Essential oils represent the flavor, aroma and essence of a plant. The content of essential oil in any given plant is low and normally does not exceed 3 percent. Highly concentrated, essential oils are a low-volume and high-value product. Small-scale production of essential oils can become a profitable business.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a therapeutic practice that employs scents to positively affect people and animals. An aromatherapist doesn't use scented candles or perfumes. Aromatherapists treat their clients with the aromatic qualities of essential oils. The essential oils are typically applied topically or inhaled. According to information gathered by expert contributor Linda Halcón and reported by the University of Minnesota, ingestion of essential oils is not recommended.
Quality
The quality of essential oils is dependent on several factors. These variables affect the potency, purity, aroma and efficacy of the final product. The species of plant, the area it's grown in, the time of year harvested, the cultivation practices, altitude, precipitation and manufacturing process all play a part in the quality of the essential oil you buy.
Preparation
Not all plant materials are prepared for the distillation process in the same way. As a general rule, flowers need to be distilled as soon as possible, according to the Schumacher Centre for Technology & Development. Some herbs are left to wilt, while seeds, roots and barks are often dried first. Plant materials that are dried as part of the preparation process should be kept out of the sun in a cool dry place. To avoid mold, rotting and fermentation, do not make piles. Instead spread out the leaves over a large screen.
Distillation
There are three common types of distillation processes to make essential oils: water distillation, solvent extraction and enzyme extraction. Steam distillation is the most frequently used process and generally produces the purest product. Steam circulates through the plant material to release the essential oils. It is carried upward with the steam to the condensation holding area of the steam distillation contraption where it becomes a liquid. This liquid mixture of water and essential oils is separated into floral water and essential oil.
Natural Herbicide
Essential oils can act as natural herbicides, according to an article published in "Weed Science." In a study conducted by the USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Station, dandelion leaves received an application of 25 different essential oils. It found of the essential oils used, the most toxic to plants are red thyme, summer savory, cinnamon and clove. The top performing essential oils also kill lambsquarters, ragweed and johnsongrass. The cinnamon essential performed best and the component eugenol, also present in camphor and clove, was determined to be the main active constituent.
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