of lavender, rosemary, or rose oil to a damp hand towel and freeze it. Fold it over your eyes during savasana at yoga or drape it around your neck after your workout to cool down and boost your mood.
Increase Alertness
Mix a few drops of eucalyptus and peppermint oil together in your humidifier to increase alertness. You can also try basil oil, bergamot, and black pepper for similar results.
Boost Memory and Concentration
Inhale the vapors of black pepper, cypress oil, or eucalyptus to boost your concentration. Clary sage, cloves, sage, and coriander increase your ability to concentrate with the bonus of increasing your recall.
Deepen Meditation
To deepen your meditation practice, inhale the vapors of benzoin and cypress oil. It can help increase your focus and turn your thoughts inward.
Repel Insects
Peppermint, lemongrass, basil, and eucalyptus are natural insect deterrents. Either diffuse the oils to deter mosquitos, or use a mixture of the essential oil in vegetable glycerin and water and spray lightly on clothing. Just make sure to shake well first.
