Choosing Quality Essential Oils

                  Are you wasting money on essential oils because of poor quality?

 

Essential oils are a great example of; you get what you pay for, and if they are really cheap they cannot be organic essential oils. Panakea’s Essential Oils are all 100% organic, pure and either steam distilled, cold pressed or CO2 extracted to ensure the highest quality of aroma and health benefits.

 

Do you know about quality and why some essential oils perfume have a weak aroma which disappears quickly, while other oils have a powerful long lasting aroma? It’s all about the extraction, method and purity.

 

 

There are varying methods for extraction of essential oils; some methods ensure a much higher aromatic and medicinal quality. In the worst case scenario a chemical solvent is used for extraction or the oils are synthetic, meaning created from man made chemicals. This will compromise the aroma and medicinal benefits. In some cases the oil is diluted in another oil, glycerin or wax. 

The term organic means the oils have been steam or CO2 distilled. Always research your oils before buying and ensure they are of the highest organic quality from the purest extraction process and undiluted.

      Methods of Extraction

 

 

 

 

Steam Distilled

 

Status: Organic

 

The volatile oils are extracted through a steam distillation and the resulting oil is organic, pure and of high quality. Often used for oils contained in the flowers and leaves.

CO2 Extraction

 

Status: Organic

 

This is a relatively new method and ensures THE highest quality organic essential oil. Carbon Dioxide is introduced to the leaves, flowers or roots under enormous pressure. This allows powerful pure extraction while maintaining its organic status and the oil remains cool, while heat such as steam can compromise the oil. For example most ginger oils smell a bit burnt, CO2 expressed oil retains a pure sweet aroma. Rare Earth Oils Ginger Oil is CO2 expressed.

Cold Pressed

Status: Organic

 

This is when the oil is pressed under pressure to extract the oil. This method is usually used with citrus, such as orange, lime and mandarin. 

 

Chemical Extraction

 

This involved using a chemical to extract the oil, and as such is not really organic; the oil is of a lower grade and the aroma will be compromised.

Absolutes

 

Some oils are so expensive that all parts of the herb are extracted into the solution to boost aroma at a cheaper price. Jasmine is a good example of this.

Synthetic

 

Sadly these oils are not extracted from the plant at all but are manufactured similar to any commercial perfume, using man made chemicals, yet some how they are still sold as essential oils. There is much evidence that chemical fragrances are very dangerous to our health.