Definitions

Absolute

(Davis, P., Aromatherapy An A - Z, 1988, Revised Edition, 1995, 12.)

The term used to describe materials which are obtained from the plant by means of enfleurage or solvent extraction. Absolutes differ from essential oils in that they have an extremely high perfuming and therapeutic power, and need to be used in low concentrations.

Aromatherapy

(Devereux, C., The Aromatherapy Kit, Essential Oils and How to Use Them, 1993, P.7)

Any use of essential oils that benefits an individual. **

Bark 2 protein

(The Phyto - Aromatherapist and Phyto-Aromatologist Practioners' Manual)

A protein in the body (beta-adrenergic receptor kinase) that completely inactivates a stimulated odorant receptor, the effect of which will cause a person to stop smelling a fragrance, shortly after being exposed to it. (The Phyto - Aromatherapist and Phyto-Aromatologist Practioners' Manual). The reason why people around you can smell a fragrance that you are wearing and you can't.

Carrier Oil

(McGilvery, C. and reed, J., Essential Aromatherapy, SMITHMARK Publishers Inc., 1994, p. 15)

A base oil which is normally extracted from nuts or seeds and each has its own particular quality. Cold-pressed is best. ***

Carrier oils usually have a shorter shelf-life than essential oils, and experience shows that they are best used within a few months of production. They are called "carrier oils" because this type of oil is used with an essential oil to dilute the strength of the concentrated essential oil. (To obtain a 3% dilution, one would mix 3 drops of an essential oil with 100 drops of a carrier oil.

Concrete

(Davis, P., Aromatherapy An A - Z, 1988, Revised Edition, 1995, 84.)

A concrete is an aromatic substance extracted from plants by solvents. It contains fats and waxes as well as essential oil and needs further treatment with alcohol to obtain an absolute. This method is used mainly where steam distillation would spoil the delicate fragrance of the plant material (Jasmine, for example).

Enfleurage

(Davis, P., Aromatherapy An A -Z, 1988, Revised Edition, 1995, 108.)

The traditional method used to extract the finest quality essences from delicate flowers such as rose and jasmine. It is a labor intensive, time consuming, and costly process, which accounts for the high price of these oils, or absolutes. Sheets of glass are coated with fat, usually purified lard or beef fat, and freshly picked petals are sprinkled over the fat. The glass sheets are stacked in tiers in wooden frames, and the essence from the petals is absorbed into the fat. The faded petals are removed and fresh ones spread over the fat for many days, sometimes as long as three weeks in the case of jasmine, until the fat can absorb no more essential oil.

The fat is then collected and cleaned of any debris, such as stale petals or stalks. At this stage it is called a pommade. The pommade is then diluted in alcohol and shaken vigorously for twenty - four hours to separate the fat from the essential oil.

Essential Oil

(Davis, P., Aromatherapy An A -Z, 1988, Revised Edition, 1995, 111.)

The oil obtained after extracting highly aromatic cells from a plant by distillation. The special cells that are extracted are the "essence" of the plant and the substance which gives the plant its aroma.

Essential Oil Holiday

(Davis, P., Aromatherapy An A- Z, 1988, Revised Edition, 1995, 319.)

In order to prevent the body from building up an immunity or toxic level to a particular essential oil or essential oils synergy, it is recommended that you go on an "essential oil holiday". After a period of 14 to 21 days of continuous use, a particular essential oil should not be used for 7 to 10 days.

NF Grade

The NATIONAL FORMULARY is the official, national register covering pharmaceutical ingredients and nutritional supplements. If a substance is to be used in medicinal compounds and is listed in the National Formulary, the substance must meet the criteria reflected for that particular substance in the National Formulary. Since Lavender essential oil is listed in the National Formulary, "Lavender NF" would signify that this lavender essential oil could be used in medicinal compounds calling for lavender oil.

Phyto - Therapy

(Davis, P., Aromatherapy An A -Z, 1988, Revised Edition, 1995, 253.)

This term is a compound of two Greek words meaning 'plant' and 'healing'and is used to describe all forms of treatments using plants.

Quality

(Valnet, M.D., J., The Practice of Aromatherapy, Healing Arts Press 1980, 27.)

The yield (of essential oils) may vary from one to ten - which is to say that quality in essential oils, as in anything else, has to be paid for... Essential oils are often adulterated, with alcohol, fixed oils, essential oils of less value and certain synthetic(s)...

Non-commercial grade

Essential oils which are obtained from the crop during the first three of ten distillation processes, are grades 1 to 3, and are considered non-commercial grade; includes NF (National Formulary) grade.

Commercial grade

Essential oils which are obtained from the crop during the balance of the ten distillation processes are grades 4 to 10, and are considered commercial grade.

USP

Abbreviation for the United States Pharmacopoeia. A national publication covering all of the approved drug substances, medical devices and dosage forms.

Synergism

(Tisserand, R., Aromatherapy To Heal and Tend the Body, 1988, p.70, 71.)

Working together in harmony', and essential oils generally work better when mixed with other essential oils (synergies).