Essential Oils and how they are obtained

Essential Oils and how they are obtained



There are several different methods of extracting oil from the plants.



Distillation

Steam distillation is the most widely used method of producing essential oils. A quantity of the plant is added to a still, covered with water and steamed. The vapour is cooled through a condenser which reduces it to water. This water us then collected and the essential oils either floats on the top or sinks to the bottom if it is heavier. The oil is then seperated from the water and ready to be used.

Expression

This method is probably the easiest method of obtaining essential oils. You could even express your own oils at home. Citrus oils are obtained using the expression method. The peel of the fruit is squeezed onto a clean sponge and once saturated the oil can be bottled - simple!

Sue

Storing Essential Oils

Storing Essential Oils



Essential oils can evaporate very quickly when exposed to air. Air can also cause the oils to oxidise and your oils can also be affected by light and heat.

Always purchase oils that are sold in dark coloured glass bottles with air-tight caps. essential oils can react with plastic, so avoid any oils not in dark glass bottles. Keep your essential oils cool and in a dark place but be aware that some oils may thicken or become cloudy if they are too cold.

Most essential oils can last and maintain their quality for at least 12 months if they have been correctly stored. Some oils mature and mellow with age such as Patcholi and Sandalwood.



Beware of cheap essential oils - you are better not to purchase them - they will not have the theraputic benefits that you are after. Remember you get what you pay for.



Sue

Importance of using Quality Essential Oils

Importance of using Quality Essential Oils



The quality and purity of essential oils is very important. Unless the oil is of top quality and extracted by an approved method, it is of no use theraputically. The aroma may still be exact but the properties of the oil may be diluted. One of the dangers with essential oils is that they can be easily adulterated with cheaper oils or other liquids to make them go further. For example Sandalwood cna be diluted with castor without any obvious detection. Oils can be made synthetically in a laboratory and produce the same aroma as pure oils. These will tend to be cheaper but they will not be as effective as some of the trace elements in essential oils can not be artificially duplicated.

Always purchase your oils from a reputable and reliable source - check that the oil is the correct one and the latin name is evident.

Cash back websites recommended in The Sunday Times

Cashback Websites Recommended in The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times “Consumer Affairs” section on Sunday March 18th 2007, gave a glowing endorsement to the use of cashback websites for your online shopping.
Reporter Ali Hussain researched several cashback websites and found that it’s possible to save 30% on your online shopping by using a combination of price comparison sites, cashback websites and cashback credit cards.
The report suggests researching the price of goods using a price comparision site then buying that retailer through a cashback website.
For example:Say you want to buy a Sharp 46-inch LCD television as listed in John Lewis for £1,995. Using Kelkoo you find but only £1,468 from Empire Direct. Using the link to Empire Direct through a cashback website would give you £15 cashback. If you then use a cashback card such as Amex to make the purchase, you could get another £43 cashback.
A combined total saving of £585!
The report goes on to show that the biggest cashback rewards are in financial products. The example given is of a combined house & contents insurance with a premium of £333.55 that gave a cashback £120.Have you joined a cashback website yet? Click on our link now and sign up.

Learn more about Cashback Websites

Learn more about Cashback Websites
How do they work?
It's very simple. You register for free with a cashback website then, when you wish to shop online, log in and browse the cashback website for the retailer of your choice. Click the link and you'll be passed to that website.
Do the retailers charge more?
Not at all. The links to retailers websites take you to the regular website of the retailer. You will be accessing their official online website. There is no difference in the price, quality or availability of their goods or services.
Where do they get the cash to give me cashback?
All the retailers and services listed in the cashback websites to are willing to pay a small commission for each customer sent to them. This is a very popular method used by online retailers to promote their websites. The cashback websites share some of this commission with their users.
What could stop me getting cashback?
You didn't register with a cashback website.
You don't log in to your registered cashback website before clicking the retailer link.
You haven't got "cookies" enabled in your browser.
When do I get paid the cashback?
The time scale differs between each retailer. Typically it is 6-8 weeks. This is to allow for returns etc., otherwise some people would buy an item, claim the cashback then return the item but keep the cashback. So to avoid such abuse of the cashback schemes there is a delay in assigning the cashback. Some of the cashback websites will show the cashback as "pending" during this waiting period.

Aromatherapy

A brief history about Aromatherapy


Aromatherapy dates back at least to 4000 BC, although the term “aromatherapy” was first used in the 1920s by the French chemist Gattefossé who accidentally discovered in laboratory that lavender oil relives pain and assists to slight burns healing. The word “Aromatherapy” comes from Greek words made up by the word fragrance (aroma) and the word treatment (therapy).


Aromatherapy began with the Egyptians, who used the method of infusion to extract the oils from aromatic plants which were used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes as well as embalming.
Ancient Egyptians used part of specific plants for religious rituals, as certain smells could raise a higher consciousness or promote a state of tranquillity. Frankincense was burned at dawn as an offering to the sun and myrrh was offered to the moon. The Egyptians who were experts at embalming used aromatics to mummify bodies.


Egyptians understood the principles of aromatherapy and incorporated it into their cooking as well. Specific herbs helped the digestive process, protected against infection, or built the immune system. After bathing, the Egyptians used to be massaged with fragrant oils.




In todays world we tend to use essential oils mainly in an oil burner but - as you will see from my posts - the benefits and uses of essential oils are many.

Sue