Herbaceous top notes for a fresh earthy scent
The Origins Of Basil Essential Oil
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Extraction
Basil Essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and the flowering tops.
INCI
Ocimum basilicum (Basil) leaf oil
Aromatherapy Uses
Basil Essential oil is reputed to stimulate, clarify, calm, fortify, energise and uplift the mind. It is traditionally used to help rid areas of odour causing bacteria. Often used for headaches.
Skin Uses
Basil Essential Oil is used to nourish, repair, balance, calm and smooth the skin. It is used to brighten complexions
Hair Uses
Basil essential oil is used in formulas to strengthen, hydrate and soften.
Therapeutic Properties
Basil Essential oil is often used in blends for cramps, joint pain, muscular aches and pains and exhaustion. Blends created for water retention often contain Basil Essential Oil.
Basil Blends well with
Basil Essential Oil blends well with most other herb based essential oils and also with lavender, geranium, bergamot, lime, lemon, frankincense and pine.
Precautions
Usually stimulating but has a stupefying effect when used in excess.
An emmenagogue so best to avoid Basil Essential Oil in pregnancy (at naturallythinking we have a policy of avoiding all essential oils during pregnancy).
Basil can also irritate people with very sensitive skin, therefore caution should be taken with dosage levels
Understanding Oil Extraction Methods
What is Steam Distillation?
Steam Distillation is the most popular method of distillation of Essential oil. High pressure hot steam is passed through the plant material. The volatile compounds of the plant material are transferred to the steam and pass through a coil where they are cooled.
On cooling, the oil being lighter than water will separate from the water where it is possible to syphon off.
The remaining water becomes the floral water / hydrolat of the plant material.
What is Expression?
This is just like the process of peeling a citrus fruit. Effectively it is the cold processing of the fruit to extract the essential oil.
Primarily this technique is used on Citrus Essential Oils where the heat of steam would destroy the scent and properties.
Mechanical pressure is applied to the fruit and the resulting oil is the essential oi.
What is an Absolute?
Absolutes require solvent extraction in order to extract them.
Some plants are very difficult to extract the essential oil, either to produce a quality product or to obtain a yield which is economical. Examples of oils which are normally obtained by Solvent extraction are Vanilla, Jasmine and Rose.
Normally Organic ethanol is used to steep the flowers and then evaporated to leave just the concentrated absolute of the plant.
Important Information
Naturallythinking Essential oils are for external use only. We do not sell aromatherapy oils / products for internal use. The information contained on these pages is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Aromatherapy should not be used by those who are pregnant or under the supervision of a medical practitioner / doctor without consultation with the medical practitioner / doctor. If you have a medical condition or any worries, always consult with a doctor / medical practitioner first.