Aromatherapy Essential Oil Extraction Methods 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which extraction method uses steam to release volatile compounds from plant material?
- Cold pressing
- Steam distillation (Correct answer)
- Solvent extraction
- Enfleurage
Correct answer: Steam distillation
Steam distillation passes steam through plant material, causing volatile compounds to vaporize and then condense into essential oil and hydrosol.
Question 2: What water-based byproduct is produced alongside essential oil during steam distillation?
- Absolute
- Concrete
- Hydrosol (floral water) (Correct answer)
- Carrier oil
Correct answer: Hydrosol (floral water)
Hydrosol (floral water) is the aqueous byproduct containing trace aromatic compounds that separates from the essential oil after distillation.
Question 3: Which extraction method is primarily used for producing citrus essential oils such as lemon and sweet orange?
- Steam distillation
- CO2 extraction
- Cold pressing (expression) (Correct answer)
- Solvent extraction
Correct answer: Cold pressing (expression)
Cold pressing (expression) mechanically presses the rind of citrus fruits to release the essential oil, preserving the fresh aroma without heat.
Question 4: What is an 'absolute' in aromatherapy production?
- An essential oil extracted only by steam distillation
- A highly concentrated aromatic extract obtained using chemical solvents (Correct answer)
- A carrier oil infused with essential oils
- An essential oil certified as 100% pure
Correct answer: A highly concentrated aromatic extract obtained using chemical solvents
An absolute is a highly concentrated aromatic extract produced through solvent extraction, commonly used for delicate flowers like jasmine and rose.
Question 5: Which extraction method is considered to best preserve the complete natural chemical profile of the plant due to low operating temperatures?
- Steam distillation
- Cold pressing
- Supercritical CO2 extraction (Correct answer)
- Water distillation
Correct answer: Supercritical CO2 extraction
Supercritical CO2 extraction uses carbon dioxide at controlled pressure and temperature, producing an extract that closely mirrors the plant's original chemistry without heat degradation.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of the traditional extraction technique known as 'enfleurage'?
- Extracting citrus oils from peels mechanically
- Capturing fragrance from delicate flowers that cannot withstand heat (Correct answer)
- Purifying essential oils through repeated filtration
- Blending multiple essential oils into a single compound
Correct answer: Capturing fragrance from delicate flowers that cannot withstand heat
Enfleurage uses fat to absorb fragrance from delicate flowers like jasmine and tuberose, which would be destroyed by the heat of distillation.
Question 7: Which part of the lavender plant is most commonly used as the source material in steam distillation?
- Roots
- Seeds
- Flowering tops (Correct answer)
- Bark
Correct answer: Flowering tops
Lavender essential oil is steam distilled from the flowering tops of the Lavandula plant, where the highest concentration of aromatic compounds is found.
Aromatherapy Essential Oil Extraction Methods 1
Which extraction method uses steam to release volatile compounds from plant material?