Difference between Absolutes and Essential Oils.
What is the difference between absolutes and essential oils?
As we know, Aromatherapy is all about using the sense of smell to improve the body, mind and soul. When practicing aromatherapy, nothing is more important than how a substance smells.
Nowadays beside essential oils, absolutes are becoming a part of aromatherapy. The highly-concentrated scent of absolutes can waken powerful feelings and emotions even in the busiest of life.
So what exactly is an absolute?
Absolute is a concentrated semi-solid material obtained by solvent extraction.
Absolute is similar to essential oils in that both are extracted from plants. However, the difference between absolutes and essential oils is the method that it is used during the extraction process.
Essential oil is a volatile, liquid, aromatic compound, extracted from plants cell. The cell located in specific parts of the plants such as flowers, seeds, roots, leaves, wood, bark, or peel. Mostly Essential oils are extracted using a steam distillation process.
But not all the plant and flower can be extracted using a steam distillation process. For those plants that have a very low concentration of essential oils, such as Jasmine, Rose, Neroli (orange blossom), Tuberose, and Oak Moss need a method called solvent extraction.
Solvent extraction is very gentle. It is a procedure by which aromatic compounds are drawn out of the plant material using volatile solvents such as petroleum, ether, benzene, resulting in a concentrate called “essence concrete”. The solvents are separated from the concrete and the remaining solvent mixed with alcohol and heated to undergo a filtering process in which the waxes and alcohol are removed. But some of waxes cannot be removed. This final end product is called absolute.
Another difference between absolutes and essential oils is: Absolutes sometimes tend to carry a more true to nature fragrance than Essential Oils. This is because they contain many of the non-volatile constituents of the plant such as tannins and pigments that are not made available by distillation means. Rose Absolute is a great example of this, displaying its vivid colour and exquisite fragrance.
It is for this reason that absolutes have been used primarily by those involved in the fragrance or perfume industries. They can be used successfully in aromatherapy however, extreme care must be taken. It's also important to note that absolutes can trigger an allergic reaction in some people.
While essential oils are pure oils, when in steam distillation process, there is no contact with any contaminants, so essential oils can be used for therapeutic purposes.
Conclusion :
The Difference between Absolutes and Essential Oils are based on two things.
1.The method that is used during the extraction process. Essential oils mostly used steam distillation, while absolute used solvent extraction.
2.The purity of oils. Essential oil is pure oil, while absolute still contain residue from the extraction process.
Some popular absolutes are:
Jasmine absolute
Extracted using solvents, Jasmine absolute offers an exquisite scent. Used for years in perfumes and therapy sessions, this sweet heady fragrance is among other things an effective aphrodisiac. Women with irregular menstrual cycles use jasmine absolute because it can help regulate these cycles. It can relieve headaches and is an effective antiseptic and antidepressant. It also has sedative qualities.Lavender absolute
Extracted using alcohol, Lavender absolute has a sweet, floral and woody fragrance reminiscent of a lavender shrub. It's perfect for use in soaps, creams and lipsticks.Oakmoss absolute
Extracted using solvents or alcohol, Oakmoss absolute has a rich scent that is both earthy and woody. Imagine the smell of damp oak along the seashore and this is what oakmoss absolute smells like - very comforting.
Rose absolute
Extracted from rose blossoms using chemical solvents, rose absolute is a feminine scent that is very intense. It's perfect for relaxing after a hard day or for when you're feeling particularly sexy.
Used in creams, soaps and lotions, rose absolute also has anti-viral and anti-bacterial qualities. It takes many, many rose blossoms to produce rose absolute which is why it's very expensive.
Lotus absolute
Extracted from either pink or white lotus flowers using solvents, lotus absolute has healing qualities. It can also help build confidence and self-esteem.
Please read about essential oils information to make you more understand about the Difference between absolutes and essential oils.
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