An Essential oil is
a concentrated hydrophobic liquid
containing volatile (easily
evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical
compounds from plants.
Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetherolea,
or simply as the oil of the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of
clove. An essential oil is
"essential" in the sense that it contains the "essence of" the plant's
fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived.[1] The term "essential"
used here does not mean indispensable or usable by the human body, as with the
terms essential
amino acid or essential
fatty acid, which are so called because they are nutritionally
required by a given living organism.[2]
Essential oils are
generally extracted by distillation,
often by using
steam. Other processes include expression, solvent
extraction, sfumatura, absolute oil
extraction, resin tapping, wax embedding, and cold pressing. They are used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps and
other products, for flavoring food
and drink, and for adding scents to incense and
household cleaning products.
Essential oils are
often used for aromatherapy,
a form of alternative
medicine in which healing effects are ascribed to aromatic compounds.
Aromatherapy may be useful to induce relaxation, but there is not sufficient
evidence that essential oils can effectively treat any condition.[3] Improper use of essential oils may
cause harm including allergic reactions and skin irritation, and children may be
particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of improper use.[4][5]
|
Essential oils are used in aromatherapy as part of, for example, essential oil
diffusers. |