Some manufacturers use chemicals in the distilling process to speed things along or to create more volume, and bring the price down, but then those chemicals are passed on to the essential oil and can cause skin reactions. Also many manufactures use high heat and pressure while distilling the  essential oils because it is quicker and therefore bring down the cost of production, even though they destroy some of the chemical compounds in the essential oil.

 Adulteration is the addition of other substances either synthetic or natural to extend or to alter the appearance or smell. It is a common practice for many manufacturers to add chemicals to create more volume and label it as pure  essential oil!

Many pounds, even tons, of plant material may be required to produce a relatively small amount of an essential oil. Over 150 pounds of lavender flowers will make only one pound of essential oil. Over 5,000 pounds of rose petals produce one pound of rose essential oil!! (Just imagine how much space 5,000 pounds of fluffy pink rose petals take up) That explains why it is so expensive!

In the Plant

Plants have many complex chemical compounds. These compounds were designed to be used for healing when the plant is cut or broken, for protecting against bacteria and molds, and to support the rebuilding of the plant.

I watched a program the other day that was telling about amber and how bugs and things would get stuck and die in the sticky resin before it got hard. They filmed ants that would climb these certain trees and risk their lives to collect the resin, which they used to place around the entrance to their nests because it would protect the nest from bacteria!

Different parts of plants are used for distillation of organic essential oils, such as the flower, bark, roots or leaves. The distillation captures these complex compounds that have such wonderful benefits. Human molecules easily recognize the molecules of organic essential oils so we can enjoy the same wonderful benefits.

Absolutes

Do not confuse essential oils with “absolutes” or “extract”. To make absolutes or extracts the plant materiel is soaked in alcohol or some other solvent, which dissolves the plant oil, and then the alcohol is evaporated. Some plants, like jasmine, cannot be steam distilled and have to use the alcohol or other solvent to extract the plant essence. The trouble with using absolutes is that it is impossible to remove all the solvent. Everybody knows that alcohol is very drying to the skin. Use absolutes carefully. Well, use essential oils carefully too!

Floral Waters and Hydrosols

During distillation steam passes through the plan material and collects the plant oils. It then passes into a cooling chamber where the water and oil separate. This water is what is called floral water or hydrosol. So it has the aroma and some of the characteristics of the essential oil. They are wonderful to use in sprits bottles.

How Essential Oils Work
 

Aroma consists of volatile molecules that are small enough to float in the air. Millions of olfactory receptor cells line the nose. Aroma causes these nerves to fire and send messages to the limbic area (which is the emotional center) of the brain. From there, the messages travel to other parts of the brain, activating thought and memory. The pituitary gland is also stimulated to release chemical messages that travel via the blood and nervous system to glands and organs that create physical body responses. Hence the scent of an essential oil has the power to activate a number of physical and emotional responses. It happens in less than a second! The sense of smell is the only one of the 5 senses that can evoke an immediate emotional response.