Essential oil is a volatile aromatic substance extracted from flowers, leaves, stems, roots or fruits of plants by steam distillation, extrusion, cold soaking or solvent extraction. Essential oils are divided into diluted (compound essential oils) and undiluted (unilateral essential oils) such as cactus seed oil.

Essential oil spa, namely essential oil massage, refers to the method of applying essential oil massage oil (massage oil mixed by base oil and essential oil) to the parts that need massage. We can relax and relieve stress by massaging our bodies. Essential oil can enter skin cells by massage, and then enter blood vessels and tissues of the whole body. Massage with essential oil can achieve the effect of relaxing mood and relieving stress.

Essential oil extraction method

I. Distillation method

Distillation is the simplest operation with low cost. At present, 95% of essential oils on the market are extracted by distillation. The method is to mix fresh or dried aromatic plant raw materials (flowers, leaves, sawdust, etc.). ) put it into a rectifier, heat it from below, and send it into steam to evaporate the plant essential oil. Water vapor containing essential oil will be condensed into liquid after being collected and cooled by conduit, and then separated due to the difference of specific gravity and density between water and essential oil.

Distillation is often used to extract flowers, leaves, stems and roots of plants. In the process of cooling, the circulating water can be used many times, and some essential oils are more or less dissolved in the remaining water, called flower water, which is pure dew.

Second, the extrusion method

Adding water in the process of squeezing the peel, collecting the juice, and separating the essential oil with a centrifuge. Most citrus essential oils, such as grapefruit, lemon and bergamot, will be extracted by this method. Because most citrus essential oils can't resist the heat of distillation, if distillation is used, their essential components will be destroyed in the extraction process, so most of the peel essential oils are cold pressed by machines at present.

Third, the fat absorption method

Liposuction is the oldest extraction method of essential oil, and it is called "liposuction essence". Generally speaking, this method is often used for petal essential oil. Put a piece of glass on the board, spread animal fat, and then spread petals. In this way, the glass covered with petals is layered one by one, and then placed in the sun, and the petals are released by the heat of the sun and immersed in oil. In the process of extracting traditional Chinese medicine, it is often necessary to change petals or turn over glass until the oil is saturated. Finally, it is treated with alcohol and stirred by machine. After alcohol volatilizes, aromatic essential oil is left behind.