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Sources of Essential Oil

Essential oils have been health and beauty remedies since the days of ancient Egypt. The oils are extracted from plant elements and select fruit, specifically, from the leaves, flowers, needles, wood, roots and peels. Different methods of extraction are used to produce essential oils, including Bulgarian rose, Roman chamomile, yuzu and neroli.

  1. Bulgarian Rose Oil

    • Bulgarian rose oil is extracted from Rosa damascena, a rose grown in Bulgaria and Turkey. According to Quinessence Aromatherapy website, the official name is Rosa damascena forma trigintipetala, a hybrid believed to be created from Rosa gallica and Rosa phoenicia. Extracting oil from the Rosa damascena is contingent upon the climate. In Bulgaria, the rose begins to blossom during the third week of May. The oil increases during mild and humid weather and decreases during very hot and dry weather. The roses are handpicked and transported to a distillery for solvent extraction or steam distillation.

    Roman Chamomile Oil

    • Roman chamomile essential oil originates from Anthemis nobilis, which grows wild in southern and western Europe, often reaching a height of 10 inches. Chamomile was originally used in beer before it was replaced with hops during the middle ages, according to Quinessence Aromatherapy. As an essential oil, Roman chamomile, is cultivated in Argentina, Belgium, England, France, Hungary, Italy and the United States. It's picked during June and July, and tested and harvested when the oil yield is at its highest. The plants are then steam distilled for oil extraction.

    Yuzu Oil

    • Yuzu is a citrus fruit from a small tree called Citrus junos that grows wild in Tibet and Korea. However, yuzu originated in China and was taken to Japan for cultivation in the 10th century. The fruit ripens in late autumn in Japan, changing from dark green to yellow-gold. Yuzu essential oil undergoes either steam distillation or solvent extraction.

    Neroli Oil

    • Neroli essential oil is produced from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree, Citrus aurantium sub.sp amara. The tree can grow up to 10 feet when cultivated, and up to 20 feet in the wild. The green twigs and leaves are used to create Neroli oil. The flowers blossom during April and May in Tunisia and as they bloom, the amount of oil in the plant increases. The buds are harvested during the early morning only on warm, sunny days. The floral essential oil is made in several countries including Egypt, France, Haiti, Italy, Morocco and Spain. The oil is processed through steamed distillation, not solvent extraction.

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