You probably heard of essential oils multiple times. You may even own an essential oil diffuser. However, do you know what an essential oil is? In case you don’t, we thought we’d break down the concept.

Definition                                       

Essential oil is a natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic odor of the plant or other source from which it is extracted.
Other extraction processes include expression, solvent extraction, sfumatura, absolute oil extraction, resin tapping, wax embedding, and cold pressing.
The reason it is called “essential” is because it contains the “essence of” the plant’s fragrance.

Did you know?                               

Romans, in turn, further adopted the Greek’s knowledge. They used essential oils for hygiene purposes with aromatic baths being a particularly popular practice.

Luckily, the Renaissance period brought aromatherapy back. Paracelsus, a great physician of the time, claimed he was able to cure leprosy with plant extracts.
During the second World War doctors used essential oils to treat injured soldiers.
Today, essential oils are used for many reasons – as a method in holistic medicine, as a relaxation supplement, and as a way to purify air, among others.

Main Usage Forms                                 

Essential oil is a natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic odor of the plant or other source from which it is extracted.
Other extraction processes include expression, solvent extraction, sfumatura, absolute oil extraction, resin tapping, wax embedding, and cold pressing.
The reason it is called “essential” is because it contains the “essence of” the plant’s fragrance.