Essential Oil Chemistry Flashcards

What are essential oils chemically?

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

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.

What is the difference between essential oils and fragrance oils?

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

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.

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

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

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.

Why is the chemotype of an essential oil important?

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

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.

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

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

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.

What is the recommended maximum dilution rate for essential oils for adult topical use?

Answer: 2-3% dilution (12-18 drops per ounce of carrier oil) for general adult use

A 2-3% dilution is the standard safe guideline for adult topical use, equating to approximately 12-18 drops of essential oil per ounce (30ml) of carrier oil. Lower dilutions (0.5-1%) are used for children and sensitive skin.