What are essential Oils?

The origin of essential oils has not been exactly recorded with clarity. It is said that essential oil forms in the region of photosynthetic

When you smell an orange, smell a bunch of basil, it is the essential oil that we smell. Essential oils are fragrant substances that can be obtained from plants. Have you ever squeezed the rind of a lemon or orange the oil is visible when that is done. Essential oils are what we call volatile that is they evaporate into the air leaving their aroma. A substance that is volatile has the ability to diffuse into the air

Essential Oils never leave a oily residue, they don't feel oily, if you ever purchase and essential oil and you can feel that's it's oily it's been mixed with a carrier oil and not a pure essential oil, and they don't become rancid, only citrus oils tend to spoil faster. If you keep them out of sun light and in the refrigerator is expands their life for years, some oils become better as they age one example of that is Sandalwood Essential Oil. Oils that also become rancid are fixed oils when they are exposed to oxygen.

The more oil glands or ducts present the more oil that can be obtained, thus making that oil less expensive. Aromatic materials are classified into Top, Middle, and base notes and what is all this you ask,

Top Notes are essential oils that are very volatile, evaporate quickly, they are usually sharp, uplifting, refreshing and very short lived. I consider them very important because they give you the first impression of a blend. Typically top notes are your citrus oils. Top notes usually disappear in 30 min.

Middle Notes are essential oils that are more complex and have heavier molecules they give the body to the blend, they tend to smooth out the sharp edge of the top note. Middle notes are said to last longer, their aroma lingers when top notes have already faded. They are said to make up the core of the blend they are sometimes called modifiers. They primarily affect metabolism of the body. Middle notes last from 3 min to 4hrs.

Base Notes are also known as fixatives, they are heavier and the most complex composition. They tend to appear after 1-2 hours. Base notes deepen the blends giving it the permanent or longer lasting scent. Base notes slow down the evaporation of the more volatile top notes. Base notes last from 5-36hours.

© Marlen Rodriguez