Essential oils are created by glandular structures in the plant, either on the surface or internally. If you touch a lavender leaf, for example, you can smell the essential oil on your fingertips from the external oil glands. With a plant like eucalyptus, you have to break open the leaf to access the aromatic compounds. In either case, when it comes to incorporating essential oils into wellness, it’s often more practical—and accessible—to work with a concentrated essential oil than the raw plant itself. This same procedure is used in hydro-distillation, where the plant material is actually submerged in water, and in hydro-diffusion, where steam is forced in from the top rather than passed through the plants from the bottom. Not all botanicals can withstand this high-heat method of extraction, which is why other methods exist. In this method, which is gaining popularity, the solvent, CO2, is placed in a chamber with the plant material. The chamber is then put under extreme pressure (100 to 200 times normal atmospheric pressure), at approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This combination of mildly increased temperature and hugely increased pressure puts the CO2 into a “supercritical” state. This is a nerdy concept, but it’s where the CO2 is part liquid and part gas (like a dense fog), which allows aromatic components of the plant to dissolve in the CO2 fog. The supercritical CO2, now containing extracted aromatic compounds, is separated from the remaining raw plant material, and then returned to normal atmospheric pressure, where carbon dioxide can only exist as a gas. When it changes back to gas, it leaves behind ONLY the extracted aromatic part of the plant. There is literally zero residue of the solvent in the remaining CO2 extract because the solvent has changed physically from a supercritical state to a pure gas. It’s a very cool trick, and a very expensive one, so its utility is still fairly limited. Essential oils can also be applied to the skin in the form of skin care products. Of course, not all oils are appropriate for skin care, and the concentration is important, so make sure you’re buying from a company with an educated formulator. Want to start using essential oils? Here are the best ones for combatting stress and anxiety. After a decade in the industry, Osmia has a stellar reputation for quality, transparency, sustainability, and authenticity in the clean beauty space. Their products help people find healthier, happier skin with meticulously researched and tested formulas, using sustainable ingredients of exceptional quality. Learn more about Sarah and Osmia here.
