- Information on Essential Oils used in Aromatherapy

The material in this website is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. Essential oils are to be used at your own discretion after consulting a qulified aromatherapist. Any application of the recommendations is at user's sole risk. As different people react differently to aromas and constituents of oils, we give no expressed or implied guarantees to the effects of their use nor accept any liabilities.

Simple Do-It-Yourself Aromatherapy :

_{5 Essential Oils to Relieve Stress and Simple Ailments*} 

Lavender - First used as perfume by ancient Egyptians 2,500 years ago, lavender is now used to treat insomnia, migraines and provide stress relief. [use with a diffuser or dab onto hankie and inhale gently].
Rosemary - This fragrant plant relieves muscle pain, low blood pressure and cold feet and hands. [* mix with base oil]
Spearmint - The oil from spearmint aids digestion and eases nausea and vomiting. [*mix with base oil and massage on belly, or dab 1 drop on hankie and fan your face when nauseaous].
Masculine scents - Bay Laurel and Ylang-ylang appeal to many men. They also treat skin rashes, rheumatism and stomach ailments. [* same precautions as the other oils].

* Never apply essential oil directly on to skin without checking with a qualified practitioner.

For safety, mix 1 drop of e.o to 1 tablespoon of base oil (i.e. olive, coconut or soya oil) and apply. Refer to our safety guidelines below.

Source: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

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Hazardous Essential Oils
Do not consume/take any oils internally without consulting a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin. If you are pregnant or have medical conditions such as epilepsy, liver cirrhosis, cancer or any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children only the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils on children. A skin patch test should be conducted prior to using an oil that you've never used before. Instructions on conducting a skin patch test and more safety information can be found if you scroll down this page.

The list below displays essential oils that should not be used in aromatherapy without the express administration by a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Many should not even be used by a qualified practitioner!

Do not assume that an oil is safe to use if it is not on this list. Always refer to your aromatherapist or qualified practitioner for safety instructions, uses, and never, never leave aroma oils within the reach of children!

Important Note: The information provided in the Oil Profiles area is for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete or comprehensive. Please check for updates.

Safety Precautions
- Some essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy and by epileptics and individuals with other health conditions.
- For sensitive individuals, some oils can cause sensitization or allergic reactions.
- When using a new oil for the first time, do a 10-cent size patch test on your skin. Place a small amount of the diluted essential oil
(never use essential oils undiluted on the skin) on the inside of your elbow and apply a small plaster/band-aid. Wait 24 hours to
see if there is any form of reaction i.e. redness, rash, itching, swelling. This safety step should not be ignored, even with essential
oils deemed safe as each person is different and reacts differently. It's important that you always remember that.
- Nequid nimis i.e. without excess should be practised when using essential oils on your own at home, use the smallest/
minimum amount of essential oils recommended by the manufacturer. If one drop is the minimum for your purpose, don't use two
drops.

Tips for Users - DOs and DONTs
- DO be selective of where you buy your essential oils. The quality of essential oils varies widely from brand to brand and
manufacturer to manufacturer. Some companies may falsely claim that their oils are undiluted or pure when they aren't. Some
companies add alcohol to their essential oils to 'cut' the oil and extend their shelf life, thus saving them cost. Be aware of what you
are paying for and how it may affect your body and your well-being.
- DON'T buy perfume oils thinking they are the same as essential oils. Perfume oils do not give the therapeutic benefits of essential
oils and many contain alcohol. Perfume oils only smell nice, but offer no benefits to body, mind and spirit.
- DON'T purchase oils from street fair vendors, unless it is at a holistic event with registered vendors/companies promoting their
brands and services. The quality of essential oils at street fairs cannot be guaranteed, and as a beginner you may not be able to
reliably judge the quality of their oils.

ESSENTIAL OILS, CONCRETES, ABSOLUTES AND CO2 EXTRACTS: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Essential Oils
An essential oil is the aromatic and volatile extract of a plant. The essential oil may be liquid, semi-solid or solid, depending upon the product and climatic conditions. Oils are obtained through expression or steam distillation of the plant. We use these oils in our skincare products and our well-being aromatic inhalers. Some botanical species have little aroma/scent, but they produce essential oil when macerated.
Concretes
Concretes are highly concentrated solid or semi-solid perfuming materials. They are waxy and are made by alcohol or ether extraction of the essence of the plant material. We don't use concretes in our products at the moment.
Absolutes
Absolutes are extracted from concretes using alcohol. Most absolutes are liquid, but certain ones are semi-solid or solid. “Absolutes can also be obtained from the water of the distillation process such as Lavender water-absolute or Rose water-absolute…The part of an absolute one can steam distil is called an absolute oil.” (Jeanne Rose).
CO2 Extracts
CO2 extraction or supercritical CO2 extraction is another method of capturing the essence of the plant material. This method does not require the use of alcohol or solvents, and the heat used is less intense, thus the product is purer. CO2 extracts are usually semi-solid to solid. CO2 is vaporized and dissipated into the plant material, leaving only the extracted material behind. Most CO2 extracts tend to be expensive therefore most skincare makers use CO2 extracts only in fine toiletries and perfuming. We may use CO2 extracts in future formulations. We will keep you informed.
Oleoresins
Oleoresins occur naturally as seepage from plants. Most commonly, oleoresins are obtained through the solvent extraction of the plant material. They are used widely in food preparation and cosmetics and toiletries. However, organic oleoresins can be obtained from reputable wild harvest and organic suppliers.
Resinoids:  Resinoids are obtained from naturally resinous materials via hydrocarbon extraction.