How do we obtain an essential oil?
Obtaining essential oils is generally done by three main methods: steam distillation, solvent extraction, and cold pressing. Here is an overview of each method:
The different methods:
Steam distillation
This is the most common method for extracting essential oils from plants. Here are the typical steps:
1/ Harvesting raw materials: Aromatic plants (flowers, leaves, bark, roots, etc.) are harvested.
2/ Distillation:
- The plants are placed in a still.
- Water vapor is injected through the plants, which releases the essential oils contained in the plant cells.
- The vapor loaded with essential oil is then cooled in a condenser to be transformed into liquid.
3/ Separation:
- The condensed liquid is collected in an essencier where the essential oil, lighter than water, floats on the surface.
- The floral water (hydrosol) and the essential oil are separated.
Solvent Extraction
This method is used for plants that do not tolerate heat well or whose essential oils are too delicate to be extracted by distillation. Steps include:
1/ Harvesting raw materials.
2/ Immersion in a solvent** (generally hexane or ethanol):
The plants are immersed in the solvent, which dissolves the essential oil.
3/ Filtration and evaporation:
- The resulting mixture is filtered to remove plant matter.
- The solvent is then evaporated to leave only the essential oil and vegetable waxes (called "concrete").
4/ Purification:
- The concrete is mixed with alcohol and heated slightly.
- Alcohol dissolves the pure essential oil, which is then separated from the waxes by filtration and evaporation of the alcohol.
Cold pressing This method is mainly used for citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit) and consists of extracting the essential oil from the zest by pressing. The steps are:
1/ Citrus harvest.
2/ Pressing:
The zests are subjected to mechanical pressure to release the essential oil.
3/ Separation:
The oil and juice mixture is centrifuged to separate the essential oil from the juice.
Precautions and quality:
Obtaining high-quality essential oils requires rigorous cultivation, harvesting, and extraction practices. It is important to ensure that the plants used are organic and pesticide-free, and that the extraction processes preserve the purity and therapeutic properties of the essential oils.
HEBBD ?
This is the acronym for “Botanically and Biochemically Defined Essential Oil”. This label guarantees that the essential oil meets certain strict quality criteria, based on the precise botanical and biochemical identification of the source plant. Here's what that entails:
1/ Precise Botanical Definition:
- Full Latin name of the plant (genus, species, variety).
- Producing organ (the part of the plant used: leaf, flower, bark, root, etc.).
2/ Precise Biochemical Definition:
Chemotype (biochemical profile of the essential oil, i.e. the composition of aromatic molecules). This chemotype may vary depending on growing conditions, geographic region, climate, etc.
3/ Extraction Method:
The essential oil must be obtained by an appropriate extraction method (steam distillation, solvent extraction, cold pressing) which retains its therapeutic properties.
4/ Origin and Traceability:
- Complete traceability of the essential oil, from growing the plant to obtaining the oil.
- Transparency on the agricultural practices used (preference for organic farming or untreated wild plants).
5/ Analysis and Quality Control:
- Chromatographic analyzes (such as gas chromatography) to check the chemical composition.
- Regular checks to ensure purity and the absence of adulteration (addition of foreign substances).
Importance of HEBBD Label
1/ Quality and Efficiency:
- Ensures that the essential oil has the specific therapeutic properties attributed to the source plant.
- Guarantees effectiveness for aromatherapy applications and other therapeutic uses.
2/ Security:
Ensures the absence of contaminants, adulterants or pesticide residues, which is crucial for user safety.
3/ Transparent Information for Consumers:
Consumers can be confident in the origin and quality of the essential oil, facilitating proper and safe use.
The HEBBD label is a guarantee of quality for essential oils, ensuring that they are pure, natural and effective. This is particularly important in the field of aromatherapy and natural health care, where precision in the origin and composition of the essential oil is essential to achieve the desired benefits and avoid unwanted effects.
These methods produce essential oils which are then used in aromatherapy, cosmetics, perfumery, and other fields for their varied benefits and distinct aromas.
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