Essential Oil Plants

Essential oils, which we use on a daily basis, are produced by a wide variety of plants in India. Essential oils are secondary metabolites that are produced by many plant components, including flowers, leaves, fruits, seeds, stems, roots, and bark. 

The pharmacological effects of these oils were discovered to include antioxidant, antibacterial, exercise-mitigating, and carminative properties. This blog will discuss the biological activities of essential oils derived from aromatic seeds (like fennel, caraway, cumin, and coriander), plant leaves (like marjoram, coriander, and mentha), and flowers (like rose, jasmine, chrysanthemum, and marigold).

Which Plants Are in Essential Oil?

Essential oils are plant extracts. They are produced by steaming or pressing different parts of a plant (flowers, bark, leaves, or fruit) to extract the compounds that provide scent. A single bottle of essential oil can be produced from several pounds of plant material. Essential oils have various purposes in plants besides providing aroma.

     Common Essential Oil Plants

Let's delve into some common essential oil plants that are easily accessible in the market:

1. Lavender Oil: Lavender, also known as Lavandula, is a medicinal herb from the Lamiaceae family that is widely studied. The purple-blue flower of the shrub has long been used to treat a variety of diseases. It has been linked to anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. These qualities make lavender an extremely important medical herb in current times, due to the rise of drug resistance.
   
   

2. Peppermint Oil: Peppermint is a fragrant herb from the mint family. It's a hybrid mint that combines spearmint and watermint. It occurs naturally throughout North America and Europe. The primary chemical components of peppermint oil are menthol and menthone. It has a pungent odor that is cool and pleasant, and it tastes similarly.

Peppermint oil may help alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive issues. Different types may also assist in reducing discomfort and improving your skin.

3. Rosemary Oil: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and glandular hairs that release aromatic volatile essential oils. Though best recognized as a food seasoning, it is also one of the world's most popular fragrant and medicinal plants.
   Rosemary essential oil may provide health benefits, such as improving brain function and hair growth, as well as treating skin problems.

4. Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a small Australian species. Melaleuca alternifolia, also known as the tea tree, is not the same plant that produces black, green, and oolong tea.
   Tea tree oil's germ-fighting characteristics make it an effective natural medicine for treating bacterial and fungal skin diseases, avoiding infection, and encouraging healing. In addition to its scientifically proven benefits, tea tree oil is both affordable and safe when taken as suggested.

5. Sandalwood Oil: Sandalwood essential oil has numerous traditional applications. For millennia, East Indian sandalwood oil has been a prominent element in Ayurveda, India's folk medicine. It is derived from the wood and roots of Santalum album, or the East Indian sandalwood tree.
   Sandalwood and its essential oil are used in alternative medicine to cure a variety of ailments, including the common cold and muscle problems.
   Sandalwood's smell makes it a popular ingredient in perfumes and aromatherapy.

Rare and Exotic Essential Oil Plants

While well-known, common essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, and tea tree dominate the market, there is a vast array of rare and exotic essential oils that provide distinct benefits. These lesser-known oils are sourced from remote areas and are labor-intensive.

1.  Oudh Essential Oil: Oudh, also known as Agarwood oud oil, has a musky fragrance, which is appealing to the senses. This essential oil is extracted from the fungus-infected resinous heartwood of the agar tree. This tree is primarily found in the dense forests of Southeast Asia, India, and Bangladesh. It is either extracted by distillation from the wood or by melting the resin.

This exquisite essential oil has many applications that range from spiritual to therapeutic and medicinal. It is often associated with harmony and serenity of spirit, and when applied regularly, the removal of destructive and negative energies in the home. A highly effective aid for meditation, it is also known to enhance mental clarity and ease neurotic and obsessive behavior.

2. Blue Tansy Oil: A little flower known as the blue tansy (Tanacetum annuum) has gained a lot of attention in recent years. As a result, it has become a popular ingredient in a wide range of products, including acne creams and anti-aging treatments. Blue tansy, which is actually yellow, was once a wild-harvested Mediterranean plant but is now primarily cultivated in Morocco.

When the flower became famous in beauty goods, it was almost completely collected from the wild. Currently, supplies are rapidly growing, although it remains one of the most costly essential oils. A two-ounce bottle might cost more than $100.

3. Neroli Oil: Neroli essential oil is derived from the bitter orange tree's bloom (Citrus aurantium var. amara). It is also known as orange blossom oil. The oil is collected from the flowers using steam distillation. Some data suggests that neroli oil can help with diseases such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, seizures, and menopausal symptoms.
   
   Neroli oil has a deep, flowery aroma with citrus notes. It serves as the base note in fragrances and scented items. Because of its calming impact on the mood, neroli oil is commonly used as a component in body lotions and cosmetics. It can also be used for aromatherapy.

Which Plants Are Used for Making Aromatic Oil?

      Flower-Based Aromatic Oils

Floral essential oil contains a plethora of nutrients and essential compounds that make the overall health better. Here are some of the best essential oils, which are derived from flowers:

1. Rose Essential Oil: One of the most often used flower-derived essential oils is rose essential oil. It is taken from the petals of the rose flower. Since ancient times, rose oil has been used for skin care and cosmetic purposes. This essential oil is commonly used in aromatherapy and the creation of natural scents. The strong and uplifting floral perfume of this essential rose is used to fill the environment with an intriguing and pleasant aroma because it smells exactly like a fresh rose blossom.

2. Ylang Ylang Oil: Ylang Ylang essential oil is collected from the Cananga tree's blooms. It is well-known for its therapeutic properties as well as its vibrant, exotic, and flowery fragrance. Ylang-Ylang oil is a key ingredient in items like colognes, soaps, and lotions. Furthermore, aromatherapy can enhance your mood and even serve as an aphrodisiac. Linalool, a fundamental component of Ylang Ylang essential oil, is known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

3. Jasmine Oil: Jasmine petals are steam distilled to produce a rich and fragrant jasmine essential oil. It has an excellent scent with a combination of sweet, flowery, and appealing smells, making it a favorite among scented candle, soap, and perfume manufacturers throughout the globe. Jasmine essential oil has applications in both cosmetics and aromatherapy. It relaxes both the mind and the body. You can use it not only as a natural aphrodisiac but also to relieve emotional stress.

Apart from these essential oils, several plants produce oil through flower petals, including jasmine oil, champaca, neroli, geranium, blue lotus, and hibiscus. These are well-known essential oils derived from flowers through extraction and steam distillation.

     Herb and Leaf-Based Aromatic Oils

1. Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus trees were originally native to Australia but are now planted all over the world and used for their therapeutic benefits. Eucalyptus oil, derived from the oval-shaped leaves of the tree, is responsible for their healing power. To extract the essential oil, the leaves are dried, crushed, and then distilled. After extraction, the oil must be diluted before use as an alternative or complementary therapy.

2. Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a small Australian species. Melaleuca alternifolia, also known as the tea tree, is not the same plant that produces black, green, and oolong tea. Tea tree oil's germ-fighting characteristics make it an effective natural medicine for treating bacterial and fungal skin diseases, avoiding infection, and encouraging healing. In addition to its scientifically proven benefits, tea tree oil is both affordable and safe when taken as suggested.

3. Petitgrain Oil: Petitgrain essential oil comes from the bitter orange tree, Citrus aurantium. Originally from Southern China, the bitter orange tree was brought to Paraguay in the 19th century and now flourishes easily in this part of the world. Petitgrain oil is taken from the tree’s twigs and leaves and steam distilled to produce a refreshing, floral, and herbaceous essential oil. From promoting restful sleep to supporting healthy immune function, petitgrain oil uses and benefits are certainly far-reaching and effective.

Tree Bark and Wood-Based Aromatic Oils

1. Cedarwood Oil: Cedarwood essential oil is obtained from cedar trees' bark, needles, leaves, and berries. People believe that it can help with skin, hair, and sleep. While cedarwood oil can be purchased separately, it is also used as an ingredient in insect repellant, cologne, shampoo, and deodorant. People believe that it can aid with hair loss, scalp issues, and better sleep.

2. Arborvitae Oil: Arborvitae is a stately evergreen coniferous tree native to North America's Pacific Northwest. It is prized for its many distinct features. Arborvitae contains natural preservative characteristics that prevent wood from decaying. Arborvitae is commonly used in woodworking and to maintain wood surfaces due to its unique preservation capabilities. Arborvitae not only protects wood, but its organic components also protect people from environmental and seasonal hazards as an effective cleanser. Arborvitae essential oil can be used aromatically and topically to cleanse and purify. 

3. Sandalwood Oil: Sandalwood essential oil has numerous traditional applications. For millennia, East Indian sandalwood oil has been a prominent element in Ayurveda, India's folk medicine. It is derived from the wood and roots of Santalum album, or the East Indian sandalwood tree. Sandalwood and its essential oil are used in alternative medicine to cure a variety of ailments, including the common cold and muscle problems.
   Sandalwood's smell makes it a popular ingredient in perfumes and aromatherapy.

Are Essential Oils Derived from Plants?

Essential oils are generally derived from one or more plant parts, such as flowers (e.g., rose, jasmine, carnation, clove, mimosa, rosemary, lavender), leaves (e.g., mint, Ocimum spp., lemongrass, jamrosa), leaves and stems (e.g., geranium, patchouli, petitgrain, verbena, cinnamon), bark (e.g., cinnamon, cassia, canella), wood (e.g., cedar, sandal, pine), roots (e.g., angelica, sassafras, vetiver, valerian), seeds (e.g., fennel, coriander, caraway, dill, and nutmeg), and fruits (bergamot, orange, lemon, and juniper).

  Methods of Essential Oil Extraction

Essential oils are not synthesized or formed on a molecular level. They are derived from plant materials. They can also be synthesized in a lab, but the plant extraction process appears to be the most effective way to obtain them.

The extraction process used is critical since it influences the compound's molecular structure and thus its quality. Steam and high temperatures are harder on isolated molecules, whereas solvents have a minor impact.

Steam Distillation

This is the most common method for extracting essential oils. Steam is utilized to vaporize the plant's volatile components, which are then condensed and collected as liquids after cooling. The temperature at which this extraction method operates gives it a major edge over other approaches. It is simple, quick, and cost-effective. Here is the process involved:

• Plant materials are placed in a stainless steel container called "Still" and covered with a lid, resulting in a contained environment.

• Steam gets pumped into the still via an inlet. This causes the plant to emit volatile essential oils in the form of vapor.

• These vaporized oils pass through a condensation flask (also known as a condenser) and exit the container.

• The condenser has two distinct pipes. The first is for hot water to leave the still, while the second is for cold water to enter the condenser.

• When hot vapor comes into touch with cold water, it condenses. It is then gathered into a container, also known as a separator.

• Since oil and water do not mix, the oil separates from the water, yielding essential oil as the end result.

• Some essential oils (such as cloves) have heavier molecules. As a result, they settle toward the bottom. They must be siphoned off carefully.

Solvent Extraction

The solvent extraction method uses a medium (the solvent) to extract volatile oils from plants. This solvent could be hexane, ethanol, or another organic substance. This approach is preferred when the chemicals are too delicate to endure the stiffness of steam and are present in small quantities inside the plant material. This method is also favored when you require a finer aroma from the plants. As a result, the perfume business uses this procedure to extract oil. Because this is a less expensive method, non-volatile plant components such as pigments and waxes are extracted and eliminated.

• The first plant material is immersed in the solvent.

• This results in the essential oils being removed from the substance during a multi-phase chemical procedure. The oils are in a waxy form called "concrete" that requires further separation.

• Alcohol is then used to treat the concrete and heat it.

• The oil particles are separated and collected using a condenser.

• The chemicals utilized during the procedure remain in the oil, and perfume producers use the full product in their perfumes.

Cold Pressed Extraction

As the name implies, the pressing process is utilized for initial separation, followed by cold water treatment. This approach is particularly useful for orange peels. It is sometimes referred to as the expression or scarification extraction technique.

• A machine is used to pierce whole citrus oranges.

• This opens the essential oil sacs, allowing the oil and pigments to flow down into a collection area.

• The fruits are further pressed to extract juice and oil.

• The solids that arrive with it are removed by centrifugation.

• The oil is now separated from the juice and siphoned off into another flask.

Natural vs. Synthetic Essential Oils

Natural fragrance oils are produced directly from plant sources such as flowers, fruits, herbs, and spices using techniques such as steam distillation, cold pressing, or extraction. Natural oils for perfumes capture the essence of the plant material, producing an authentic, clean scent. Synthetic fragrance oils, on the other hand, are chemically synthesized molecules that are intended to mimic natural scents or generate completely new ones. They can mimic the perfume of natural components or create distinct scents not present in nature.

According to the National Academy of Sciences in the United States, synthetic oils contain 95% of the compounds present in mineral oil and petroleum jelly. To make synthetic perfumes disperse and diffuse into the air, manufacturers must add a large number of harmful compounds. Many of these compounds, such as benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and other recognized carcinogens, can have substantial negative health consequences.

We learned about the essential oil plants and their physiological and psychological advantages. And came to know about the various extraction techniques used to produce oil. Only specific plant and part kinds are better suited for some techniques. In the tapestry of essential oils, each plant contributes a distinct thread of health and harmony. From the peaceful embrace of lavender to the grounding perfume of cedarwood, these essential oils provide a comprehensive approach to well-being. As you implement them into your daily life, may you find a harmonic balance between mind, body, and soul.