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Just a quick comment on Butch's very excellent discourse on absolutes.

As with essential oils, there are good quality and poor quality

absolutes. Hexane is the most frequently used solvent for the initial

stage of the extraction process, but sometimes other petroleum

byproducts are used. A poorly extracted absolute can contain up to

17-18% petroleum byproduct residue, even after alcohol extraction of

the concrete (Just sample a few cheap Indian jasmines... you can smell

the solvent!). If you've been using budget absolutes, you may want to

reconsider your topical use of them.

 

Katharine Koeppen

Aromaceuticals

Essential Oils from Artisan Distillers

www.aromaceuticals.com

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Thank you for your additional information, Katharine. I've attempted to stay

high end with my purchases - at least to the best of my knowledge. It's a big,

confusing aromatherapy world out there! I've bookmarked your site for future

reference.

 

I am still hoping that some of the list members will kick in with some ideas on

the best uses of eo's versus hydrosols versus absolutes. Butch gave me a wealth

of information regarding their compositional differences - but now to figure out

when each type of product is used for.

 

Thanks any & all for your help.

-

Kath Koeppen

Monday, November 15, 2004 10:23 PM

Absolutes

 

 

Just a quick comment on Butch's very excellent discourse on absolutes.

As with essential oils, there are good quality and poor quality

absolutes. Hexane is the most frequently used solvent for the initial

stage of the extraction process, but sometimes other petroleum

byproducts are used. A poorly extracted absolute can contain up to

17-18% petroleum byproduct residue, even after alcohol extraction of

the concrete (Just sample a few cheap Indian jasmines... you can smell

the solvent!). If you've been using budget absolutes, you may want to

reconsider your topical use of them.

 

Katharine Koeppen

Aromaceuticals

Essential Oils from Artisan Distillers

www.aromaceuticals.com

 

 

 

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In a nutshell, here's one aromatherapist's current viewpoint (I say current

because I'm learning all the time!) ... I don't use absolutes in therapy -

they're for perfumery. It's a shame about Jasmine, but I get by without it. The

quality can be so dubious anyway. Hydrosols (or lats) are really skin-friendly

and great to use on those for whom EOs may be too strong/powerful ... kids,

pets, etc. I even sip them (very diluted) occasionally but I'm not recommending

that anyone else do that. As for what does what, as I've said recently -

experiment (safely!) and go by what you personally experience/observe or what

others recommend. Intention plays a huge part ... as does massage/touch.

Best wishes

Jane

-

Pandemonia

Tuesday, November 16, 2004 11:35 AM

Re: Absolutes

 

 

Thank you for your additional information, Katharine. I've attempted to stay

high end with my purchases - at least to the best of my knowledge. It's a big,

confusing aromatherapy world out there! I've bookmarked your site for future

reference.

 

I am still hoping that some of the list members will kick in with some ideas

on the best uses of eo's versus hydrosols versus absolutes. Butch gave me a

wealth of information regarding their compositional differences - but now to

figure out when each type of product is used for.

 

Thanks any & all for your help.

-

Kath Koeppen

Monday, November 15, 2004 10:23 PM

Absolutes

 

 

Just a quick comment on Butch's very excellent discourse on absolutes.

As with essential oils, there are good quality and poor quality

absolutes. Hexane is the most frequently used solvent for the initial

stage of the extraction process, but sometimes other petroleum

byproducts are used. A poorly extracted absolute can contain up to

17-18% petroleum byproduct residue, even after alcohol extraction of

the concrete (Just sample a few cheap Indian jasmines... you can smell

the solvent!). If you've been using budget absolutes, you may want to

reconsider your topical use of them.

 

Katharine Koeppen

Aromaceuticals

Essential Oils from Artisan Distillers

www.aromaceuticals.com

 

 

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Thank you so much for your info, Jane! Perfumery is my interest at this point,

so I may find a use for the absolutes & hydrosols. As far as experimenting, I'm

so new to this that experimenting sounds like surefire disaster! That and the

thought of the expense for failed experiments!

; )

 

I guess my best bet is to collect recipes for assorted products and hope for the

best. I'm fairly well-stocked on eo's at this point and the other fragrant

incarnations are of less expense, so I'll pick those up as I go.

 

Thank you again for your response!

 

Pan

 

 

-

jane

Tuesday, November 16, 2004 9:15 AM

Re: Absolutes

 

 

In a nutshell, here's one aromatherapist's current viewpoint (I say current

because I'm learning all the time!) ... I don't use absolutes in therapy -

they're for perfumery. It's a shame about Jasmine, but I get by without it. The

quality can be so dubious anyway. Hydrosols (or lats) are really skin-friendly

and great to use on those for whom EOs may be too strong/powerful ... kids,

pets, etc. I even sip them (very diluted) occasionally but I'm not recommending

that anyone else do that. As for what does what, as I've said recently -

experiment (safely!) and go by what you personally experience/observe or what

others recommend. Intention plays a huge part ... as does massage/touch.

Best wishes

Jane

 

 

 

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