Aromatherapy Definitions:

A few terms

Anti bacterial (antibiotic)

Antiviral and antifungal agents that destroy each of the respective microorganisms.

Antimicrobial

An agent which resists or destroys pathogenic micro-organisms (microbes). This term is often used the same as antiseptic.

Antiseptic

An agent that destroys and / or prevents the development of microbes.

Aromatherapie"

is the word coined by Henri Maurice Gattefosse in France in 1928 to describe the science he was beginning to explore: that of using the aromatic components of plants to facilitate healing. The story goes that Gattefosse burned his hand in his laboratory and thrust it into a container of Lavender oil; it apparently healed much more quickly than expected, and with minimal scarring.

Absolute -

A Solvent Extracted Oil, rather than Steam Distilled. Solvent Extraction is the only practical way to obtain the aromatic material from many of the most delicate florals, such as jasmine, tuberose and narcissus. (see Absolutes are often colored since they retain more of the less volatile molecules. Due to minute traces of solvent and potential alteration of the extract, Absolutes are not considered essential oils by some practitioners.

Cold Pressed -

Vegetable Carrier Oils are extracted by pressing the seeds to release their oil. Sometimes the process of "expressing" the oil from the peels of citrus fruit is also called "cold pressing."

Concrete -

The richly aromatic compound made up of the plant oils and waxes extracted from plant material, usually high class florals, through the solvent extraction process. Concretes can be worn as perfume. In order to make an absolute, the heavier molecules of the plant waxes are separated from the lighter oils using alcohol. Then the alcohol is distilled off, leaving the liquid absolute.

Emulsifier -

An oil or other liquid that essential oil is added to allow the dispersion of the oil in mirco droplets in water. It is naturally derived from coconut. Generally add one drop of emulsifier to every 4-5 drops of essential oil before adding to the water

Enfleurage

A traditional process of producing an absolute oil from delicate flowers and blossoms. The traditional method is to place a layer of aromatic plant material between two layers of fat. The fat draws the aromatic substance from the plants and adding new plant material, the fat becomes laden with the aroma. The fat is then dissolved with alcohol which separates the fat from the oil, then the alcohol is distilled off, leaving the absolute created from the process of enfleurage. This is a much more labor intensive process than the more common extraction process involving solvents.

Expression

Most citrus oils are the result of expressing the fruit rind or peel. Also referred to as cold pressed oils. The peels are shredded and mixed with water, then pressed. The oil is then separated and any solids are filtered out.

Hydrolat

The word is often interchanged with, hydrosol, denotes an aqueous solution. An aromatic water or floral water a is a near enough description of what the product actually is.

Microbes

Tiny living organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungus and more.

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