Essential oils have gained a ton of popularity in the past decade. So much so that many of the plants, resins or barks are dangerously overharvested. Best practices are a concern with the many companies producing essential oils as well. All sorts of contaminants and unfriendly chemicals have been found due to the extraction methods being used by some.
Another concern is how to use the essential oils safely, especially in the DIY community. There is a lot of misinformation out there, especially when it comes to ingesting essential oils, a practice I don’t support due to the risk/benefit ratio.
Essential oils are basically a super concentrated distillation through steam distillation, CO2 extraction, and sometimes chemical extraction (you want to steer clear of these oils and this practice). To give you an idea of how much plant material it takes… It takes approximately 252,000 individual petals (or 8,000 rose flowers) to produce one 5ml bottle of rose oil. This is the equivalent to 42 lbs. This is why I don’t support ingesting them. It is extremely difficult to calculate exactly how much of that super concentrated plant material goes into each drop, but I can tell you, every drop is super potent. There are guidelines and restrictions when formulating cosmetics and self care with these oils. You should know the sensitizing agents and the dermal limits of those agents before finalizing your formula as they are an important part of the calculation. Agencies like IFRA (The International Fragrance Association) set guidelines and standards on the safety of concentrated botanical oils used in cosmetics and fragrance.
Used correctly taking all of these things into consideration, they are wonderful plant allies to have as part of our healing tool kit. Aromatherapy works directly with the limbic system through association with scent by triggering memories and bringing the emotion to the surface to be processed. Recent studies have shown that using essential oils plays a key role in training to bring back the sense of smell after a bout with Covid. Another beautiful gift our plant friends give us. The oils are so magical to experiment with. Whether creating a personal fragrance, a blend that sparks joy, creating a beautiful fragrance for your home, or using them therapeutically..the possibilities are limitless.
The Art of Natural Perfumery. This is an area where essential oils really shine as well. The skill and art of blending Botanical perfume is ancient and timeless. It takes a lot of practice and intuition to create something truly unique, and it’s not a frugal hobby to pick up as the oils are costly, however if this is a passion you would like to pursue there are some great resources for learning. All three suppliers that I mention in this post at the paragraph below are a good way to start. Here in Rhode Island a great place to study is with Charna, of Providence Perfume Company. She offers all level classes and workshops. Also, The Institute of Art and Olfaction is a great place to study online for literally ALL things Natural Perfumey. If you are in Montreal, I highly suggest stopping by Lvnae . April is a wonderful Botanical perfumer and also offers workshops in person and online.
My three favorite companies that produce essential oils are Floracopeia, Eden Botanicals and The Tisserand Institute. These companies work hard on quality, sustainability, and ethically sourcing and are committed to education. They contribute to many programs in helping to support smaller distillers and farms across the world and are also great resources for education on all topics concerning the oils.
Here are some examples of what Floracopeia is doing: CLICK HERE
You can browse/shop Floracopeia oils through our linktree in our bio on our Instagram page. We will also have them available in the shop soon!
All three companies are also great resources on how to safely and exquisitely create some of your own self care, and are great resources to take your knowledge and understanding of these beautiful oils up a notch or ten (depending how far you would like to go!).
I LOVE essential oils. I encourage you to get creative! Once you get past learning a bit about these Earthly treasures and using them wisely and consciously…the possibilities are truly endless! Please find the links below of all the fabulous companies mentioned in this post.
This information is strictly for educational purposes. It is not meant to treat or diagnose. Please see your healthcare practitioner for any health concerns.
