Essential or etheric oils have been used for thousands of years in many cultures for their healing and beneficial effects on the body and mind. The terms essential oil and etheric oil are both used and mean the same thing: pure, natural oil extracted from plants and used for aromatherapy.
What is an essential / etheric oil?
Essential oil is extracted from pure plant material. The oil contains the volatile components of flowers, plants, roots, seeds, fruits, and resins. They protect the plant against diseases, provide its fragrance, and contain the plant's life force.
The plants, flowers, and herbs come from all over the world and are often processed in their country of origin. There is a large price difference between the various oils; some are very expensive. This is determined by the cost of the product (how rare or labor-intensive it is) and the amount of product required to extract the oil. For example, 1 liter of rose oil contains more than 1,000 kilos of rose petals, while producing 1 liter of lemongrass oil requires 'only' 30 kilos of material.
How does aromatherapy work?
Essential oils can enter the human body in two different ways.
- By inhalation: When the vaporized oil is inhaled, it enters the bloodstream through the lungs.
- By absorption through the skin: By mixing the oils with a skincare product, they are applied to the skin. They then enter the bloodstream through the vascular system.
They also stimulate receptors that transmit signals through the nervous system to the limbic system of the brain. As a result, these fragrant plant oils have a directly noticeable effect on a person's mood and physical condition.
What can you use etheric oil for?
Etheric oils represent an almost endless collection of highly concentrated plant oils, each with its own different applications for promoting health. The therapeutic properties of the oils have both physiological and psychological effects on the human body. Aromatherapy aims to stimulate the body's self-healing ability. Essential oil can be used for conditions such as headaches, stress, colds, stomach pain, flu, eczema, insomnia, concentration problems, minor wounds, fatigue, or acne.
How can you use etheric oil?
- Etheric oils can be mixed with a neutral base product such as Volatile's massage oil, base oil, shower gel, body wash, or sea salt. Essential oil is highly concentrated, so a few drops are often more than enough. The product is absorbed through the skin.
- The fragrant essential oils can be vaporized using a diffuser, aroma burner (aroma lamp), or with the help of an aroma stone.
- The concentrated oils can also be inhaled by adding them to a steam bath.
Important to know about essential / etheric oil:
- Do not experiment with pure oils without first researching aromatherapy. Especially during pregnancy, for people with serious medical conditions, and when using them on young children, you should seek advice from an expert.
- Essential oil should not be applied directly to the skin because it may cause irritation. There are two exceptions: tea tree oil and lavender.
- Etheric oils can be stored for several years if the bottle is tightly closed. After that, their quality gradually declines. Citrus oils are an exception; they should be used within one year of opening.
- Internal use of pure oils is not recommended. Do not experiment with them, and keep the product out of reach of children.
Our tips for using Volatile essential oils:
- Apply a small amount of essential oil to the filter of your vacuum cleaner. This creates a pleasant, clean-smelling atmosphere in your home during and after vacuuming.
- Add a few drops to the soles of your shoes. This removes the smell of sweaty feet.
- Your laundry will come out of the dryer smelling fresh if you add a few drops of oil to a cloth with the laundry before drying.
- Place an aroma stone with a few drops of fresh-smelling essential oil in small rooms where unpleasant odors often occur, such as the toilet, dressing room, or basement. Is the room larger? Place the stone on the heater for better fragrance distribution.
