Frequently Asked Questions

Essential Oils (also referred to as Aromatherapy Oils) are the highly-concentrated, volatile, aromatic natural essences of plants. The purest Essential Oils come from carefully-cultivated and wild-grown plants from climatic and geographic regions throughout the world.

Carrier Oils are also referred to as vegetable oils and base oils. They have extensive applications in Aromatherapy, because they are used to dilute Essential Oils or Absolutes for safe topical application. They are also used in the manufacturing of cold-process soaps and for massages by licensed Massage Therapists. Each Carrier Oil has different properties and the choice of a Carrier Oil can depend on the benefit being sought.

Essential oils’ essences are obtained directly from plants or plant parts and are all natural, whereas fragrance oils are manufactured in a lab and are composed of different aromatic substances. Essential oils have medicinal value, while fragrance oils do not.

We have had direct buying relationships for nearly 20 years with ethical producers around the world who do truly remarkable work. We are committed to selling the best quality essential oils at fair prices. Your nose can smell contaminants with astounding sensitivity. The highest quality oils also carry the most benefits. We invite you to both read our customer reviews, and leave feedback on your experience from using our offerings. A true testament to our quality is by the way our products have positively affected them.

Steam Distillation: Distillation is the most common process of extracting an Essential Oil. Steam Distillation in particular isolates the aromatic, volatile element of the plant with the help of steam. Cold Pressing: Cold Pressing – also called Expression – is used primarily for citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, in which the Essential Oils are obtained from tiny pockets in the fruits’ peels. Oils extracted by cold pressing are the most volatile of Essential Oils and can evaporate quickly when exposed to air. To learn more about the shelf lives of different oil categories, click here.(https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/blog/articles/how-to-store-essential-oils-to-maximize-oil-life.html) Solvent Extraction: In this method, flowers that are too delicate to be processed with heat or pressure are soaked in a solvent that extracts the flowers’ volatile elements. The solvent is then evaporated at high temperatures, leaving only the most fragrant constituents behind. This process produces what is called an "Absolute." CO2 Extraction: The CO2 Extraction method yields a greater number of aromatic compounds than any other distillation process. In certain conditions at a low temperature, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) can be pressurized to become a liquid. This liquid then acts as a solvent and is used to extract the oil from plants. After extraction is completed, the extraction vessel is brought back to normal temperature and the CO2 rapidly converts to gas, leaving behind a high-quality oil that is free of solvents.

When an Essential Oil is said to be phototoxic, it means that when applied to the skin prior to sunlight exposure, the oil can increase the skin's pigmentation. Most citrus Essential Oils are considered to be phototoxic. Oils that should be avoided approximately six hours before prolonged sunlight exposure include Bergamot, Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, and Mandarin – these should not be used at all while taking phototoxic medications, as any direct sunlight on the skin could trigger the possibility of a medical emergency.