Product Catalog doTERRA Hong Kong Product Guide | Page 4

WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?
What are
ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and
other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. If you have ever
enjoyed the gift of a rose, a walk by a field of lavender, or the smell of freshly cut mint, you have
experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. Essential oils can lift the mood, calm the
senses, and elicit powerful emotional responses. Yet the use of essential oils goes well beyond
their fragrant appeal.
Essential oils have been used throughout history in
many cultures for their health-promoting properties.
Modern trends toward more holistic approaches to
self care and growing scientific validation of
alternative health practices are driving a rediscovery
of the profound health benefits of essential oils.
Many have powerful cleansing properties. Their
unique chemical structure allows them to deliver
targeted benefits through topical application. Certain
oils may be used as dietary aids to promote vitality
and well-being.
Extraction Methods
Essential oils are most often extracted via a low-heat
steam distillation process in which steam is circulated
under pressure through plant material, liberating the
essential oils into the steam. As the steam mixture
cools, the water and oils are separated and the oil is
collected in its pure form. To ensure the highest
quality oil extract of correct chemical composition,
temperature and pressure must be monitored very
closely. Too little heat and pressure will not release the
valuable oil; too much can fracture an extract’s
delicate chemical composition and alter its potency.
Equally important to the carefully controlled
extraction process, the meticulous selection of correct
plant species and plant parts harvested at the perfect
moment when their essential oil compounds are most
concentrated, is also required for a quality
therapeutic-grade essential oil extract. This complex
process is as much an art form as it is a science and
requires experienced growers and distillers
working together to ensure a superior product.
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ESSENTIAL WELLNESS