Essential Oils - Absolutes

The highlight of essential oils would have to be the absolutes or precious oils. Used mostly in the perfume industry, these oils are highly concentrated extracts derived from plants or flowers. Unlike other oils, the absolutes are extracted using a chemical process rather than steam distillation. These oils are highly concentrated and little will go a long way. They are also quite costly but you can purchase them diluted in a carrier oil such as Jojoba which makes them a lot less expensive.

One of my favourite oils (and flower) is Jasmine. It has a sweet, exotic aroma and is often associated with love and romance. The oil is extracted from the white blossoms of the shrub and always picked at night, when the fragrance is most intense.

The therapeutic properties of jasmine oil are anti-depressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac and anti-spasmodic. It is a valuable remedy in cases of severe depression as it soothes the nerves, producing a feeling of eurphoria and optimism.

Other more popular aromatherapy absolutes include:

• Carnation
• Frangipani
• Rose
• Lotus

Because of the intensity of these oils, their scent can invoke powerful feelings and emotions. They are also very effective when used in massage as they relieve nervous tension and depression and provide a soothing effect to sore muscles and joints.

As with all essential oils, absolutes need to be handled with care and caution. They are very powerful and some oils such as Jasmine should not be used during pregnancy.