Many considerations are taken into account throughout the entire process of producing essentials oils that are to be used for therapeutic purposes. For this reason, these aromatherapeutic grade essential oils tend to be harder to source and more expensive than commercial grade essential oils. Eden Botanicals is proud to offer you these highest-quality therapeutic grade essential oils at wholesale prices. True therapeutic grade essential oils are substantially different from commercial grade essential oils. In general, essential oils for aromatherapy are specifically grown for a special (small) sector within the essential oil market (which is within the Flavors and Fragrance industry). They are more expensive to purchase than commercial oils because more care has gone into the production of the plants, the distillation process, and the after-care of the oil, and they are made in batches that are smaller than commercial grade essential oil batches.
Specifically the following holds true for authentic essential oils that have been legitimately produced for the aromatherapy market.
Growing
Aromatherapy (aroma therapy) grade essential oils come from crops grown from seeds or root stocks that are true to species, subspecies, cultivar or variety and chemotype. They may be cultivated on small, independently owned farms or from larger farms and plantations, and they may have, or may not have, been grown using organic methods. The most important part in the growing cycle is that they have been grown and tended with care on soils that are healthy enough to produce quality crops. Other sources for aromatherapeutic grade essential oils are from plants that grow in the wild, where selective harvesting should be performed to ensure that the plants are able to continue to propagate on their own.
Harvesting
The correct timing for the harvest of cultivated or wild harvested plants, even to the time of day (especially for delicate flowers such as Jasmine and Rose), ensures the quality of fresh plant material, optimal yield of oil, and the desired proportions of constituents within the oil. During the harvest, whether by hand or by machinery, it is important that only the desired plant material is collected to the exclusion of other plants or weeds that may be growing along side the desired plants. Optimally, distillation takes place on the premises or the plant material may be transported to another location with care. Some plants or plant parts need to be distilled quickly after harvesting, while other material can sit (or actually needs to dry, etc.) before it is ready to distill. Some plants need to be sorted, cleaned, etc. before being distilled. In any case, the process needs to be monitored by someone who is knowledgeable and performed correctly for that specific plant type.
Distillation
A knowledgeable and experienced distiller is necessary to carefully monitor the process of distillation in order to create the highest quality of essential oils. Typically small batches of plant material in relatively small distillation units are used to create true aroma therapy essential oils. In contrast, commercial essential oils are produced more quickly in larger units and with higher heat.
A crucial factor in the distillation of aromatherapeutic grade essential oils is the use of lower temperatures and pressures, resulting in essential oils that are more representative of the oil’s constituents as they naturally occur in the plant. Higher temperatures and pressures employed in large stills and with large batches of plant material are used for the purpose of saving time and energy, so the integrity of the resulting oils is compromised. Essential oils produced in this way are considered commercial grade and are suitable for mass-produced food and beverage flavorings, soap manufacture, and similar uses.
A knowledgeable and experienced distiller is necessary to carefully monitor the process of distillation in order to create the highest quality of essential oils. Typically small batches of plant material in relatively small distillation units are used to create true aroma therapy essential oils. In contrast, commercial essential oils are produced more quickly in larger units and with higher heat.
A crucial factor in the distillation of aromatherapeutic grade essential oils is the use of lower temperatures and pressures, resulting in essential oils that are more representative of the oil’s constituents as they naturally occur in the plant. Higher temperatures and pressures employed in large stills and with large batches of plant material are used for the purpose of saving time and energy, so the integrity of the resulting oils is compromised. Essential oils produced in this way are considered commercial grade and are suitable for mass-produced food and beverage flavorings, soap manufacture, and similar uses.
The actual distillation process is likely the most demanding job and requires the most experience of any of the procedures necessary to produce high quality essential oils. A good analogy is the wine maker who uses his knowledge of science, technique and equipment, combined with extensive experience, and just as importantly combines this with his/her inner sense or intuition to manipulate many factors in order to produce the best quality end product.
Post-Distillation/After Care
Great care is taken in handling the end product of the distillation. Some oils require more after care than others, such as aeration to bring out the best possible aroma. There can also be a "pot", "off", or "still" note following even a well-executed distillation for some oils. To remove the offending note and to bring out the true aroma of the oil, a period of airing out is required. Some oils, such as Patchouli and Sandalwood, require aging to improve the aroma. These post-distillation processes can take days, weeks or even months for some oils, which will increase the cost of the final product. It is also important that no water remains in the essential oil and that the storage containers are new, clean, and of the right material for that particular oil.
Essential oils produced for the aroma-therapy market should be true to species, variety, chemotype, etc., as has already been mentioned. In terms of after-care, this means that different distillations may be combined, as long as the distillations are from the properly verified plant materials and no improperly distilled batches are included in the combined oil. Commercial-quality essential oils, however, are handled quite differently. They are usually made in large batches from many different distillations and are combined with minimal concern and discernment in the blending process. This means that different varieties (even different but related species or subspecies) may be combined together, or that oils from a wide geographic range may also be combined together. Once this happens, the true and authentic oil is lost.
Finally, proper labeling, dating, storage, and analysis will be conducted prior to marketing and transporting of the essential oils. Adulteration is a potential (and serious) factor in the post-production of essential oils, but we will leave that rather problematic side of the business for a separate article. It is important to stress, however, that therapeutic grade essential oils produced for the aromatherapy market should never be adulterated in any way, shape or form!
Once the essential oils (as well as the absolutes, CO2 extracts, organic extracts, etc.) we order reach us here at Eden Botanicals, they are allowed to "rest", usually overnight, before being decanted into new dark glass bottles or jars, labeled, and stored at a temperature of 60-64 degrees in a "cool" room that is much like a wine cellar. It is from there that they are carefully and lovingly poured into containers, labeled and sent on their way to you.