The whole world is filled with fragrance

Essential oils are natural plant extracts and are obtained from various parts of plants, such as flowers, leaves, bark, roots or resins. They help plants to attract insects for pollination, keep pests away or protect themselves against diseases caused by bacteria or fungi. Versatile in use, they are suitable for scented lamps, massage oils, baths, poultices, inhalations and more. They have a direct effect on the brain and can thus positively influence both physical and psychological processes in the human body.
 

Contents

Many plants produce essential oils, which are secondary plant substances. Essential oils consist of a variety of chemical compounds, including terpenes and phenols. They are volatile and have fat-soluble properties, but do not contain fats. In contrast to fatty oils, essential oils evaporate without leaving any residue. As a rule, they are hydrophobic and only very slightly soluble in water, if at all.

For us humans, they have antiviral, antimicrobial, circulation-promoting, anti-inflammatory, expectorant and many other effects.

Essential oils are not ordinary oils and therefore do not leave unsightly greasy stains. The term "essential" means that it is something intangible, a highly volatile oil - unlike ordinary fatty oils.
 

Application

It is important to use essential oils correctly as they are very potent. The dosage is often far too high. Before use, you should inform yourself about the specific properties and applications of each oil.

Therapeutic work with essential oils belongs in the hands of therapists and nurses trained in aromatherapy. However, the diluted application as an aroma spray or in the aroma lamp is accessible to everyone and is also ideal for private use.

Special care should be taken with children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as with epilepsy and asthma.
 

Manufacture

Most essential oils are obtained by steam distillation, although some fragrances are lost at high temperatures. Cold pressing is a gentler method, but only a few plants such as citrus peel are treated in this way. Sensitive plant parts often require extraction with chemical solvents. Carbon dioxide extraction is a newer process that extracts high-quality essential oils at low temperatures and preserves the precious fragrances.
 

Storage & shelf life

Essential oils are sensitive to light and temperature and should therefore be stored in a dark place (even if they are already in dark bottles) and preferably in a cool place up to room temperature. Direct sunlight should be avoided at all costs.

Trust your sense of smell. If an oil suddenly smells different from what you are used to, especially if it smells strong or pungent, it could be that it is broken. In such cases, it is advisable to dispose of the oil, as it could do more harm than good to your health.
 

Eucalyptus oil

The oil is extracted from the older and more oily leaves of the eucalyptus tree and has many health benefits, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, circulation-enhancing and expectorant properties.

It is often used for colds, coughs, bronchitis, sinusitis and other complaints. Eucalyptus oil can be used externally for rheumatic complaints, muscle and joint pain. It can be used in a variety of ways, e.g. for inhalation, in compresses or as a bath additive.

It is important to be careful when using it on children under the age of three.
 

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is obtained from the leaves of the tea tree by steam distillation and can be recognized as pure tea tree oil by the name "Melaleuca alternifolia". Tea tree oil contains more than 60 substances, including terpinen-4-ol, which has a strong antibacterial effect. It can be used to treat warts, athlete's foot and nail fungus, head lice, acne and inflammatory skin blemishes. The oil is also effective against respiratory diseases, bad breath and gingivitis. With regular use, it can show positive results. It is important to keep the oil out of the reach of children and not to apply it pure to mucous membranes.

 

“Did you know that...”

... hydrolates - aromatic plant waters - are produced as a by-product during the extraction of essential oils? They are produced as a condensate when the distillation steam is cooled and are “a little bit pregnant” with the corresponding essential oil, but really only a little bit: 0.003 - 1%. Large molecules such as tannins do not even enter the hydrolate. Due to the distillation process, hydrolates therefore contain different ingredients than essential oils, which can lead to a different effect and a different fragrance.