Essential Oils

An essential oil is a concentrated liquid constituting aromatic compounds from plants. It is made by distillation. Essential oils are frequently used in perfumery, aromatherapy, cosmetics, incense, food and drink flavorings, health care, and household cleaning products. They are valuable elements in the fragrance and flavorant industries.

Essential oil may also be referred to as "oil of" the raw plant from which it was extracted, such as oil of clove. The term essential is intended to indicate that the oil is the fragrant essence of the plant and not in the sense of being indispensable.

The medical use of oils has a long and noted history. Many oils used medicinally are essential oils. Medicinal properties claimed by those who sell medicinal oils vary from skin treatments to remedies for cancer, and are often based on historical use of these oils for these purposes.

Interest in essential oils has revived in recent years, with the popularity of aromatherapy. Most oils are distilled in a single process. One exception is Ylang-ylang which takes 22 hours to make using fractional distillation.

Various common essential oils have medicinal properties that have been applied in folk medicine since ancient times and are still widely used today. For example, many essential oils have antiseptic properties. Additionally, many are said to have an uplifting effects on the mind. Essential oils have different properties. These claims are supported in some studies and not confirmed in others.

Some essential oils including several of the citrus oils are photo-sensitizers, that increase the skin's reaction to sunlight and making it more likely to burn.

Here is a list of many essential-oils and their uses.

  • Agar, Highly prized for its fragrance.

  • Anise, rich odor of licorice, used medicinally.

  • Basil is used in making perfumes, as well as in aromatherapy

  • Bergamot, used in aromatherapy and in perfumes.

  • Buchu, Considered toxic and no longer widely used. Formerly used medicinally.

  • Cannabis flower, used as a scent in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, and candles.

  • Cardamom seed, used in aromatherapy and other medicinal applications. Extracted from seeds of ginger. Also used as a fragrance in soaps, perfumes, etc.

  • Carrot seed, used in aromatherapy.

  • Cedarwood, primarily used in perfumes and fragrances.

  • Chamomile, used medicinally and in aromatherapy.

  • Clove leaf, used as a topical anesthetic to relieve dental pain.

  • Cranberry seed, equally high in omega-3 omega-6 fatty acids, primarily used in the cosmetic industry.

  • Cumin oil/Black seed, used in veterinary medicine.

  • Davanal, used as a perfume ingredient and as a germicide..

  • Eucalyptus, historically used as a germicide. Commonly used in cough medicine, among other medicinal uses.

  • Fennel seed, used medicinally, particularly for treating colic in infants.

  • Fenugreek, used medicinally and for cosmetics from ancient times.

  • Frankincense, used for aromatherapy and in perfumes.

  • Geranium, used medicinally, particularly in aromatherapy.

  • Ginger, used medicinally in many cultures.

  • Grapefruit, used in aromatherapy. Contains 90% limonene.

  • Henna, used medicinally.

  • Jasmine, used for its flowery fragrance.

  • Juniper berry, used medicinally, including traditional medicine.

  • Lavender, used primarily as a fragrance. Also used medicinally.

  • Lemon, used medicinally, as an antiseptic, and in cosmetics.

  • Litsea cubeba, often used in perfumes and aromatherapy.

  • Melissa (Lemon balm), sweet smelling oil used primarily medicinally, particularly in aromatherapy.

  • Mentha arvensis/Mint, used in aromatherapy and other medicinal applications.

  • Mugwort, used in ancient times for medicinal and magical purposes. Currently considered to be a neurotoxin.

  • Myrrh, warm, slightly musty smell. Used medicinally.

  • Orange, consists of 90% d-Limonene. Used as a fragrance, in cleaning products and in flavoring foods.

  • Oregano, contains thymol and carvacrol, making it a useful fungicide. Also used to treat digestive problems.

  • Orris, used as a flavoring agent, in perfume, and medicinally.

  • Parsley, used in soaps, detergents, colognes, cosmetics and perfumes, especially men's fragrances.

  • Patchouli, very common ingredient in perfumes.

  • Pennyroyal, highly toxic. An abortifacient and can even in small quantities cause acute liver and lung damage.

  • Peppermint, used in a wide variety of medicinal applications.

  • Pine, used as a disinfectant, and in aromatherapy.

  • Rose, distilled from rose petals, Used primarily as a fragrance.

  • Rosehip, used medicinally.

  • Rosemary, used in aromatherapy, topically to sooth muscles, and medicinal for its antibacterial and antifungal properties.

  • Rosewood, used primarily for skin care applications. Also used medicinally.

  • Sage, used medicinally.

  • Sandalwood, used primarily as a fragrance, for its pleasant, woody fragrance.

  • Sassafras, used in aromatherapy, soap-making, perfumes, and the like. Formerly used as a spice, and as the primary flavoring of root beer, inter alia.

  • Savory, from Satureja species. Used in aromatherapy, cosmetic and soap-making applications.

  • Schisandra, used medicinally.

  • Star anise, highly fragrant oil using in cooking. Also used in perfumery and soaps, has been used in toothpastes, mouthwashes, and skin creams. 90% of the world's star anise crop is used in the manufacture of Tamiflu, a drug used to treat avian flu

  • Tarragon, distilled from Artemisia dracunculus, used medicinally.

  • Tea tree, used medicinally.

  • Thyme, used medicinally.

  • Vetiver (khus oil) a thick, amber oil, primarily from India. Used as a fixative in perfumery, and in aromatherapy.

  • Yarrow is used medicinally, to relieve joint pain

  • Ylang-ylang


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