Essential oils: Difference between revisions
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An '''essential oil''' - [[liquid]] [[extraction|extracts]] from [[plant]]s, which are called aromatic herbs or aromatic [[plant]]s and from some other materials (as lichens, honey etc.). This pressed, [[Distillation|distilled]] or extracted substances containing [[Volatile (chemistry)|volatile]] [[aroma compound]]s, mainly [[hydrophobic]] ([[terpene]]s, [[terpeniod]]s, [[benzene]] derivates (aromatic compounds), [[aldehyde]]s, [[organic acids]] etc.). | The American Heritage Dictionary defines '''essential oil''' as: | ||
*Essential oils also known as '''volatile''' or '''ethereal''' oils, or simply as the "oil of" the plant material from which they were extracted, such as ''oil of clove''. The traditional name '''essential oil''' indicates that the oil carries distinctive [[scent]] (essence) of the [[plant]], not that it is an especially important or fundamental substance. | <blockquote> | ||
<p style="margin-left: 2.0%; margin-right: 6%; font-size: 1.0em; font-family: Gill Sans MT, Trebuchet MS;"> A volatile oil, usually having the characteristic odor or flavor of the plant from which it is obtained, used to make perfumes and flavorings.<ref>The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright© 2006, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.</ref></p> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
<!-- An '''essential oil''' - [[liquid]] [[extraction|extracts]] from [[plant]]s, which are called aromatic herbs or aromatic [[plant]]s and from some other materials (as lichens, honey etc.). This pressed, [[Distillation|distilled]] or extracted substances containing [[Volatile (chemistry)|volatile]] [[aroma compound]]s, mainly [[hydrophobic]] ([[terpene]]s, [[terpeniod]]s, [[benzene]] derivates (aromatic compounds), [[aldehyde]]s, [[organic acids]] etc.). | |||
*Essential oils also known as '''volatile''' or '''ethereal''' oils, or simply as the "oil of" the plant material from which they were extracted, such as ''oil of clove''. The traditional name '''essential oil''' indicates that the oil carries distinctive [[scent]] (essence) of the [[plant]], not that it is an especially important or fundamental substance. --> | |||
<!--Essential oils do not as a group need to have any specific chemical properties in common, beyond conveying characteristic fragrances. They are not to be confused with [[essential fatty acid]]s. | <!--Essential oils do not as a group need to have any specific chemical properties in common, beyond conveying characteristic fragrances. They are not to be confused with [[essential fatty acid]]s. | ||
Revision as of 22:51, 20 September 2010
The American Heritage Dictionary defines essential oil as:
A volatile oil, usually having the characteristic odor or flavor of the plant from which it is obtained, used to make perfumes and flavorings.[1]
Production
Distillation
- See also: Distillation
Some common essential oils, such as lavender, peppermint, tea-tree and eucalyptus, are distilled. Raw plant material, consisting of the flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, seeds, or peel, is put into an alembic (distillation apparatus) over water. As the water is heated the steam passes through the plant material, vaporizing the volatile compounds. The vapors flow through a coil where they condense back to liquid, which is then collected in the receiving vessel.
Aromatherapy
Raw Materials
Notes and references
- ↑ The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright© 2006, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.