Essential Oils are highly concentrated substances extracted from various parts of aromatic plants and trees. There are many sources of esssential oils. Over 300 flowers, leaves, bark, stems, roots, fruit and resins have been known to be used. Some of the most common oils are citrus types(orange, lemon), rose, lavendar and more.

One of the most common methods of extracting the essential oil from botanicals is called steam distillation. The essential oil is released by passing steam through the plant material. This causes the oil to evaporate into a collection chamber. Since oil and water do not mix, this process separates the essential oil. Some essential oils are then re-distilled to further purify them.

Essential oils can be a bit expensive because it generally takes at least 50 pounds of plant material to make one pound of essential oil (for example, a pound of rosemary oil requires sixty-six pounds of herb) and it takes 2,300 pounds of rose flowers to make a single pound of oil.

Due to their tiny molecular structure, essential oils applied to the skin can be absorbed into the bloodstream. They can also reach the blood as a result of the aromatic molecules being inhaled. In the lungs, they pass through the tiny air sacs to the surrounding blood capillaries by the process of diffusion.

Aromatherapy is an art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants, essential oils, to balance, harmonize, and promote the health of body, mind, and spirit. By using the correct essential oils, aromatherapy is a natural, non-invasive treatment system to assist the human body's inherent ability to balance, regulate, heal and maintain itself.