What is the best way to learn about essential oils?

Some books you would find helpful for starters are:

1. Essential Living, by Andrea Butje.
2. The Heart of Aromatherapy, by Andrea Butje.
3. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Valerie Ann Worwood.
4. The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness, by Nerys Purchon and Lora Cantele.

What are the main ingredients in essential oils?

Essential oils (EO) are complex aromatic substances derived from plants that are mainly composed of terpenes and other compounds, namely aldehydes, fatty acids, phenols, ketones, esters, alcohols, nitrogen and sulphur compounds (reviewed by Ippolito et al., 2005).

How do you extract essential oils yourself?

Process

1. Place the plant material in the crockpot and cover it with water.
2. Turn the crockpot on high to heat the water.
3. After the plant material is cooked down, turn it off and let it cool.
4. The next day, pull the crockpot out of the refrigerator.
5. Place this into a bottle and cap.

What are the characteristics of essential oils?

Essential oils are organic, highly concentrated, volatile, alcohol soluble, mostly colourless, hydrophobic, less viscous than oil, less dense than water, watery texture and highly aromatic and the plants lending essential oils have distinctive fragrance. …

Do essential oils have chemicals in them?

Essential oils are any plant-based, volatile oil that contains a mixture of chemical compounds and have an aroma characteristic of the plant. Commonly used essential oils are eucalyptus oil, clove oil, tea tree oil and aromatherapy oils.

Can essential oils be made at home?

Steam Distillation – This is the most common way to make essential oils at home and can be done either with a crockpot or a still. Steam distillation works by boiling the herbs and plants until the essential oils separate from the plant and float on the water.