Definition: Essential oils are also known as essential oils, but are not actually oils; they are extracts of plants that may be mixed with oils. Most plant extracts do not contain any fats in themselves. It’s almost impossible to find a definitive definition of what essential oils are, but two good guesses include: “highly concentrated constituents that possess potential medicinal and cosmetic qualities” (Valerie Gennari Cooksley) and ‘I consider essential oils to be the life force or soul of the plant’ (Stephanie Tourles).
Uses: Essential oils are commonly used in three ways; massage, inhalation and ingestion. However, oils are also used in industry and are often added to personal care products, foods, etc. for their properties as well as flavors and scents. The two main purposes of using oils are to improve our appearance and increase our well-being.
Properties: Most oils have an inhibitory effect on bacteria, viruses and fungi. These properties are the main reasons why they have been used for healing purposes for thousands of years. These properties have also been instrumental in making the oils popular in commercial skincare products.
Effect: It has been proven in numerous scientific studies that essential oils have a relaxing effect on the body when inhaled. This is one of the basic concepts of aromatherapy. There is also a single study that has shown that inhaling oil vapors can stimulate brain activity in humans and that this can, among other things, improve certain parts of memory under certain circumstances. However, essential oils have a myriad of other documented effects, which you can read more about in the respective articles for each oil (see the various links on this page).
Lack of research: Because plant oils cannot be patented, the pharmaceutical industry spends almost no resources on researching the oils and their properties. This limits our knowledge of their true effects and potential, and also makes it difficult to find useful information about their qualities. The knowledge we have about oils today comes primarily from two sources; countless people’s experiences with different uses of oils over the last few thousand years and recent scientific studies conducted by researchers from universities, companies and the like.
Production of the oils: It takes huge amounts of plant material to produce even a small amount of oil. The amount of material needed to produce a given amount of oil depends on the type of plant, but one of the most demanding is rose oil, where up to 2 tons of rose petals can be used to produce 1 kg (about 1 liter) of finished oil! Although the majority (around 70%) of the world’s rose oil is produced in Bulgaria, where prices are generally low, rose oil is still very expensive due to the high production costs. This is also true for many oils and if you want a high-quality organic oil, you have to pay the price.
Safety: When buying an essential oil, you should always read the instructions on the packaging before use. Keep in mind that some oils are suitable for ingestion while others are not. In addition, be aware that not all oils are suitable for direct application to the skin; very often they need to be diluted with a base oil. You should also be aware that many oils are phototoxic and can cause skin damage if you apply them and then spend time in direct sunlight. In addition, remember that everyone’s skin can react differently to different types of oils – so it’s always recommended that you start by trying new oils on a small area of skin before applying them to larger areas. Finally, it should be mentioned that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and children should be careful when using essential oils.
There are two types of almond oil: sweet almond oil and bitter almond oil. This is because both sweet and bitter almonds grow on almond trees (Prunus dulcis). The most common almond oil is sweet almond oil – and this article is only about sweet almond oil. The almonds available in grocery stores and the … Read more
Apricot kernel oil is also called “apricot oil” and is extracted from apricot kernels (containing 40-50% oil) by direct pressing or cold pressing. Apricot kernel oil is very similar to peach oil because they are both extracted from the kernels of the fruit and also have a similar aroma. Apricot kernel oil is mainly used … Read more
Avocado oil has a high vitamin E content, which makes it very useful in skincare products. In the world of gastronomy, avocado oil is a great alternative to olive oil, especially because it can withstand higher heat and is therefore more suitable for frying. In this article you can read about the many properties and … Read more
Base oils are plant oils used for oil massage in aromatherapy. The primary function of base oils is to dilute essential oils to make them more skin-friendly. However, base oils can also be used on their own, i.e. without mixing with other oils. In this article you can read about how base oils are defined, … Read more
Basil oil is mainly used in cosmetics, aromatherapy and gastronomy. In some cultures, basil oil is also used to treat illness – a practice that is neither scientifically proven nor recognized in the Western world. In this article, we have tried to gather the scientific data available on the properties of basil oil in relation … Read more
Bergamot oil is extracted from the peel of the citrus fruit bergamot (Citrus aurantium ssp. bergamia or simply Citrus bergamia), also known as bergamot orange. Bergamot is mainly grown in southern Italy and is extracted by cold pressing. Although there is no scientific evidence of bergamot oil’s effect on the human psyche, some people use … Read more
Black cumin oil is derived from the black cumin (Nigella sativa), a member of the buttercup family. The oil is extracted from the seeds of the black cumin and is produced either by cold pressing or steam distillation. The more well-known caraway (Carum carvi), which belongs to the Umbelliferae family and is used gastronomically in … Read more
Borage oil is extracted by cold pressing the seeds of the borage plant (Borago officinalis). Borage oil is used as a dietary supplement and its main nutritional benefit is its high content of gamma linolenic acid (GLA). Although there is no scientific evidence for the effects of borage oil on health, it is still used … Read more
Caraway oil comes from Caraway (Carum carvi), a member of the Umbelliferae family. Caraway oil is extracted from dried caraway seeds and is produced by steam distillation. Caraway oil has an extremely long and rich history, largely characterized by superstition and a myriad of gastronomic and medicinal uses (although the latter are not scientifically proven). … Read more
Castor oil is also called American oil, castor oil or holly oil. Castor oil is derived from the plant Ricinus communis, also known as the oil plant or holly and belongs to the spurge family. Castor oil is extracted by cold-pressing castor beans, which are actually seeds, as Ricinus communis does not belong to the … Read more