About Essential Oils

To put it simply, essential oils are highly concentrated compounds extracted from plants to ultimately capture the purest essence of nature. Found in flowers, trees, seeds, fruit and more, essential oils harness the true power of nature and can offer a multitude of uses and benefits.

Usually, one of the first questions asked by novices is how are they made? How could the essence of a large tree possibly end up in a small glass bottle, a fraction of the size of its original source? In the modern essential oil industry, the two main extraction methods are steam distillation and cold pressing. How to choose which method? Well, this depends on the anatomy of each individual plant.

Steam distillation

This method of extraction is the most widely used and is often the favoured method for oils derived from trees. To extract the purest essence, the botanical is placed in or above water and heated, allowing steam (carrying both oil and water-soluble components) to rise and travel along a tube through a cooling system, where it’s returned to a liquid state. Once condensed, the oil can be found collected at the top where it’s then separated from the water. Sounds easy? Here’s the kicker: the process needs to happen at the perfect temperature and pressure to avoid altering the oil’s properties or aroma.

Cold pressing

The process of cold pressing on the other hand, relies on force and does not involve external heat. It’s one of the oldest methods of essential oil extraction, and it works by first grinding the botanicals to withdraw the fatty parts of the plants, leaving behind a pulp. Historically, these were pressed by hand but these days, the process is fully mechanised. To separate the essential oil from the pulp, the cold press machine goes through processes of puncturing and spinning, helping to release essential oils in their purest form. Cold pressing is the preferred method for citrus fruits because the intense heat used in steam distillation can alter molecules and degrade them, compromising the oil’s potency and thus weakening the benefits.

Now that we understand the history and production of essential oils, let’s focus our attention on the many uses of essential oils.

Evoking memories through scent

Science, as well as our own human experience, teaches us that scents can trigger different emotions and memories. How does this happen? Scents can bypass the thalamus and go straight to the olfactory bulb of the brain, which is the region associated with emotion and memory. Each essential oil has a unique scent that can inspire different memories and feelings. Refreshing scents like rosemary and citrus essential oils can evoke bright and uplifting feelings whilst lavander offers a calming aroma. Incorporate moments of self-care into your life by using essential oils and essential oil blends for soothing baths, massages, inhalation, or topical application.

Prioritising physical wellness

Life is busy, we get it. That’s where essential oils and essential oil-infused products come in, providing targeted solutions to support you feeling your best. Passionate about fitness? Gently breathe in uplifting scents such as spearmint and peppermint essential oil before your workout, or add drops to your pulse points to keep you motivated throughout. These oils can even have post-workout benefits when combined with carrier oil and massaged into the body. Reach for multivitamins and food supplements made from pure essential oils and other naturally derived ingredients as an excellent source of nutrition to support your overall health and wellness goals.

Cleaning the home

We don’t want to fill our bodies with harsh chemicals and toxins, so why should we clean our homes with them? Essential oils are a natural way to deodorise your home. Look for products with naturally derived ingredients to keep your home smelling clean and fresh. Enhancing natural beauty Let your natural beauty shine through without harsh ingredients and synthetic fragrances. Enjoy the beautiful benefits of essential oil-infused, naturally-derived, cruelty-free cosmetic and personal care products.

There are a few ways this question can be answered. In terms of which aromas are best, that totally depends on the goals of each individual user. For those wanting to focus, combine cedarwood, frankincense, and melissa to envelop your senses to get you energised and focused. Contrastingly, blends of lime, vanilla, copaiba, and lavender are considered the ultimate for calm and relaxation. Unsure where to start? Look for starter kits that offer a comprehensive introduction to the power of essential oils. However, when choosing the right oils, it’s important to look for quality and purity…

The importance of purity

For an essential oil to be considered pure, it needs to be carefully extracted from a raw botanical source without any other chemicals or additives. Sadly, essential oils can be tampered with, a common example of this being when sellers add synthetics to bulk out the volume and therefore maximise profits. The consequence of using impure essential oils is that they will not offer the same benefits as promised by the purest, high-quality essential oils.

How to find the best essential oils

Finding a trustworthy company doesn’t have to be daunting. Look for reputable companies that offer statements on their commitments to purity and standards. Here at Young Living, we are proudly leading the way to ensure our standards go far beyond the standard with our Seed to Seal® commitment, offering our community the most authentic essential oil experience available.

• Sourcing: We source products from carefully vetted farms and suppliers across the globe and test them exhaustively to ensure they meet standards of the highest quality. Beyond ingredients, we also ensure facilities are state-of-the-art and can offer the best manufacturing practices and tests. We’ve invested time and resources to ensure we are getting nothing less than the best of nature has to offer.
• Science: Extracting the purest ingredients is a science, and it’s why Young Living only work with state-of-the-art labs and highly trained scientists that can hit our quality benchmarks. Additionally, we also support research towards helping the industry develop and improve.
• Standards: Our Global Compliance Programme seeks to ensure that our products are contributing to the greater good of the planet, with examples including reforestation efforts and recycling programmes. We also follow mandatory policies and guidelines to ensure our business is run ethically and legally.

You should be able to have total trust that your essential oils are the highest level of quality, purity, and safety. Don’t settle for anything less.
Did you learn something new about essential oils? Write your comments or contact us at mseublog@youngliving.com