A Scent-Filled Life
My mother was a gardening enthusiast. My childhood was spent half the time working at my Momma's business and half the time in the garden with her. It was a weekend ritual to weed, rake leaves, and plant, as Momma would talk about the various plants. Her favorite plant was a tree rose. At every home we lived in growing up, she would line the front walkway with tree roses. It’s a tradition that my sisters and I remember fondly.
As a child, I really didn't want to be spending time in the garden. I would rather be playing. As an adult, I treasure those memories. The dirt on my hands, the smell of the warm summer sun rays beating down on the greenery and flowering plants. The smells. Oh, the scents of the garden! As a child, my mind would become intoxicated with the smell of roses. No wonder rose essential oil is one of the most precious oils in the world!
Little did I know that my childhood gardening would grow into a lifelong love for tending to my own gardens and would culminate in my passion for essential oils. I have chosen doTERRA as my essential oil of choice for many reasons. But first, for those of you who don't know anything about essential oils, there is a science to the distillation but it is also an art. Distillers not only rely on years of experience, but also employ modern technologies and techniques.
The most common method of extracting essential oils is a low-heat steam distillation process. In this process, pressurized steam is circulated through plant material. The essential oils are liberated from the plant and carried away by the steam. When the steam cools, the water and oils naturally separate and the oil is collected. To ensure the highest quality oil extract with the correct chemical composition, the temperature and pressure must be closely monitored. Too little heat or pressure and the oil will not release; too much, and the oil’s composition and potency will be affected.
Steam Distillation
Steam distillation is the most common way to extract aromatic compounds (essential oil) from a plant. During the steam distillation process, steam passes through the plant material. The combination of heated steam and gentle pressure causes the essential oil to be released from microscopic protective sacs. As the vapor mixture flows through a condenser and cools, it yields a layer of oil and a layer of water. The essential oil rises to the top and is separated from the hydrosol (floral water) and collected.
Some have asked about the difference between first distillations in comparison to complete distillations. The temperature for steam distilling is usually between 140–212 degrees Fahrenheit. Since different plants require different pressures, times, and temperatures, using this particular distillation method makes it possible to adjust the temperature based on the plant type, making it a very effective and precise way to obtain the purest compounds.
Expression
Unlike steam distillation, expression sometimes referred to as “cold-pressed,” does not involve heat. In this process, oil is extracted from the product under mechanical pressure. doTERRA uses expression to extract all of its citrus oils, such as Wild Orange, Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, and Grapefruit, from the rind.
Proper distillation requires a consideration for the uniqueness of pressure, temperature, time, and harvesting practices, each of which may be as diverse as the plants themselves. A poor distillation process can alter or destroy the necessary aromatic compounds that comprise the essential oil, leaving a substance far different from the intended goal and something that would not be used to support health and wellness. For this reason, the best distillation artisans dedicate their efforts and work to only a few select plants. This focused effort develops proper knowledge and experience, helping ensure congruency between the oil chemistry of the plant and its distilled form. Source: https://www.doterra.com/US/en/why-doterra
Order doTERRA essential oils (Disclosure: I am a doTERRA Wellness Advocate and the links provided take you to my doTERRA shopping page. The opinions expressed in this article are my own and I love doTERRA!)
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