In this article, you will learn how essential oil is made, how to choose it correctly so as not to fall for a fake, and which manufacturers produce popular essential essences. Each method of processing raw materials requires the use of one or another equipment, this is a distiller, heat exchanger, receiving tank, etc. The manufacturer is also faced with the question of where to get inexpensive vegetable raw materials for obtaining ether, but so that it, in due time, was of high quality, while the acquired plant requires careful attention to itself.
Many essential essences, including verbena, neroli, rose, have no expiration date. As a noble wine, every year they become even better. Some esters can retain their properties only under optimal conditions, so citrus fruits are stored for no more than three years at a temperature of 10-15 ° C, to protect the oil from ultraviolet radiation, the substance is transferred to a container made of dark material.
Ways to use essential oils
If you bought an essential oil and are not familiar with the rules and methods of its use, do not rush to experiment with the product, first read the instructions for the product. Remember, in no case should ethers be used in their pure form, be sure to use transport oils, solid (shea, coconut, cocoa, etc.) or liquid (argan, wheat germ, apricot, peach kernels, etc.)). Esters are widely used for:
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Aromatic baths. Many women use essential oils for relaxation purposes, such products help relieve stress, improve mood, and they can also improve muscle tension and colds.
Most women add only essential oil to the water for taking a bath, but this action can cause skin irritation, since the ether does not dissolve in water. It is better to use salt, milk, honey or kefir as a transport base, and the procedure itself should take from 5 to 25 minutes and take place no more than three times a week. The water temperature should not exceed 40 ° C. A fragrant bath with essential oils does not imply additional use of shampoos, foams and other cosmetic products.
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Inhalation. With the help of inhalation, it is possible to alleviate the condition of the body with illnesses such as influenza, bronchitis, asthma, etc. Inhalation also helps to clear the skin. This procedure is recommended to be carried out only after consultation with the attending physician, so as not to aggravate the situation. Esters of tea tree, sage, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, etc. can help with colds. You can use the following compositions for inhalation in a 1: 1 ratio: lavender and pine oil, rosemary and thyme, eucalyptus and thyme, and inhalation using the following eucalyptus (2 drops), lavender (2 drops), mint (1 drop), rosemary (1 drop).
Inhalation can be divided into two groups: cold and hot. In the first case, you can drip a couple of drops of essential essence on a paper napkin or clean cloth and inhale the aroma with your nose for up to 10 minutes, in the second, you should use an inhaler or just add a couple of drops to hot water, bend over and cover your head with a towel, inhaling steam for 5-10 minutes.
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Massage. The effectiveness of massage can be significantly improved by using base oils and essential oils in the process. They use products that stimulate blood circulation, improve heating of the skin of the body, break down fat deposits, and tighten the skin. At the same time, the aroma of the essential oil should only cause pleasant sensations.
Facial massage with oils will help improve blood circulation by saturating the stratum corneum with nutrients. Pour a small amount of base oil or a mixture of them into the palm of your hand, add 1-2 drops of essential oil, apply on the face with massage movements.
- Compresses. Compresses with the addition of esters are good for joint diseases, bruises, bruises, inflammatory processes, headaches. Separate cold (for diseases of the heart, head, edema and bruises) and warming options for compresses (on the throat from hoarseness, on the stomach from constipation, gastritis, diarrhea, etc., on the chest from pneumonia, coughing, on the joints from rheumatism, sprains).
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Preparation of aroma lamps and aroma stones. Essential oils, based on their aroma, are able to fill rooms with a special atmosphere, some smells refresh the air, some allow you to create a home, there are also scents that help you relax or get aroused. The aroma lamp is a bowl (at least 50 ml), into which water is poured (from 50 to 55 ° C) and a few drops (2 drops per 5 sq.m. area) of essential essence are added, a candle is placed under it, while the distance from the flame to the bowl should be more than 10 cm. The procedure itself can last up to 2 hours, during this time, sometimes water should be added to the lamp.
Aroma stone differs from the action of the previous version in that it spreads the smell only a short distance, it is a stone with a porous structure, which can be made at home using gypsum. Put a couple of drops on a stone and put it in a closet or bag, for example, as soon as the smell disappears, you can use essential oils again. Instead of a stone, a sachet, a sachet of fragrance, or a pendant with ethers will do.
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Enrichment of cosmetics. Do you want your cosmetic products to not only smell good, but also bring additional benefits? Why not add 1-2 drops of essential oil to the product ?! In this case, the base with ethers should be very well placed so that the resulting product does not cause irritation.
Not a single person who makes face and body creams at home can do without the use of essential oils, because he knows that such components can eliminate one or another skin problem, and by combining several esters, you can give the prepared product a unique and inimitable wonderful aroma.
Essences of lemon, cedar, chamomile, parsley, grapefruit, etc. help well against age spots and freckles, chamomile, lavender, ylang-ylang oils are used to soothe oily skin, bergamot, grapefruit, rosemary, orange are used to help reduce shine on the face. for dry skin, take oils of geranium, chamomile, jasmine, tea and rose tree, lavender, geranium are noted for smoothing actions; to get rid of small wrinkles, the creators of creams can make products with the addition of myrrh, pine, sandalwood or nerol ether to the formulation.
If you decide to make a cream with your own hands, be aware that the dosage of essential oils should not exceed 1%, some esters are generally appropriate to add in the amount of 0, 2-0, 4%.
How not to fall for a fake essential oil
Before making a purchase of an essential substance, you need to make sure that you have chosen a quality product. To do this, first take a look at the packaging of the product, its expiration date, the label must contain information about the botanical name in Latin, an indication that the product is 100% natural, the method of obtaining the raw material is also important. Open the package and take a look at the container, ideally it is made of dark brown glass, its volume is 5 or 10 ml, and some expensive oils, roses, for example, can fill even smaller jars. See if there is a dispenser in the bottle, be sure to pay attention to the presence of an opening control ring.
Don't buy oils that are too cheap! Think for yourself how many kilograms of plant materials you need to extract in order to get at least 10 ml of ether. The price of the product is determined by the value and rarity of the plant, the percentage of ether in the plant used, the costs of growing, production, transportation of the product, making good packaging, the cost of personnel, electricity, rent or purchase of premises, equipment, quality affects the cost of an etheric substance the oil itself and the payment for the brand.
The high price of a product is not yet a guarantee of a quality product, therefore, in order to determine whether a synthetic and artificial analogue is in front of you, conduct a simple test using only one sheet of paper and, in fact, essential oil.
The aroma of natural oil cannot smell like synthetic and does not hit the nose when the bottle is opened. Keep in mind that citrus oils evaporate quickly, but conifers can scent all day long.
Place 1 or 2 drops of essential oil on a clean white sheet of paper. A good ether does not contain sediment, but leaves behind a slightly colored stain, though not greasy, otherwise the manufacturer decided to dilute the product with vegetable oil or poorly cleaned it from resins. Pay attention to the stain left by the essential oil, if it has spread too much, most likely, in front of you is a fake.
Popular essential oils
Essential oils from a variety of plants can be found commercially, including:
- Roses, Aroma-Zone - one of the most valuable and expensive essential substances, since to get 1 kg, you need to collect 4 tons of rose petals, and to get just one drop of oil, 30 flower buds are used, which are collected by hand before sunrise. It is perfect for the care of mature skin, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, regenerates and tones the skin, and also hides signs of fatigue. Manufacturer - Bulgaria. Volume - 1 ml, price - 25 €.
- Lavenders, Spivak - obtained from fresh inflorescences and stems, the product has antiseptic, regenerating, bactericidal properties, therefore it can be used to accelerate the healing process of wounds, reduce the appearance of scars, while the aroma of the product helps to restore the nervous system and overcome insomnia. In cosmetology, lavender ether is perfect for those with oily skin, the oil helps to cope with acne, reduce hair loss and eliminate dandruff. Volume - 10 ml, price - 317 rubles.
- Orange, Now Foods - gives additional energy and stimulates, including this product obtained by cold pressing of fresh orange peel into a formulation of a cosmetic product or simply into a base oil, the skin gains a healthy fresh look, the visibility of freckles is reduced, the work of the sebaceous glands is optimized. These are not all the properties that this ether has, you can read more information in the instructions for the product. Volume - 30 ml, cost - 212 rubles.
- Tea tree, Aura Cacia - this oil is widely used by girls as a remedy for pimples, irritation, rashes, fungal infections of the nails, ringworm, herpes on the lips, etc. It is applied pointwise, not taken orally. Tea tree oil can be used to wash disinfectant laundry. Volume - 15 ml, price - 412 rubles.
- Ylang-ylanga, Zeytun - refers to an aphrodisiac, can be safely used to activate sexual desire, to relieve feelings of anxiety and fear, relieves emotional stress. As for the skin, ylang-ylang regulates the production of sebum, reduces irritation, suits the owners of sensitive face types, makes any skin more elastic and velvety. Volume - 10 ml, cost - 730 rubles.
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