ESSENTIAL OILS ARE OILS CONTAINING THE CONCENTRATED AROMATIC ESSENCE OF PLANTS AND HERBS.
Essential oils are distilled from the leaves, petals, stem, bark or other part of the plant. Most essential oils are very clear and light in spite of being called oil. Popular oils include lavender, grapefruit, lemongrass, and patchouli to name a few.
ARE THEY THE SAME THING AS PERFUME OR FRAGRANCE OILS?
Not at all! Perfumes and fragrances are often mixed into other substances, combined with artificial ingredients, and are meant to be used only for their scent.
The chemical structure of essential oils can have various physical and mental benefits in addition to having a good scent. Some kinds of essential oils don't have much of a scent at all.
HOW ARE THEY USED?
Because essential oils are the concentrated essence of plants, they need to be diluted in a carrier oil before they are safe to use. Refer to the How to use your essential oils page for more information on how to dilute your essential oil.
Essential oils are generally used for their health benefits, applied through massage or inhaled through aroma from a diffuser or burner.