Aromatherapy Bath Oils
Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant oils, which include essential oils, in the pursuit of psychological and physical wellness. Essential oils are the pure “essence” of plants drawn out of their flowers, leaves, branches, barks, roots, and the rinds of their fruits.
Practiced for some 6,000 years, aromatherapy claims to furnish a number of restorative advantages and is part of such branches of alternative medicine as herbology and holistic healing. You can read more about the health benefits of essential oils at this authority link.
In aromatherapy, many types of plant oil are utilized to promote one’s health and general well-being. The effects of each kind of oil vary according to their therapeutic properties.
In this post, we describe in summary the various types of aromatherapy bath oil and what it means to use them. And there feels nothing quite like relaxing in a hot bath with a stress-relieving essential oil in it,
You can find many of these bath oils on Amazon.
Aromatherapy Bath Oils – Essential Oils
Essential oils are probably the most common type of aromatherapy bath oil in current use. They are liquid substances that are extracted from plant material through a process of distillation using steam or water.
Contrary to its name, essential oils are not actually “oily” when you feel them. Most of them are clear. However, some may be amber or yellow in color, like the aromatherapy bath oils called Patchouli, Orange, or Lemongrass.
This type of aromatherapy bath oil is extremely concentrated and just a couple of drops can be really potent. Essential oils give real meaning to the old phrase “a little goes a long way.”
Other examples of great essential oils for the bath are Rosemary, Clary sage, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Geranium, and Bergamot.
Aromatherapy Bath Oils – Absolutes
Like all other aromatherapy bath oils, absolutes are highly aromatic liquids extracted from plant material. But, unlike essential oils, absolutes are not drawn out by simple distillation. Rather the process of extraction is much more complicated.
It requires the application of chemical solvents that are later removed during the last stages of production.
Absolutes are different from essential oils in that they retain not only the oil but also a high concentration of waxes, coloring and other parts of the plant.
Examples of absolutes include jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, lavender, clary sage, and geranium.
Aromatherapy Bath Oils – CO2 Extraction
We remember from our chemistry lessons that CO2 is the chemical formula for carbon dioxide. Some aromatherapy bath oils are derived from plant material via the CO2 method. In this method carbon dioxide gas is put under pressure until it becomes liquid.
The liquid CO2 is then utilized as a solvent to extract the aromatherapy bath oil from the natural plant matter. The CO2 itself is purged from the product in the final stages of the process, when the pressure is removed and the CO2 returns to its natural gaseous state.
Examples of CO2 extracted essential oils include: Ginger root, Lavender flower, Frankincense, and Turmeric.
Aromatherapy Bath Oils – Carrier Oils
This kind of aromatherapy bath oil is also referred to as base oil. Carrier oils are made from simple vegetable oils and are used to dilute essential oils, absolutes and CO2 derived oils. This is why they are called “carrier” oil. A carrier oil allows the more concentrated essential oil to be applied to the skin.
Examples of carrier oils commonly used with essential bath oils are coconut oil, jojoba oil, and grapeseed oil.
