Essential oils embody the essence of plants. They are concentrated plant extracts that embody the natural smell and flavor of their source—the “essence.”
Essential oils may carry some of the aroma—and even the flavor!—we associate with the original plant, such as lavender, peppermint, or lemon. Or they may seem like totally unfamiliar mixtures of several plants, such as our special blends like Breathe or On Guard.
To create essential oils, the essence is extracted from plants using either of two processes:
- Distillation – Typically steam is used to separate the active compounds from the plant.
- Cold pressing – This process literally “squeezes” the active ingredients out of the plant.
Essential oils that are extracted using chemical processes are not considered true essential oils.
Once separated from the plant, the extracts are often combined with a “carrier oil” to make them easier to apply. The resulting essential oil can be applied topically, taken orally, or inhaled.
If you’d like to learn about some of our favorite essential oils, we have a page for you: Our Favorite Essential Oils
You may also be interested in learning about the Science of Essential Oils.