Each doTERRA essential oil is also carefully and thoroughly tested using the strict CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® quality protocol. Experienced essential oil users will immediately recognize the superior quality standard for naturally safe, purely effective therapeutic-grade doTERRA essential oils.
While there
is a science to the distillation of essential oils, it is also an art.
Distillers not only rely on years of experience, they also employ modern
technologies and techniques.
The most common method of
extracting essential oils is a low-heat steam distillation process. In
this process, pressurized steam is circulated through plant material.
The essential oils are liberated from the plant and carried away by the
steam. When the steam cools, the water and oils naturally separate and
the oil is collected. To ensure the highest quality oil extract with the
correct chemical composition, the temperature and pressure must be
closely monitored. Too little heat or pressure and the oil will not
release; too much, and the oil’s composition and potency will be
affected.
Steam Distillation
Steam
distillation is the most common way to extract aromatic compounds
(essential oil) from a plant. During the steam distillation process,
steam passes through the plant material. The combination of heated steam
and gentle pressure causes the essential oil to be released from
microscopic protective sacs. As the vapor mixture flows through a
condenser and cools, it yields a layer of oil and a layer of water. The
essential oil rises to the top and is separated from the hydrosol
(floral water) and collected.
Some have asked about the difference
between first distillations in comparison to complete distillations.
The temperature for steam distilling is usually between 140–212 degrees
Fahrenheit. Since different plants require different pressures, times,
and temperatures, using this particular distillation method makes it
possible to adjust the temperature based on the plant type, making it a
very effective and precise way to obtain the purest compounds.
Expression
Unlike
steam distillation, expression, sometimes referred to as “cold
pressed,” does not involve heat. In this process, oil is extracted from
the product under mechanical pressure. doTERRA uses expression to
extract all of its citrus oils, such as Wild Orange, Lemon, Lime,
Bergamot, and Grapefruit, from the rind.
Proper distillation
requires a consideration for the uniqueness of pressure, temperature,
time, and harvesting practices, each of which may be as diverse as the
plants themselves. A poor distillation process can alter or destroy the
necessary aromatic compounds that comprise the essential oil, leaving a
substance far different from the intended goal and something that would
not be used to support health and wellness. For this reason, the best
distillation artisans dedicate their efforts and work to only a few
select plants. This focused effort develops proper knowledge and
experience, helping ensure congruency between the oil chemistry of the
plant and its distilled form.
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