A Glossary of Aromatherapy Terms

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils extracted from plants, herbs, barks and peels to promote health and well being and improve quality of life.

Carrier

A carrier is a substance that delivers or transports essential oils to your body in a responsible manner.

Essential Oils

When you crush the petal of a rose or tear the leaf from a peppermint plant, a liquid substance emerges. These tiny drops of liquid are called essential oils. Citrus oils are pressed from the peels or rinds of the fruit.

Folded Oil

The term folded refers to oils that have been redistilled several times to remove constituents, with the aim of changing the scent of the oil for use in the food and drug industry. However, therapeutic qualities are important, and folded oils are unsuitable for use in aromatherapy.

Grade A

The term Grade A is a USDA designation that applies to eggs, butter, cheese, and meat. It is not a grading system for essential oils in the United States. In France, regulatory grading measures safeguard the quality of essential oils staying within that country. Other countries have similar regulations to protect consumers.

Linalool

Linalool is found naturally in many oils. It is the substance that creates the sweet smell. Some companies add natural or synthetic linalool to low-quality oils to create a sweet smell.

Pure Essential Oil

A pure essential oil is one that does not contain added chemicals or additives of any kind, including vegetable oils. A pure essential oil has nothing added to it. However, a pure oil does not necessarily have a high therapeutic value. In fact, the therapeutic benefits of a pure oil can be very low. This can be somewhat astonishing when you first begin to understand aromatherapy. What you are looking for is a pure essential oil that has the highest therapeutic content. Only a GLC test and a proper reading can determine the therapeutic quality of an essential oil.

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	A Glossary of Aromatherapy Terms Aromatherapy Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils extracted from plants, herbs, barks and peels to promote health and well being and improve quality of life. Carrier A carrier is a substance that delivers or transports essential oils to your body in a responsible manner. Essential Oils When you crush the petal of a rose or tear the leaf from a peppermint plant, a liquid substance emerges. These tiny drops of liquid are called essential oils. Citrus oils are pressed from the peels or rinds of the fruit. Folded Oil The term folded refers to oils that have been redistilled several times to remove constituents, with the aim of changing the scent of the oil for use in the food and drug industry. However, therapeutic qualities are important, and folded oils are unsuitable for use in aromatherapy. Grade A The term Grade A is a USDA designation that applies to eggs, butter, cheese, and meat. It is not a grading system for essential oils in the United States. In France, regulatory grading measures safeguard the quality of essential oils staying within that country. Other countries have similar regulations to protect consumers. Linalool Linalool is found naturally in many oils. It is the substance that creates the sweet smell. Some companies add natural or synthetic linalool to low-quality oils to create a sweet smell. Pure Essential Oil A pure essential oil is one that does not contain added chemicals or additives of any kind, including vegetable oils. A pure essential oil has nothing added to it. However, a pure oil does not necessarily have a high therapeutic value. In fact, the therapeutic benefits of a pure oil can be very low. This can be somewhat astonishing when you first begin to understand aromatherapy. What you are looking for is a pure essential oil that has the highest therapeutic content. Only a GLC test and a proper reading can determine the therapeutic quality of an essential oil. (Print This)