Aromatherapy Essential Oil Chemistry

Question 1

What are essential oils chemically?

Accepted Answer

Volatile aromatic compounds extracted from plants, composed primarily of terpenes, esters, aldehydes, and phenols

Answer

Essential oils are concentrated volatile compounds extracted from plants through distillation or cold pressing, composed of complex mixtures of terpenes, terpenoids, esters, aldehydes, ketones, and phenols.

Question 2

What is the difference between essential oils and fragrance oils?

Accepted Answer

Essential oils are naturally extracted from plants; fragrance oils are synthetically manufactured in laboratories

Answer

Essential oils are 100% natural, extracted directly from plant material through steam distillation, cold pressing, or solvent extraction. Fragrance oils are synthetic, lab-created to mimic natural scents.

Question 3

What does GC/MS testing tell us about an essential oil?

Accepted Answer

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry identifies the chemical composition and purity of the oil

Answer

GC/MS analysis separates and identifies individual chemical components in an essential oil, revealing its composition, detecting adulterants, verifying purity, and confirming the oil matches its expected chemical profile.

Question 4

Why is the chemotype of an essential oil important?

Accepted Answer

The same plant species can produce oils with different dominant chemical compounds based on growing conditions

Answer

Chemotype identifies the dominant chemical compound in an essential oil from the same plant species, which can vary based on climate, altitude, and soil. For example, rosemary ct. cineole differs therapeutically from rosemary ct. camphor.

Question 5

What is a carrier oil and why is it important in aromatherapy?

Accepted Answer

A vegetable-based oil used to dilute essential oils before topical application, reducing skin irritation risk

Answer

Carrier oils (jojoba, sweet almond, coconut) are mild vegetable oils used to dilute concentrated essential oils before skin application, preventing irritation, sensitization, and allowing safe absorption.

Aromatherapy Practice Test

Aromatherapy Practice Test

Aromatherapy Essential Oil Chemistry