Essential oils are getting quite the buzz with the rise of distributors bringing the long lost art of traditional medicine back to life. More and more people are becoming aware of what they're ingesting to cure the common cold or the seasonal flu and are returning to the retro medicine cabinet filled with extracts, herbs and oils and discovering the secret weapon of essential oils.
So what's so essential about essential oils? Essential oils are made through several methods, but most commonly steam distillation which pushes steam through the plant and extracts the volatile chemicals (essence) of the plant. It takes hundreds of pounds of flowers, stems and/or leaves to distill one batch of essential oil. It is labour intensive but gives you a very potent oil.
They're not cheap to make but their concentrated nature means a little really goes a very long way and can be used for so many different purposes. Essential oils can contain over 100 different chemical compounds. They are complex and potent which no synthetic ingredient can perfectly recreate.
There are over 90 different essential oils and each has their own benefits from antibacterial to an aphrodisiac. They have been used for thousands of years as medicine, skincare and aromatherapy. They were even given to Jesus at birth - remember Frankincense and Myrrh? Today they are becoming more and more relevant with the rise of the conscious consumer who are seeking out more natural ways to prevent, treat and cure every day issues from eczema to the common cold.
They penetrate through the skin to get to work from the inside out. They can help to carry active ingredients into the skin and have a proven aromatherapy benefit to alter the mood. Care should always be taken with essential oils as even though they are natural, they are still potent and contain known allergens such as linalool, limonene and more.
It is recommended that all essential oils be diluted in a carrier oil before applying to the skin to prevent irritation or adverse reaction. We love using organic essential oils and abide by the EU Regulations for using a maximum of 1% essential oil for leave on face products and 2% for leave on body products. This ensures safe use of essential oils in cosmetics and enables us to utilise the powerful essence of organic plants to bring effective results for your skin.