Comments on: What is the difference between flower essential oils and their extracts? http://www.essential-oils-tdr.com/what-is-the-difference-between-flower-essential-oils-and-their-extracts/ It's All About Essential Oils Tue, 22 May 2012 11:13:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Tuesday Smith http://www.essential-oils-tdr.com/what-is-the-difference-between-flower-essential-oils-and-their-extracts/comment-page-1/#comment-1458 Tuesday Smith Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:53:11 +0000 http://www.essential-oils-tdr.com/what-is-the-difference-between-flower-essential-oils-and-their-extracts/#comment-1458 They contain different chemical constituents. Using rosemary as the example, rosemary essential oil would be steam distilled. The distillation produces two products: essential oil and hydrosol. The essential oil portion is the volatile oils, and the hydrosol contains water soluble parts. Rosemary extract (or whatever extract) is a bit more complicated, only because there doesn't seem to be a standard definition for the term "extract". An oil extract would be like an infused oil. A rosemary infused oil would be a carrier oil, infused with rosemary (usually just soaked in the oil for a length of time) and allowing the oil soluble parts into the carrier oil. An alcohol extract would be like a tincture. The rosemary would be soaked in an alcohol/water mixture and the alcohol soluble constituents would be extracted, but not the oil soluble. A water extract, I'm not sure about. I don't know much about flower remedies, but I believe they are water extracts. I'm not sure exactly how they're made, but like the others, the water soluble parts would be extracted, but not the oil or alcohol. I hope I explained that well... They contain different chemical constituents. Using rosemary as the example, rosemary essential oil would be steam distilled. The distillation produces two products: essential oil and hydrosol. The essential oil portion is the volatile oils, and the hydrosol contains water soluble parts.

Rosemary extract (or whatever extract) is a bit more complicated, only because there doesn’t seem to be a standard definition for the term "extract".

An oil extract would be like an infused oil. A rosemary infused oil would be a carrier oil, infused with rosemary (usually just soaked in the oil for a length of time) and allowing the oil soluble parts into the carrier oil.

An alcohol extract would be like a tincture. The rosemary would be soaked in an alcohol/water mixture and the alcohol soluble constituents would be extracted, but not the oil soluble.

A water extract, I’m not sure about. I don’t know much about flower remedies, but I believe they are water extracts. I’m not sure exactly how they’re made, but like the others, the water soluble parts would be extracted, but not the oil or alcohol.

I hope I explained that well…

]]> By: Mary http://www.essential-oils-tdr.com/what-is-the-difference-between-flower-essential-oils-and-their-extracts/comment-page-1/#comment-1459 Mary Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:53:11 +0000 http://www.essential-oils-tdr.com/what-is-the-difference-between-flower-essential-oils-and-their-extracts/#comment-1459 Essential oils are the most concentrated forms of oil. Often a phenomenal amount of plant material must be processed, in the order of tons sometimes. Essential oils such as attar of Roses may cost much more ounce for ounce than gold or platinum. An extract is an unconcentrated form and is much cheaper. Essential oils are the most concentrated forms of oil. Often a phenomenal amount of plant material must be processed, in the order of tons sometimes. Essential oils such as attar of Roses may cost much more ounce for ounce than gold or platinum.

An extract is an unconcentrated form and is much cheaper.

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