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Essential Oils

post #1 of 8
9/18/07 at 11:28am
Thread Starter 
Can someone here, in a short paragraph, explain the difference between an Essential Oil used in cosmetics and an Essential Oil used in flavored oil?

I think I understand it but am trying to explain it to others. :crazy:
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post #2 of 8
9/18/07 at 3:14pm
Hi AnaI,

I am not familiar with essential oils used to flavour oil but I can understand how this can be done.

Essential oils are made by soaking plant material (like rosemary) in a solvent then distilling the solvent or by using steam to extract the essential oil. The same essential oil can be used for both applications actually. Food grade essential oils are made using food grade materials (i.e food grade solvents). On a commercial/industrial level, essential oils are very concentrated making it almost impossible for any practical home use. There may be a big difference in concentration between cosmetic and flavouring.
Essential oils can be adulterated using a blend of other plant extracts or even fortified with aromatic synthetic chemicals. The whole industry is not well regulated and many products are fakes or adulterated. Often also, the prices are overly inflated. It is hard to find unquestionable quality material on the retail market.

I think that was one paragraph.

Luc H
I eat science everyday, do you?
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post #3 of 8
9/18/07 at 3:45pm
Thanks for the input Luc. Your insight is quite helpful.
And how is "le belle provence" treating you these days?
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post #4 of 8
9/18/07 at 4:19pm
Jigz369,

La belle Province is nice these days: cold nights, cool days and fall colours are starting. Fall is my favorite season.

For those interested, I have been experimenting at making my own essential oils at home using my own herbs and aromatic plants. To date my lavender <quasi-essential> oil is not bad smelling. It's a tad weak so I must experiment to make it more concentrated but at least I know it's authentic. Nothing like 94% (196 proof) alcohol from the liquour store as a food grade solvent.

technically I could extract the essence of any plant. I wonder if that could be a service I could offer.

Luc H
I eat science everyday, do you?
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post #5 of 8
9/18/07 at 4:22pm
AnaI, is it possible you are confusing essential oils and infused oils?

Essential oils are a volitile part of plants, often responsible for their flavor and aroma. As Luc explained, they are extracted from the plants using various distilation methods.

This is not, btw, a tabletop operation that you can do at home.

Infused oils, on the other hand, are often used for culinary purposes. For those, a flavoring agent is mixed with an oil and allowed to sit for various time periods. The oil extacts the flavors, which get infused through it.

For instance, I recently made a mint-infused oilive oil for one of Nino Graziano's great recipes. This is one of his basic oil infusions:

1 dl (scant 1.2 cup) extra virgin olive oil
1 bunch fresh mint

Puree the mint leaes with the oil in a food processor or blender. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve (discarding the solids) and reserve the oil.

Note that mint infuses quite readily, so it doesn't have to sit for an length of time. On the other hand, a tangerine-infused oil he also makes has to macerate for 6 days.

Infused oils are also an integral part of herbal medicine. The basic balm I make, for instance, uses six different herbs, each infused seperately into the oil. But the process is the same, whether you are making medicine or making dinner.
They have taken the oath of the brother in blood, in leavened bread and salt. Rudyard Kipling
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post #6 of 8
9/18/07 at 4:34pm
Luc, I've been thinking of doing the same thing and have run some experiments of my own. I wanted mint extract for making ice-cream, which is what started my quest. Of course, I have none of the expertise you do. Any of your insight would be greatly appreciated as you develop your line.
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post #7 of 8
9/18/07 at 5:01pm
Free Rider,
***** the extraction process I had explained was incorrect (I was mistaking with something else), I am investigating the proper technique and will come back and report****
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Foot note: menthol cigarettes are flavoured by spraying a solution of alcohol and menthol of the paper backing of the foil wrapping. Since menthol sublimates it flavours the cigarettes sealed in the packaging. That is why when you run out of menthols, you can place regular cigs in the menthol pack, seal and wait until the next day and voilà! menthol cigs.
(for the record, I quit smoking a while back and always hated menthols).

Let me revisit that extraction protocol for menthol/peppermint again and I'll get back to you on that.

Luc H
I eat science everyday, do you?
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post #8 of 8
9/20/07 at 12:31pm
Hi Free Rider,

To make essential oils you need a distillation apparatus (a still). Another way is using a Sohxlet extractor (more efficient then a still).

Mint oil is often prepared at the plantation where they collect the leaves and place them in sealed vats and inject steam. Then the escaping steam is condensed back to water using a cooling coil. The oil that floats on top is separated. the cultivar of choice is corn mint or mentha averensis.
Using a still at home you can do the same.
To obtain pure menthol crystals, you must refrigerate (even freeze) the oil and menthol needles will appear. On an industrial level these crystals can be several inches long. Smelling menthol crystals makes your eye feel cold.

Maybe an easier process would be to make a tincture.
Here is a good explanation: Homemade Medicine | These healthy herbal tinctures are easy to make at home.
Good luck!
Luc H.
I eat science everyday, do you?
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