Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions. All the most popular questions that might come up at your head...

QUESTION: What is the definition of the words essential oils? How do they differ from say olive oil or other vegetable oils?

Answer: Essential oils are highly volatile plant essences, produced primarily by steam distillation (sometimes by cold pressing or by CO2 extraction or solvent extraction.) They contain the aromatic molecules of the plant. The plant produces them for various reasons...reproductive (to lure bees for pollinization, for example), protection (the antifungal properties of the leaves of the melaleuca trees give us Tea Tree oil, among others) etc.Unlike fixed oils (the vegetable oils that you mention) they are highly concentrated and must be diluted in a carrier... they should never be used undiluted (or "neat") on the skin.They work on the oldest part of the brain (the limbic system) and have intense effects on the parasympathetic nervous system, as well as powerful antibacterial effects.

QUESTION: How are Essential Oils made?

Answer: Essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile oils that can be extracted from aromatic plants. Their use dates back to ancient times, and their wide variety of therapeutic, medicinal and culinary uses has ensured their continued popularity. About 700 different kinds of plants contain useful essential oils, and there are several methods employed to extract them, the most common of which is distillation. While essential oils can be very expensive to buy, they are relatively cheap to distill at home. This guide provides basic instructions on how to extract the oils using the relatively simple and effective water-and-steam distillation process. Click here for more information

QUESTION: Why do I have to dilute the oils?

Answer: For your own safety. Many of the oils are irritants or sensitizers and can do serious damage if not used in appropriate dilution on the skin. Secondarily, these oils are precious natural resources. Using them neat is, with very rare exceptions, unnecessary. Less is more where the oils are concerned; extend them by properly diluting them.

QUESTION: What is a Carrier Oil?

Answer: Pure essential oils are too concentrated for use directly on to the skin. It is therefore necessary to use a carrier oil to assist in application. Carrier oils are vegetable, nut or seed oils, many of which have therapeutic properties in and of themselves. Carrier oils used in aromatherapy should be cold pressed oils, if at all possible., Not all carrier oils should be used at 100% concentration. Some are best used in dilution with another carrier oil. For example Evening Primrose or Borage Seed oils are quite thick, and better diluted in a lighter carrier oil. You may blend different carrier oils to achieve the desired result. For more information please see our page about specific carrier oils and additives.

QUESTION: What is an "appropriate dilution"?

Answer: For a healthy adult, the "standard" is a 2.5% dilution, ie, 15 drops per fluid ounce of carrier oil, or 2 to 3 drops per teaspoon of carrier. For a child, or a delicate elderly person the dilution should be much weaker, perhaps five drops per ounce or one drop per teaspoon. Please note that this is total dilution, if you are using a blend of oils, mix your blend of undiluted oils, and then measure out the appropriate number of drops of the blend.

QUESTION: How do I store the essential oils?

Answer: Tightly sealed, in a cool, dry, dark place. Heat, light, and oxygen will degrade your valuable essential oils. We recommend, after you have used part of a bottle, decanting into a smaller bottle so that the bottles are kept nearly full. A cool closet is the best storage place.

QUESTION: How Do I use oil essential to cure acne?

Answer: There are a few ways to take care of acne. High-quality tea tree oil will do the best job. It contains 40% or more of terpinen-4-ol, the ingredient that fights harmful bacteria and fungi and makes the oil so effective in preventing and fighting infection in cuts, scrapes, insect bites, and stings. Click here to read more about acne cure.

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