Essential oils are fragrant oils that exist in the flowers, leaves, stems, bark, peel and other parts of plants. Essential oils are also called volatile oils because they evaporate when exposed to air. Many different types of plants have an essential oil.  Examples of these are flowers like rose, gardenia, carnation, and jasmine. Citrus fruits, like orange, lemon and lime, also have essential oils.  Other plants that have an essential oil are nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper. Whenever you peel an orange, some of the essential oil in the peel squirts out and this is what you smell as you are peeling the orange.

About Essential Oils
Essential oils are removed from flowers and plants by three basic methods: steam distillation, expression, and extraction.

Steam Distillation:
Using this method, the fragrant parts of the plant are put in a device called a “still.” Steam is allowed to permeate the plant material. As the steam rises it loosens the essential oils in the plant parts and carries it to a separate container.  The steam is condensed into water in this separate container and the essential oils are removed from it there.

Expression:
This method is used for removing essential oils from the peels of citrus fruits like orange, lemon, and lime.  In expression the peels are squeezed, or punctured, to remove the essential oils.

Extraction:
This method is used for removing the oils from delicate flowers such as jasmine, carnation and gardenia.  It is also used for removing the oils from resins such as frankincense and myrrh.  In this method the essential oils are removed from the plant or resin by soaking it in fat, oil, or a chemical solvent.  When the solvent has been removed, the fragrant oil that remains is called an “absolute.”  When the solvent has been removed from a resin, what remains is called a resinoid.

Essential Oil Shopping Links:

Click here to shop for essential oils at the Personal Formulator

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Lavender is an ingredient that has many uses in creating handmade soap and cosmetics. Its essential oil has a fresh, clean scent which can be used alone as a fragrance, or can be successfully blended with other oils to create fragrances for both men and women. Lavender essential oil is naturally antibacterial and gentle to the skin making it an excellent additive to cosmetics for children and adults. Lavender essential oil is one of the few natural essential oils that is affordable and pleasant smelling. And its fragrance is one that insects despise.

If you like lavender, you can purchase it in three basic types. French lavender (lavandula angustifolia) has the characteristic fresh, floral fragrance of lavender. Spike lavender (lavandula latifolia) has an odor similar to that of camphor. Lavandin (lavandua angustifolia x lavandula latifolia) is a hybrid between French and Spike lavender and has a fragrance somewhere in between the two. In addition to lavender essential oil, some manufacturers also produce lavender absolute. Lavender essential oil is produced by steam distillation, whereas lavender absolute is produced by extracting the essential oil with a solvent. Lavender absolute is more concentrated than lavender essential oil, and more expensive.

Using Lavender In Your Soaps and Cosmetics
Here are several ideas for using lavender in home cosmetics:
Insect Repellents: Blend lavender with citronella essential oil for an effective insect repellent. To help take the sting out of insect bites, put a drop on the bite and rub in.
Face Care Products: Add lavender essential oil to toners, creams and lotions for gentle and natural acne fighting effects.
Deodorants: Because lavender is naturally antibacterial, it is an excellent natural odor fighter. Add several drops of lavender essential oil to arrowroot powder to make a natural deodorant powder. Dissolve several drops in alcohol and then add to water to make a spray on deodorant.
Soaps: Add powdered lavender or lavender essential oil to your favorite soap recipe to make lavender soaps.

Precautions When Using Lavender In Your Cosmetics:
As with all essential oils, precautions should be taken if you are pregnant, epileptic, if you have a heart condition, or if you are in a delicate state of health. If you fall under one of these categories we recommend that you see a physician before using lavender, or any other essential oil in your cosmetics.

Lavender Shopping Links:
Lavender Bulgaria Oil
Lavender Oil ( 100 ml/ 3.38 fl. oz.)
Lavender Fragrance Oil ( 100 ml/ 3.38 fl. oz.)