What are essential oils ?

They smell nice and look like an oil. But is an essential oil really an oil? No, despite what the name suggests, they are not. What are essential oils?

Powerful, concentrated ingredients

Essential oils are very powerful, concentrated ingredients from plants, trees or flowers. These parts consist of a complex composition of organic compounds such as monoterpenes, aldehydes and esters. They can occur in all parts of the plant: from the root and the leaf to the fruits and the blossom. Despite this fact, the extent to which these parts occur can be called low. On average, a plant, tree or flower contains no more than 1% essential oil. Of course, there are exceptions. The clove has a concentration of no less than 10%!

Air from heaven

Can essential oils provide a heavenly experience? If you believe the literal translation, yes. The word "ethereal" is derived from the Greek word aither and means air of heaven. This is also often referred to as essential oil. This wording is derived from the English word essence. This name refers to the essence of the oil that is stored in the smell and taste. Let's look at the definition of the Dutch word essence then we also find a number of suitable explanations there. Essence means besides infusion, aroma and elixir also the essential or the essentialOther names used for essential oil are aromatic and volatile oils.

The function of essential oils for plants

These natural plant substances are of great importance for the survival of plants, trees and flowers. It is not without reason that they are described as life energy. Based on the essential oils, plants can initiate movements: for example, attracting insects for pollination, but also repelling harmful bacteria, fungi and herbivores. In addition, essential oils in a plant also play a role in communication with other plants. For example, pine trees can emit monoterpenes. These encourage other trees to prepare for an attack. In addition, essential oils are used by plants to regenerate damaged tissue, strengthen the immune system and in the competition with other plants.

How it is won

Essential oils are usually extracted via steam distillation, cold pressing or solvent extraction. Steam distillation is the most commonly used technique and is often used for peppermint and lavender, for example. In this case, the plant material comes into contact with steam, which draws the volatile oils from the plant material and then evaporates. This vapour is then cooled and the essential oil is separated from the water. These methods are not suitable for all plant materials. For example, if you want to extract oils from the peel of a lemon or orange, cold pressing is often used. Delicate flowers require a different method. They cannot withstand too much pressure or too high temperatures. That is why a solvent such as alcohol is often used here.

The benefits of essential oil for humans

The potential of essential oils on our humanity is great. They can not only influence our sense of taste and smell. They also have a healing effect on our body, mind and soul. For that reason they are also used in aromatherapy.Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils in health care. For example, an essential oil such as lavender can help with anxiety, the essential oil of rosemary can give you energy, eucalyptus opens the airways and geranium softens the skin. Because of the effect (and the smell) that essential oil can have on our skin, it is also often used in cosmetics. In addition, it is also very effective in combating micro-organisms and is therefore also used in cleaning products.

How to Use Essential Oil

Roughly speaking, there are two common ways to reap the benefits of essential oils. First, you do this through the scent, by inhaling the oil. For example, you can bring the bottle of essential oil directly to your nose or put a few drops on a handkerchief. You can also choose to evaporate the oil through an oil burner or diffuser. In this case, the oil is spread into the air of a room. By inhaling it, you also benefit from the healing powers.

Option two is that you let your skin absorb the oil. It is advisable to work with a dilution in this case. This means that you mix a few drops of essential oil with an odorless base oil such as jojoba or almond oil. In this way you can, for example, make a balm that brings relief from insect bites. Furthermore, we see that essential oils are also used in the bath and under the shower to create a relaxing atmosphere. When using, always take into account the high concentration of essential oils. These can cause irritation or trigger an allergic reaction. Caution is therefore advised when using them, especially in therapeutic contexts.

The importance of organic oils

If you choose organic essential oils, you choose high quality and purity. Only then can you fully experience the power of essential oil. These oils usually contain more active ingredients, which increases the therapeutic benefits and contributes to the effectiveness. In addition, by choosing organic, you contribute to a healthier world. For example, this method of farming promotes biodiversity and helps maintain soil health and water quality. In addition, you often support small farmers and sustainable practices that respect nature. This contributes to fair trade and supports local communities.

Why choose Pure Eden®

With our line Pure Eden essential oil® we have a line of essential oils that are organically extracted. Purity is a top priority for this brand. This means that the oils are purely made from a high-quality extraction of the plant material in question.

• 100% Organic
• Pure & clean
• Vegan & cruelty-free

Pure Eden® essential oils are available exclusively online at Green Vitality. Be inspired by the power of these pure natural oils and bring a moment of peace and balance into your daily life!

View the essential oils from Pure Eden® in our webshop.