The sense of smell is the most powerful of the senses. It is capable of bringing up long-forgotten memories, feelings of delight and sorrow, as well as stimulating sexual responses. Essential oils have great benefits in organic skin care.

Aromatherapy

essential oil of rosemary organic skin care

Essential oil of rosemary benefits organic skin care products.

Aromatherapy developed because of the far-reaching effects of our sense of smell. Aromatherapy is simply the science of using oils distilled from plants — including trees, flowers and herbs — to heal the spirit, mind and body. A plant’s life force is stored in the oil. When absorbed into the skin or inhaled, these oils have the power to alter moods, heal cells, stimulate circulation and enter the bloodstream to heal the body.

Aromatherapy has been used for eons to heal and enhance our sense of well-being. It has been used in skin care since the Egyptian culture some 5,000 years ago. For thousands of years, man has used the sense of smell ritualistically through incense, perfumes, lotions and in healing.

Distilling and Extracting Essential Oils

Essential oils are the essence of the plant. Plants usually contain between one to 10 percent essential oil. The oils are usually extracted by a distillation process.

Extraction is sometimes done with alcohol. Sometimes it is done mechanically, like for citrus fruits. For example, the citrus peel is squeezed, and the essential oil oozes out.

Robert B. Tisserand, author of “The Art of Aromatherapy,” suggests that the essence of a plant is “like its personality. All animals, including humans, have their own characteristic smell.”

There is little doubt of the importance scents play in our lives. Scents affect our sexuality and arousal, relaxation, memory, moods, emotions and help the body by promoting healing. It is estimated there may be up to 500,000 different scents on this planet.

Essential oils are derived from the flowers of plants to which they ply their characteristic odors commonly identified with those plants. They are extracted using steam distillation, pressing, solvent extraction and enfleurage. Enfleurage is employed for those very delicate oils whose odors are destroyed by even moderate heat. The process involves exposing odorless fats to the exhalations of flowers until they become strongly charged with the perfume. Jasmine and tuberose require this method of derivation.

Function of Essential Oils

One theory is that the function of essential oils is to regulate the rate of transpiration in plants. Moisture from essential oils has different heat conductivity than of just moisture alone, so the essential oil and its scent is a protection to retain moisture and to maintain temperature.

Many things can affect the essential oil within the plant. In some plants, the essential oil can be found in different parts of the plant during different times of the day or year. During the fecundation process, flowering, the essential oil can change drastically. Also, many external conditions such as fertilization, light, heat, moisture, altitude and even parasites can change the anatomical structure of the plant — and so affect the essential oil.

Most essential oils, though, are formed at an early part of the plant’s life, so it is best to extract it before the fecundation process.

Lily Farm Fresh Skin Care Nourishing Facial Cleanser

Natural skin care in Nourishing Facial Cleanser with sage

Essential Oil and Lily Farm Fresh Skin Care

Lily Farm Fresh organic skin care products utilizes the concentrated effects of essential oils.

Note, essential oils can cause skin irritation when used at full strength. Lily Farm Fresh carefully formulates all products for maximum nourishment while maintaining skin soothing qualities.