What are essential oils?

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

Powerful, concentrated ingredients

Essential oils are highly 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 be found in all parts of the plant: from the roots and leaves to the fruits and blossoms. Despite this, the concentration of these parts is low. On average, a plant, tree, or flower contains no more than 1% essential oil. Of course, there are exceptions. Cloves contain a concentration of over 10%!

Air from heaven

Can essential oils offer a heavenly experience? If you believe the literal translation, yes. The word "ethereal" is derived from the Greek word aither and means air from heaven. This is also often discussed essential oil. This term is derived from the English word "essence." This name refers to the essence of the oil, which is stored in its aroma and flavor. Let's look at the definition of the Dutch word essence then we also find a number of suitable explanations there. Essence means in addition to infusion, aroma and elixir, 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 crucial for the survival of plants, trees, and flowers. It's not without reason that they're described as life energy. Based on their essential oils, plants can initiate movements: for example, attracting insects for pollination, but also repelling harmful bacteria, fungi, and herbivores. Essential oils in a plant also play a role in communicating with other plants. For example, pine trees can emit monoterpenes. These encourage other trees to prepare for an attack. Plants also use essential oils to regenerate damaged tissue, strengthen the immune system, and compete with other plants.

How it is won

Essential oils are typically extracted via steam distillation, cold pressing, or solvent extraction. Steam distillation is the most commonly used technique and is often used with peppermint and lavender, for example. In this case, the plant material comes into contact with steam, which draws the volatile oils from the material and then evaporates. This vapor is then cooled, and the essential oil is separated from the water. These methods are 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.

The benefits of essential oil for humans

The potential of essential oils for our well-being is immense. They can influence not only our sense of taste and smell, but 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 can energize you, eucalyptus can open the airways, and geranium can soothe the skin. Because of the effects (and scent) that essential oil can have on our skin, it's often used in cosmetics. It's also very effective at combating microorganisms, which is one of the reasons it's used in cleaning products.

How to use essential oil

Broadly speaking, there are two common ways to reap the benefits of essential oils. First, 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 tissue. Alternatively, you can choose to vaporize the oil through an oil burner or diffuser. In this case, the oil is diffused into the air of a room. By inhaling it, you also benefit from its healing powers.

Option two is to let your skin absorb the oil. It's advisable to use a dilution in this case. This means mixing a few drops of essential oil with an unscented base oil like jojoba or almond oil. This way, you can create a balm that soothes insect bites, for example. Essential oils are also used in baths and showers to create a relaxing atmosphere. Always be aware of the high concentration of essential oils when using them. These can cause irritation or trigger an allergic reaction. Therefore, caution is advised when using them, especially in therapeutic settings.

The importance of organic oils

Choosing organic essential oils means choosing high quality and purity. Only then can you fully experience the power of essential oils. These oils typically contain more active ingredients, which enhances their therapeutic benefits and contributes to their effectiveness. Furthermore, 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 choosing organic, 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 offer a line of organically sourced essential oils. Purity is paramount to this brand. This means the oils are made purely from a high-quality extraction of the plant material.

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

Pure Eden® essential oils are available exclusively online at Green VitalityBe 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.