Essential oils are any concentrated, hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. They are also known as volatile or ethereal oils, or simply as the "oil of" the plant material from which they were extracted. i.e. is oil of clove.
The term essential indicates that the oil carries a distinctive scent or essence of the plant, not that it is an especially important or fundamental substance. Essential oils do not have any specific chemical properties in common, beyond conveying characteristic fragrances; they are generally extracted by distillation.
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts that are used for a variety of purposes, including aromatherapy, massage, and natural skin care. They are made from leaves, stems, flowers, bark, and other parts of plants. Essential oils have been used for centuries in traditional medicine and beauty treatments. Essential oils are prepared through a process called steam distillation. This process involves boiling the plant material in water and then collecting the steam that is released. The steam is then cooled and condensed back into liquid form, which contains the essential oil. Other methods of extraction include cold pressing, solvent extraction, and carbon dioxide extraction.
Methods Of Oil Extraction
1. Cold-pressed extraction: This method uses an expeller press to extract oil from seeds and nuts. The expeller press is a screw-type machine that puts pressure on the food item and oil seeps out. This method is quite popular because it is natural and efficient. BEST method for Extracting oil from Seeds & Nuts.
2. Expeller Pressing: Expeller pressing is a mechanical extraction process that uses an expeller press to separate oil from seeds and nuts. This method is often used for extracting high-quality oils with a low percentage of free fatty acids. BEST USED To Extract oil from Seeds & Nuts.
3. Steam distillation: This method uses steam to separate essential oils from plant material. The steam passes through the plant material, releasing volatile compounds that are then condensed into liquid form for collection. BEST USED To Extract oil from flower Petals | Plant Leaves | Seeds & Nuts | Bark of plant | Stem of plant | wood of plant and tree.
4. Solvent extraction: This method uses a solvent, such as hexane, to extract oil from the seed. The solvent is mixed with the seed and heated to a certain temperature, which causes the oil to separate from the seed. The oil is then separated from the solvent and collected. BEST USED To Extract oil from flower Petals | Plant Leaves | Seeds & Nuts | Bark of plant | Stem of plant | wood of plant and tree.
5. Supercritical CO2 extraction: This method uses carbon dioxide as a solvent to extract oil from plant material at high pressure and temperature. It is a relatively new technique that has become popular due to its efficiency and lack of chemical solvents used in the process.This method is a clean, safe, and cost-effective way to extract oil from all the parts of plants.