Essential Oils
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants. An essential oil contains the essence of the plants fragrance and flavour. Essential oils can be obtained through a number of methods such as through distillation or cold pressing. They are then added to a carrier oil to create what we know as an essential oil.
How to use essential oils
Essential oils can be used a number of ways. Such as aromatherapy, candle making, soap making or adding to diffusers. Essential oils can be inhaled or diluted and applied to the skin, this makes them a perfect ingredient for candle makers, bath and body product producers and in reed diffusers. Try adding essential oils to Augeo® Clean Multi to make a natural aromatherapy reed diffuser. Citronella has been show to repel certain types of mosquitoes, a reed diffuser or candle made using this essential oil could work for you as a natural insect repellent.
How to choose the right essential oils
Many companies claim that their essential oils are the best or highest quality. Essential oils are a product where what you pay is what you get really applies. If a price seems to good to be true or low you need to ask why? The best quality essential oils will only use cold pressing or distillation extraction methods. Make sure the plants botanical name is listed, if an essential oil only uses its common name such as lavender you may find it has been diluted or had fragrance oils added to lower the price.
Anything I need to know?
Essential oils can be described as natural, but this does not mean that they are all safe to use directly from the bottle. Ensure you do your research on each oil, plants and herbs contain many naturally occurring compounds and some may harm you or others around you. Certain oils are toxic to pets, so make sure you are careful and do your research. This may mean diluting the oils in a carrier or adding only a certain amount.
Essential oils are also much more sensitive to heat than fragrance oils. So when using them in candle making you will need to be careful when adding them to your wax. If you wax is too hot when you add the essential oils you will burn off a lot of the scent.
A top tip is to find the melting point of your wax, and once you reach this temperature allowing it drop 1-2 degrees before adding your oils. This should help minimise fragrance loss.
Are your essential oils tested on animals?
None of our products are tested on animals or contain any animal derivatives.