Three Keys Elements in Producing Top-Quality Essential Oils
Required: Paying attention to details every step of the way
Adapted from Grade-A-Notes.
Used by permission.
Great oils don't just happen, they're masterfully crafted. Every step, from the seed to the distillation, has a significant impact on the quality of the essential oil produced, requiring the oil producer to give proper attention to every detail. Here are some of the key things to consider.
Proper cultivation
One of the primary keys to the production of therapeutic-grade essential oils is the proper cultivation of the herbs in the field.
Plants should be organically grown, on virgin land that has been uncontaminated by chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides or herbicides. They should also be grown away from nuclear plants, factories, interstates, highways and heavily-populated cities, if possible, due of the likelihood of pollution from these sources.
Because robust, healthy plants produce higher quality essential oils, the soil should be nourished with enzymes, minerals and organic bio-solids. The mineral content of the soil is crucial to the proper development of the plant, and soils that lack minerals result in plants that produce inferior oils.
Land and crops should be watered with reservoir or watershed water. Mountain stream water is best because of its purity and high mineral content. Municipally-treated water, or secondary run-off water from residential and commercial areas, should be avoided, since water from these sources can introduce undesirable chemicals and residues into the plant, and then, into the essential oil.
Plant cultivars and harvesting
Different varieties of plants produce different qualities of oils. Only those cultivars that produce the highest quality essential oil should be selected.
The timing of the harvest is one of the most important factors in the production of therapeutic-grade essential oils. If the plant is harvested at the wrong time of the season, or even at the incorrect time of day, a substandard essential oil can result. In some instances, changing harvest time by even a few hours can make a huge difference. For example, German chamomile harvested in the morning will produce an oil with far more azulene (a powerful anti-inflammatory compound) than chamomile harvested in the late afternoon.
Other factors that should be taken into consideration during harvest include:
- The amount of dew on the leaves,
- The percentage of plant in bloom, and
- Weather conditions during the two weeks prior to harvest.
From harvest to distillers
To prevent herbs from drying out prior to distillation (and so, losing some of their volatile chemical constituents), distillers should be located as close to the field as possible. And, transporting herbs to distillers hundreds — or even thousands — of miles away, as is done by many oil producers, heightens the risk of exposure to pollutants, dust, mold and petrochemical residues. This should always be carefully avoided in producing a quality essential oil.
How a truly great essential oil is made
To learn more about how therapeutic-grade essential oils should be made, read the article on how the best essential oils in the world are produced.
