Choice

We find essential oil in pharmacy and in biological store. Except for citrus fruits, the term "essence" is not synonymic of essential oil. An essence of lavender for example, which we sometimes find in hypermarket, is not an essential oil of lavender.

Essential oils has to carry the exact mention of the distilled plant, under its Latin name. The botanical name in Latin characterizes the sort of the plant. For the same "vulgar" name he can have several sorts called by different Latin names.  For example, there are several sorts of eucalyptus with different properties: the eucalyptus radiata and the eucalyptus globulus treat both some respiratory infections, but only the eucalyptus radiata is prescribed to children and asthmatics.

For some plants, we obtain different essential oils according to the part of the distilled plant. For example for the bitter orange tree, we distil flowers, leaves and we press zests of fruits. In that case, it is necessary to look at the label.

The aromatic compounds are present in weak concentration in the plants, especially in some plants as rose, Rosa damascena or centifoli, balm, the officinalis Melissa, where from the cost of essential oil. It also explains the use of flavors of synthesis in perfumes and cosmetics.

Conservation

It is recommended to store essential oils in amber or dark glass flasks, so as to protect them from the light, it is necessary to avoid air contact (no prolonged opening of flasks). In these conditions, essential oils can be kept several years.