Essential Oils: Part 1 - What are Essential Oils?

What are Essential Oils? 

I'm sure many of you are like me, and you only know Essential Oils based on their fragrances and just a small snippet of additional information. For example, I know I like certain natural fragrances created by the use of Essential Oils: peppermint and lavender are two of my favorites.

Essential Oils are liquids that are generally distilled from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant (AromaWeb.com, 2014). Essential oils aren't usually oily to feel though. The oily nature of essential oils is usually when a carrier oil is used. Carrier oils are vegetable-based oils derived from plants, usually seeds, kernels, or nuts, that are paired with essential oils for safe absorption and use on the body (AromaWeb.com, 2014). Some essential oils are so strong that when applied directly to your skin, it can actually burn it or cause a rash or another reaction.

I should note Essential Oils are NATURAL oils as opposed to some oils sold in stores for fragrances. Fragrance oils are usually not naturally-based. They are generally artificial fragrances blended with an oil. Unless it is an essential oil, it is artificial. Examples of fragrance oils that aren't essential oil based (though some CAN be) are potpourri oils and lightbulb warmer oils.

Essential Oils can be used on their own (with a carrier oil,) blended, or mixed with other ingredients such as cocoa butter or shea butter.

After doing much research on Essential Oils as well as discussing them with friends, our friend Reagan recommended a company called Mountain Rose Herbs based out of Oregon, USA. I realize there are several suppliers and even sales representative opportunities out there (doTerra, YoungLiving, etc.) but let me tell you why I gave the thumbs up for Mountain Rose Herbs:

1) "Dedicated to organics." Mountain Rose Herbs is certified Organic. They don't just use the "O" word as a buzzword.
2) "Healthy soil; organic farming." Organic farming produces healthy soil with less toll on the environment which also prevents watershed pollution.
3) "Anti-GMO." Regardless of what your thoughts are on GMOs, Mountain Rose Herbs is anti-GMO.
4) "Pesticide-free." That's pretty self-explanatory.
5) "OTCO and USDA Organic." OTCO = Oregon Tilth Certified Organic
6) "Earth Kosher."
7) "Earthshare Oregon member."
8) "Fair for Life program."
9) "CarbonFund."
10) "Salmon-safe."
11) Their prices are great.

For example, I have priced peppermint essential oil before. For 1/2 ounce from some retailers, it is $15.00. For 1/2 ounce from Mountain Rose Herbs (at the time of this blog post,) the price was $2.75. $2.75, and you know the source of the product, and the quality of the product is just as high, if not higher than the other retailer.

The next few parts will include what Essential Oils do, popular "recipes" for various EOs and blends, and more. I just thought everyone should be able to dip their toes into the pool of knowledge when it comes to Essential Oils.


References:

AromaWeb.com (2014). What are essential oils? Accessed 12 December 2014
            at http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/whatare.asp

MountainRoseHerbs.com (2014). About us: Certifications. Accessed 12 December 2014
            at https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/about/certified-organic

MountainRoseHerbs.com (2014). Dedicated to organics. Accessed 12 December 2014
            at https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/principles/organic-agriculture