Essentail Oils: Expanded
Welcome to our wellness series, Sunday Nourishment, where we take deep dives into health & wellness topics that I’m passionate about.
We’re currently in a series focusing on essential oils. (New to the series? Click here to read last week’s article.)
Essentail Oils
I’ve been studying essential oils for over a decade and find them absolutely fascinating. I most enjoy learning about their therapeutic benefits, but I also find it super interesting to learn about their history, geography, and biochemistry.
- Less than 1% of the entire plant species population produces essential oils.
- The amount of plant product required to produce essential oils is enormous:
- It takes 5,000 lbs of rose petals to distill 1 lb of pure rose essential oil
- 1,000 lbs of orange blossoms = 1 lb of Neroli essential oil
- 250 lbs of peppermint leaves = 1 lb of peppermint oil
- 150 lbs of lavender flowers = 1 lb of lavender oil
- There are only 5 drops of lemon essential oil per lemon
- 1 drop of peppermint essential oil is equivalent to 28 cups of peppermint tea
- The sense of smell is the first of all our senses to develop.
- Our sense of smell is strongest in the spring and summer due to the added moisture in the air.
- Women have a better sense of smell than men.
- People who cannot smell can still experience the benefits of essential oils.
- Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants. These oils contain hundreds of kinds of molecules known as phytochemicals. Each of these phytochemicals has benefits, so specific essential oils can be used for several purposes. For example, peppermint is effective for headache relief AND it is energizing. Lavender can be calming AND used for healing wounds.
- Using essential oils together, known as a "blend" or "synergy," increases the effects of the oils.
- Research shows there is a 40% improvement in mood after being exposed to pleasant scents.
- When essential oils are applied to the skin, they are absorbed easily and carried by the bloodstream to every cell in the body within minutes.
- When you inhale the scent of essential oils, the odor molecules travel directly through the nerve cells of the nose to the olfactory bulb in the brain. They then travel to the limbic system in the brain, where emotional memories and emotions are stored. The effects can be felt within seconds!
- Diffusing essential oils can actually help increase the atmospheric oxygen in a room.
- When diffused, some oils have the ability to remove toxins or metallic particles from the air.
- Recipes for herbal-infused oils and creams have been discovered in the tombs of legendary Egyptians, including Cleopatra.
- When thieves in the 14th century realized the bubonic plague was contagious, they covered themselves in oils before robbing sick people.
- Captain James Cook first mentioned tea tree oil in 1772 during his voyage to Botany Bay, Australia. He and his crew made tea from the leaves to prevent scurvy.
- Testing the purity of your oil is best done by placing a drop on construction paper. If there is nothing left behind after 15 minutes, it is pure. If there is an oil ring, it is not pure.
- Essential oils cannot be patented.
- Lavender is the most popular and widely used essential oil in the world.
Our Commitment
Please know that we are very intentional in the sourcing of the essential oils that we use in Nourish products.
- We support farmers who have the following certifications: USDA Organic, Non-GMO Verified, Earth Kosher, Fair for Life, Forest Grown, and Zero Waste
- We require that the ingredients we use are third-party tested to ensure that they are free from synthetic chemicals.
- We don't take shortcuts or compromise ingredients to save money.
- We use dark glass containers whenever possible to preserve the integrity of our ingredients, giving you the highest-quality products for the longest period of time.
