Re: Oils,Oils and oils-I need help! (long rant)

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Posted by lisa on June 5, 2001 at 20:43:21:

In reply to: Re: Oils,Oils and oils-I need help! posted by Kenzi on June 5, 2001 at 03:44:48:

: Are you an aromatherapist? From your comments it would seem that
you
: at least have extensive knowledge on the subject.

Not really. I just read a lot. I decided to use EO's for skincare,
did extensive research, and learned about the therapeautic effects as
a side thing. I am also extremely picky about scent, so I wound up
using the high quality oils because the low quality stuff just smelled
awful! (as a side benefit, the higher quality oils also tend to be
organic)

I will say that EO's have really helped my sensitive skin, especially
when I break out in rashes from certain lotions burning me!

As far as what types of oils to purchase, you should think about
four things : price, organic vs. non-organic, distillation
method, and safety.

Price is kind of a touchy subject. You frankly can't get the better
quality oils without spending a little bit, but some companies really
overcharge. I advise shopping around and comparing prices from
several reputable dealers to see if you're getting ripped off. In
general though, the more plant material you have to use to produce the
oil, the more expensive it is. EOs derived from roots are much
cheaper than EOs derived from flowers. You can always ask an
aromatherapist (or someone who buys waaay too many oils, like me. :)),
also.

The problem with the cheaper oils is that they tend to be non-organic,
so any pesticides from the plant will be concentrated in the oils.
Non-organic citrus oils will tend to have more pesticide in them
because they are derived from pressing the peel, which doesn't boil
off any pesticides.

Distillation method is also important when buying. Most oils are
distilled by steam or cold pressing, which is non-harmful. Some oils
and all absolutes are distilled by solvent extraction. Basically, the
plant material is washed with a nasty solvent (hexane is usually used)
to extract the EO or absolute. There is an issue as to whether or not
any solvent remains after the extraction process is done. I err on
the side of caution and only use absolutes for perfumery (perfumery
only requires small amounts, and I filter the oils out before I
bottle).

Newer methods of extraction are CO2 extraction and florasols. Both
are better for the environment, and leave no nasty residue. They also
have the benefit of leaving more plant material in the distillation,
so the therapeutic benefits may be increased. Both are expensive,
though. I can't say much about the benefits of florasols first hand,
because not many people sell them, and I haven't really worked with
them.

Safety is the biggest issue, though. EOs are extremely concentrated,
one drop of EO is equivalent to several pounds of plant material (or
more!). Therefore, any plants which normally can be eaten is small
amounts, can be very toxic as EOs. (Wintergreen is the biggest
example of this.) I usually check aromaweb for a toxicity listing,
since they tend to be over cautious. I also check Nature's Gift.
I will post the aromaweb link below for reference.

: Of all the terpine oils people have talked about here, which do you
: think would work best for henna in terms of aromatherapeutic
: benefits? Or maybe better, which would you recommend for certain
: situations? For example, what would you recommend for street fairs
: where it is very busy and loud? I would love to hear your take on
it.

For street fairs, frankincense is a good one because it's will calm
and ground people. There are also no sensitivity issues with it.
Pine is good for refreshing and uplifting, but it can be sensitizing
and/or irritating to the skin. I will have to wait til I get home to
access my books on tea tree and ravensara (although tea tree can be
rough on the skin)

Aromaweb link

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: : Are you an aromatherapist? From your comments it would seem that : you : : at least have extensive knowledge on the subject. : : Not really. I just read a lot. I decided to use EO's for skincare, : did extensive research, and learned about the therapeautic effects as : a side thing. I am also extremely picky about scent, so I wound up : using the high quality oils because the low quality stuff just smelled : awful! (as a side benefit, the higher quality oils also tend to be : organic) : : I will say that EO's have really helped my sensitive skin, especially : when I break out in rashes from certain lotions burning me! : : As far as what types of oils to purchase, you should think about : four things : price, organic vs. non-organic, distillation : method, and safety. : : Price is kind of a touchy subject. You frankly can't get the better : quality oils without spending a little bit, but some companies really : overcharge. I advise shopping around and comparing prices from : several reputable dealers to see if you're getting ripped off. In : general though, the more plant material you have to use to produce the : oil, the more expensive it is. EOs derived from roots are much : cheaper than EOs derived from flowers. You can always ask an : aromatherapist (or someone who buys waaay too many oils, like me. :)), : also. : : The problem with the cheaper oils is that they tend to be non-organic, : so any pesticides from the plant will be concentrated in the oils. : Non-organic citrus oils will tend to have more pesticide in them : because they are derived from pressing the peel, which doesn't boil : off any pesticides. : : Distillation method is also important when buying. Most oils are : distilled by steam or cold pressing, which is non-harmful. Some oils : and all absolutes are distilled by solvent extraction. Basically, the : plant material is washed with a nasty solvent (hexane is usually used) : to extract the EO or absolute. There is an issue as to whether or not : any solvent remains after the extraction process is done. I err on : the side of caution and only use absolutes for perfumery (perfumery : only requires small amounts, and I filter the oils out before I : bottle). : : Newer methods of extraction are CO2 extraction and florasols. Both : are better for the environment, and leave no nasty residue. They also : have the benefit of leaving more plant material in the distillation, : so the therapeutic benefits may be increased. Both are expensive, : though. I can't say much about the benefits of florasols first hand, : because not many people sell them, and I haven't really worked with : them. : : Safety is the biggest issue, though. EOs are extremely concentrated, : one drop of EO is equivalent to several pounds of plant material (or : more!). Therefore, any plants which normally can be eaten is small : amounts, can be very toxic as EOs. (Wintergreen is the biggest : example of this.) I usually check aromaweb for a toxicity listing, : since they tend to be over cautious. I also check Nature's Gift. : I will post the aromaweb link below for reference. : : : : Of all the terpine oils people have talked about here, which do you : : think would work best for henna in terms of aromatherapeutic : : benefits? Or maybe better, which would you recommend for certain : : situations? For example, what would you recommend for street fairs : : where it is very busy and loud? I would love to hear your take on : it. : : For street fairs, frankincense is a good one because it's will calm : and ground people. There are also no sensitivity issues with it. : Pine is good for refreshing and uplifting, but it can be sensitizing : and/or irritating to the skin. I will have to wait til I get home to : access my books on tea tree and ravensara (although tea tree can be : rough on the skin)
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