Absolute vs. essential oil?

[Nect]

I have been seeing these on labels, how do they differ? (I'm a bit behind in this area... :p )

Nect

[Faery-Wings]

The difference is in the way they are distilled. Most oils are derived from placing the plant material (grasses, leaves, roots, etc) in a still over heated water. Steam rises through the plant material and carries out with it the essential oils. As the steam recondenses, the oil is then separated from the water. The water is now a floral water, the oil is a EO.

An absolute is deriving the oil from a plant using chemical solvents. They use the chemicals because the steam would either destoy the essential oil or can't get an adequate amount of oil distilled. The big disadvantage to using absolutes is that some of the chemical may remain in the oil even though they do try to remove it all at the end of the distallation process.

Many of the more expensive oils are absolutes, such as rose, vanilla, jasmine, because of their low yield and the delicate nature of the flower.

Chris

[Nect]

Thanks, Chris!

Nect

[Yvonne Belisle]

I didn't know that. Thank you. :)