What are essential oils?

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

Powerful, concentrated ingredients

Essential oils are very powerful, concentrated components of 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 leaf to the fruit and blossom. Despite this, the extent to which these parts occur can be considered low. On average, a plant, tree, or flower contains no more than 1% essential oil. Of course, there are exceptions. Cloves, for instance, have a concentration of more than 10%!

Air of the sky

Can essential oils offer a heavenly experience? If you are to believe the literal translation, yes. The word 'etheric' is, after all, derived from the Greek word aither and means air of the sky. In addition, there is also often talk of essential oil. That wording is in turn derived from the English word essence. This term refers to the essence of the oil stored in the scent and taste. Let's look at the definition of the Dutch word essence then we also find a number of fitting explanations there. After all, in addition to extract, aroma, and elixir, essence also means the essential or the essential. Other names used for essential oil are aromatic and volatile oils.

The function of essential oils for plants

These natural plant compounds 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 essential oils, plants can initiate movements: for example, attracting insects for pollination, but also repelling harmful bacteria, fungi, and herbivores. In addition, essential oils play a role in communication with other plants. For instance, pine trees can emit monoterpenes. These encourage other trees to prepare for an attack. Furthermore, essential oils are used by plants to regenerate damaged tissue, strengthen the immune system, and in the competitive struggle with other plants.

How it is won

Typically, essential oils are extracted via steam distillation, cold pressing, or solvent extraction. Steam distillation is the most commonly used technique and is often applied to peppermint and lavender, for example. In this process, the plant material comes into contact with steam, which draws the volatile oils out of the material and subsequently evaporates. This vapor is then cooled, and the essential oil is separated from the water. This method is not suitable for all plant materials. For example, when extracting oils from the peel of a lemon or orange, cold pressing is often used. Delicate flowers require a different method. They cannot withstand excessive pressure or high temperatures. Therefore, a solvent such as alcohol is often used in this case.

The benefits of essential oil for humans

The potential of essential oils on our human existence is considerable. They can not only influence our sense of taste and smell, but they also have a healing effect on our body, mind, and soul. For this reason, they are also used in aromatherapy. Aromatherapy refers to the use of essential oils in healthcare.For example, an essential oil like lavender can help with anxiety, rosemary essential oil can give you energy, eucalyptus can open the airways, and geranium can soothe the skin. Due to the effect (and the scent) that essential oil can have on our skin, it is also frequently used in cosmetics. Additionally, it is very effective in combating microorganisms, which is one of the reasons why it is used in cleaning products.

How essential oil is applied

Broadly speaking, there are two common ways to reap the benefits of essential oils. Firstly, you do this through the scent, by inhaling the oil. This can be done, for example, by holding the bottle of essential oil directly to your nose or placing a few drops on a handkerchief. Additionally, you can choose to vaporize the oil using an oil burner or diffuser. In this case, the oil is dispersed into the air of a room. By inhaling this, you also benefit from its healing properties.

Option two is to allow your skin to absorb the oil. In this case, it is advisable to use a dilution. This means mixing a few drops of essential oil with an odorless base oil such as jojoba or almond oil. In this way, you can, for example, create a balm that provides relief from insect bites. Furthermore, we see that essential oils are also used in baths and showers to create a relaxing atmosphere. When using them, 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 are choosing high quality and purity. Only then can you fully experience the power of essential oil. These oils generally contain more active ingredients, which enhances therapeutic benefits and contributes to effectiveness. Additionally, by choosing organic, you contribute to a healthier world. This method of farming promotes biodiversity and helps maintain soil health and water quality. Moreover, by doing so, 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 essential oil from Pure Eden® we have a line of essential oils that are organically sourced. Purity is of paramount importance to this brand. This means that the oils consist purely of a high-quality extraction of the respective plant material.

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

Pure Eden® essential oils can be found exclusively online at Green VitalityLet yourself 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.