What Are Essential Oils?

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Essential oils have been around for centuries. Still, not everybody knows exactly what they are or what they are used for. Here's a quick explanation of what an essential oil is and how it is used today.

History of Essential Oils


The term essential oil is derived from quintessential oil, which was something Aristotle first concepted. The Aristotelian idea was that matter consisted of four basic elements, fire, air, water and earth, with a fith element which he coined as quintessence. This was explained as the spiritual essence at the core of the object.

Essential Oils Today


Today, we know that there are indeed elements at the center of material objects, but we also know that these elements are comprised of physical chemicals and components.

Essential oils are products that have been distilled from a plant or other natural material. They are the basic elements that constitute a natural object that have been removed from the rest of the object.

Typical examples include essential oils are extracted essences of lemon, lavender or eucalyptus. 

Essential oils can be applied topically, ingested or used aromatically. They have a various number of uses and are expanding in scope and popularity.

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