Essential Oils

Essential oils are hydrophobic aromatic compounds extracted from plants and are volatile in nature. Essential oils contain aroma or essence of the plant from which these are derived.

Other Names Of Essential Oil

Essential oils are also known as,

• Volatile Oil

• Aromatic Oil

• Ethereal Oil

Process To Get Extraction Oils

Essential oils are extracted from plants by following methods or processes,

• Distillation

• Solvent Extraction

• Expression Method

• Resin Tapping

• Cold Pressing

Constituents Of Essential Oil

Following are important constituents or chemical compounds which are found in essential oils.

• Monoterpene

• Diterpene

• Sesquiterpene

• Esters

• Aldehyde

• Ketones

• Oxides

Uses Of Essential Oils

Essential oils are used in following industries,

• Medicinal Industry

• Food Industry

• Paint Industry

• Dental Preparation

• Tobacco Industry

• Adhesive Preparations

• Paper Industry

• Printing Industry

Examples Of Essential Oils

Mentha Oil

Mentha oil is derived from the plant "Mentha Piperita" by steam distillation process.

Mentha oil is collected from the flowering top of the plant.

It is cultivated in following countries

• India

• Jammu Kashmir

• Japan

• Brazil

Appearance

• Mentha oil is colorless or pale yellow in color.

• It is in liquid form.

• Mentha oil has a penetrating odor.

• Taste of mentha oil is Pungent.

• It gives a cooling sensation if we draw air inside the mouth after mentha oil ingestion.

Constituents

Following are important constituents of the mentha oil,

• l menthol

• Menthone

• Menthofuran

• Jasmone

• Cineole

• Pinene

• 1 limonene

Uses Of Mentha Oil

Following are common uses of mentha oil,

• It is used as Carminative

• Mentha oil is used as a flavoring agent in mouthwashes,syrups and chew gums.

• It is used in tooth pain and headache.

• It is also used as a mild antidiarrheal.

• It is also used as antiseptic.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil is volatile essential oil and is obtained by the process of steam distillation from the leaves of plant "Eucalyptus globules"

It is cultivated in following areas,

• Tasmania

• Australia

• U.S

• Spain

• India

Other names of Eucalyptus oil are lemon scented gum or citron scented gum.

Constituents Of Eucalyptus Oil

Important constituents of eucalyptus oil are as follow,

• Cineol or Eucalyptol

• Pinene

• Camphene

• Gallotannins

• Citronellal

• Caproic aldehyde

Use Of Eucalyptus Oil

• Eucalyptus Oil is used as antibacterial.

• Eucalyptus Oil is used as antituberculosis.

• Eucalyptus Oil is also used as a counter irritant.

• Eucalyptus Oil in the form of solution is also used as nasal drops.

• It is used in manufacturing ointments used for treating burns and as mosquito repellent.

• Eucalyptus oil is used for cough treatment.

Geranium Oil

Geranium oil is obtained from the steam distillation of tender parts of various species of plants like P.graveolens,P capitatum.

It is cultivated in following,

• Morocco

• Spain

• Italy

Constituents Of Geranium Oil

It consist of following important constituents

• Geraniol

• Beta citronellol

• Esters

Uses Of Geranium Oil

• Geranium Oil is used as a flavoring agent in lotions,creams and perfumes.

• Geranium oil is used as an insecticide. 

• Geranium oil is used for treating inflammation.

Vetiver Oil

Vetiver oil is obtained from roots of plant Vetiveria zizanioides by steam distillation.

It is cultivated in following

• Indonesia 

• Malaysia

• USA

Vetiver is cultivated by using the seeds.

During cultivation the distance of 2.5 cm is kept between two plants.

Vetiver is grass.

The height of vetiver grass is usually 1-1.5 meter.

The roots of plants are collected when the age of the plant is about 15-18 months.

Constituents Of vetiver Oil 

Following are important constituents of vetiver oil,

• Vetivenol

• Vetiverol

• Ketone 3 vetivones

Uses Of Vetiver Oil

• Vetiver oil is used as a stimulant.

• Vetiver oil is used as Flavouring agent.

• Vetiver oil is used in treatment of itches.

• Vetiver oil is used as a refrigerant.

• It is used as a rubefacient.

• It is used as an antiseptic.

• It is also used for burns.

Sandalwood Oil

Sandalwood oil is obtained by the process of steam distillation from the plant Santalum album.

It is yellowish and pale reddish Color liquid oil.

Sandalwood oil has a bitter taste.

 Constituents Of Sandalwood Oil

Following important constituents are present in sandalwood oil,

• Alpha santalol

• Beta santalol

• Santalone

• Santanone

• Alpha santolic acid

• Beta santolic acid

Uses Of Sandalwood Oil

• Sandalwood oil is used in perfumes.

• It is also used as diuretics.

• Sandalwood oil is used for the treatment of wounds.

• Sandalwood is also used in cosmetic products.

Lemongrass Oil

Lemongrass oil is obtained by the distillation of the plant Cymbopogan flexuosus.

The colour of lemongrass oil is reddish yellow or brown.

Constituents Of Lemon Grass Oil

Following are important constituents of lemongrass oil

• Citral

• Citranellal

• Geraniol

• Nerol

• Linalool

• Limonene

Uses Of Lemongrass Oil

• It  is used as a flavoring agent.

• Lemongrass oil is used in cosmetics.

• Lemongrass oil is used in perfumes products.

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