Scents & Sensibility: What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are wonderful tools for all-around wellness, from mental health to physical health. But, despite them being used by millions of people, many of them don’t even understand what they actually are. In my new column, I want to start from the very beginning of the basics of oils so that we all can learn to use them to their greatest potential! 

My column will be centered around three topics: essential oil education, DIYs, and general health and wellness with oils. 

To start off, we’re going to learn how essential oils are made, how to identify pure oils in stores where you might be purchasing oils, and some general benefits that come from utilizing oils! I can’t wait to learn and DIY with you!

So What Exactly are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are quickly becoming popular as a remedy for many ailments and maintaining general wellness, as they’re proving themselves to be valuable tools, but what exactly are they, and how are they made? 

How Essential Oils are Made

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts that preserve and highlight the natural scents and beneficial compounds of plants. These powerful oils are obtained through several different extraction methods, with steam distillation being the most common. 

During steam distillation, pressurized steam passes through plant material, causing the essential oils to vaporize, and be trapped. The vapor then cools and condenses into liquid, separating into essential oil and what’s nicknamed “flower water”, or hydrosol. 

Other extraction methods include: 

• Cold Pressing: Used primarily for citrus peels, where the oils are mechanically pressed out

• Solvent extraction: Used for delicate flowers, producing absolute oils (like rose)

• CO2 extraction: A modern method using pressurized carbon dioxide to extract oils (this is becoming increasingly popular, and might be replacing some steam distillation due to material cost and efficiency!)

Regardless of which method is used, these extraction processes preserve the pure essence of the plant material used, such as flowers, leaves, bark, roots, and other plant parts, resulting in potent oils with therapeutic properties. 

Understanding Essential Oils

Each essential oil contains unique compounds that give it distinct properties and benefits. These natural extracts have been used for thousands of years in various cultures for their therapeutic applications. 

Common Types of Essential Oils

• Lavender: Known for promoting relaxation and better sleep

• Peppermint: Helps with focus and digestive issues

• Tea Tree: Popular for its antimicrobial properties

• Eucalyptus: Supports respiratory health

• Lemon: Uplifting and cleansing properties

Emotional Health Benefits

Essential oils can significantly impact emotional well-being through aromatherapy. 

• Stress reduction and relaxation

• Mood enhancement

• Improved sleep quality

• Increased mental clarity

• Emotional balance

Physical Health Benefits

• Pain relief

• Reduce inflammation

• Immune system support

• Digestive health improvement

• Respiratory system support

• Skin health enhancement

How to Use Essential Oils Safely

While essential oils are natural, they should always be used with care. These highly concentrated substances can be dangerous if not used properly! This list is a guideline, but is not fully comprehensive, for how to keep safety a priority when using essential oils:

• Always dilute with a carrier before applying to skin

• Use high-quality, pure oils from reputable sources

• Start with small amounts to test sensitivity

• Keep away from eyes and sensitive areas

• Do not ingest unless under the care of a qualified aromatherapist

• Consult healthcare professionals before use, especially if pregnant or nursing

Popular Application Methods

• Diffusing in an oil diffuser

• Topical application (when properly diluted)

• Steam inhalation

• Bath additions

• Massage blends

Choosing Quality Essential Oils

Choosing a good brand of essential oils will ensure best results and reduce the risks of using them. Here are my tips:

• Look for pure, therapeutic grade oils (therapeutic grade is more of a marketing term, but can still be a good thing to look for)

• Check for Latin, botanical name on essential oil (many different chemotypes that do different things)

• Check for lot/batch numbers (show when extracted so you have an idea of shelf life, and be able to see if there are any issues with that particular batch)

• Check for third party testing (specifically GCMS testing)

• Research company’s reputation

• Verify sourcing and extraction methods

Essential oils offer a natural approach to both physical and emotional well being. When used properly, they can be valuable tools for maintaining health and wellness in our daily lives. Please  remember to use them responsibly and consult with healthcare professionals when necessary!

Next week, we’ll look at using essential oils for spring cleaning!