Essential Oils – What’s all the fuss about?
Essential Oils are compounds extracted from plants. This is most often accomplished using steam distillation of the plant materials or by cold pressing fruit peels. The resulting compounds retain the natural flavor or scent of the plant; the plant’s essence if you will.
The medicinal use of Essential Oils was first recorded in China and India between 3000 and 2000 BC. 1 Today EOs are commonly used in the practice of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine based on the use of aromatic materials, including essential oils, to improve psychological or physical well-being. As with other forms of alternative medicine (for example acupuncture), the validity of the therapeutic claims have been extensively studied and are still open to debate.2
Today’s growing emphasis on health and wellness and the positive perception about aromatherapy is driving the uptake of essential oils, according to a new study by Fact.MR.3 While OutsideIn Soaps LLC makes no claim that the essential oils used in our products will cure what ails you, we can guarantee they smell wonderful! You will have to be the judge of if and how they affect you physically and emotionally. Remember that as with any substance, even natural ones, some people may be more sensitive than others so be sure to try the soap on a small area of your body first.
Below are some of the Oils we use in our soaps and some of the benefits attributed to them on the internet:
|
Essential Oil |
Scent |
Possible Benefits |
|
Balsam |
Sweet, woodsy |
Anti-inflammatory, reduce anxiety |
|
Bergamot |
Fresh, citrus, sweet |
Relaxing and calming |
|
Cedarwood |
Thick, woody |
Calming, stress relief, restful sleep |
|
Cinnamon Leaf |
Spicy |
Revitalizing, refreshing, warming |
|
Clove |
Spicy |
Warming, anti-microbial, anti-fungal |
|
Coriander |
Sweet, spicy, woody |
Relaxation, promotes clear skin |
|
Cypress |
Woody |
Balance Emotions, sooth |
|
Eucalyptus |
Camphoraceous |
Reduce tension, increase relaxation |
|
Frankincense |
Resinous |
Soothes and rejuvenate skin, sense of peace and wellness |
|
Lavender |
Herbal, light floral |
Relaxation, restful sleep, mood improvement |
|
Lemon |
Light, sharp citrus |
Uplifting, clarifying, astringent |
|
Lemon Grass |
Herbaceous citrus |
Repel insects, Heighten awareness, increase positivity |
|
Patchouli |
Warm, musky, sweet |
Relaxation, emotional balance, reduce blemishes and wrinkles |
|
Peppermint |
Cool mint |
Energizing, stimulating, revitalizing |
|
Pine |
Pine |
Anti-inflammatory, |
|
Rosewood |
Warm, Spicy, woody |
Antiseptic, aphrodisiac, stress reliever |
|
Sandalwood |
Woody |
Relaxation, restful sleep |
|
Sweet Orange |
Sweet Citrus |
Uplifting, Calming |
|
Tea Tree |
Sharp with med spice |
Anti-septic, anti-microbial, deodorizing |
|
White Fir |
Crisp Woody Forest |
Calming, Stabilizing, energizing |
|
Wintergreen |
Sweet, Woody |
Anti-inflamatory |
1 Baser K. H. C., Buchbauer G. Handbook of Essential Oils: Science, Technology and Applications. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press; 2010
2https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-are-essential-oils
3https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/essential-oils-to-witness-robust-sales-in-aromatherapy-on-account-of-thriving-health-and-wellness-trend-unveils-latest-fact-mr-study-831831249.html