How Are Essential Oils Made?

Aromatherapy requires the use of any essential oil to promote healing, relaxation and wellbeing. But first one needs to find a way to get the essential oil from the plant materials that contain it. Some process of extraction is necessary to remove the essential oil from the leaves, bark, flowers, berries or fruit of the plant.

The process of extraction can vary greatly depending on the plant he you want to get the essential oil from. But as well the method of extraction varies depending on how delicate the plant you are using is. One of the most common methods used in the extraction of an essential oil is distilling. But even this technique has several different processes to choose from depending on the plants used in the extraction procedure.

Distilling allows for the extraction of the essential oil through the use of steam. The steam goes through the plant material taking with it what it needs then depositing it in the condenser. This is the simplest of the extraction methods. You can take this one a step further and combine it with a process of water and steam distilling. It's used primarily for the extraction of an essential oil from leaves and is not unlike steaming vegetables. Its a gentler approach and does not work in the extraction of the essential oil of barks or roots.

Another method is called carbon dioxide extraction. It is a high-pressure procedure that turns the carbon dioxide gas into liquid. This method is used with plants that are more difficult to get the essential oil from.

When trying to get the essential oil for a citrus plant you will use a very simple method because what you require comes from the peel. The peels are put into a presser and the oils squeezed out. This is one of the most inexpensive methods, and is reflected in the price of citrus oils for sale.