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What is an Essential Oil?
Essential Oils (also referred to as Aromatherapy Oils) are the highly-concentrated, volatile, aromatic natural essences of plants. The purest Essential Oils come from carefully cultivated and wild-grown plants from specific climatic and geographic regions throughout the world. To learn more about Essential Oils, visit our comprehensive blog.
What is a Carrier Oil?
Also referred to as vegetable oils and base oils, Carrier Oils are neutral, cold-pressed oils that are used to dilute Essential Oils or Absolutes for safe topical application. They are also used in the manufacturing of cold-process soaps and in massage therapy. Each Carrier Oil has a unique set of nutrients, properties, aromas, textures, and viscosities, and the choice of a Carrier Oil can depend on the usage or desired benefit. To learn more about Carrier Oils, click here.
Are your Essential Oils and Carrier Oils organic?
While all of our Essential Oils and Carrier Oils are 100% pure and natural, we also have an Organic line of Essential Oils and Carrier Oils that are accompanied by authentic certificates of organic production under strict supervision by internationally-recognized certifying bodies.
What is the “Clean Standard” at New Directions Aromatics?
The Clean Standard at New Directions Aromatics represents our commitment to offering products that meet rigorous safety and purity standards. Products that have the Clean Standard label are formulated without ingredients that may cause adverse effects to human health or the environment. Ingredients that are avoided in our Clean Standard products include parabens, formaldehydes and their releasers, mercury compounds, oxybenzone, octinoxate, hydroquinone, triclosan, coal tar, nitro musk, phthalates, lyral, and lilial.
Our Clean Standard reflects our dedication to transparency, ethical sourcing, and providing the highest quality raw materials that align with your values for clean and sustainable ingredients. For more information, click here.
What are the different methods of extraction?
Steam Distillation: The most common distillation practice for extracting an Essential Oil, steam distillation uses steam to isolates the aromatic, volatile element of the plant.
Cold Pressing/Expression: Cold Pressing is used primarily for citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, in which the Essential Oils are obtained from tiny pockets in the fruits’ peels. Oils extracted by cold pressing are the most volatile of Essential Oils and can evaporate quickly when exposed to air. To learn more about the shelf lives of different oil categories, click here.
Solvent Extraction: In this method, flowers that are too delicate to be processed with heat or pressure are soaked in a solvent that extracts the flowers’ volatile elements. The solvent is then evaporated at high temperatures, leaving only the most fragrant constituents behind. This process produces what is called an "Absolute."
CO2 Extraction: The CO2 Extraction method yields a greater number of aromatic compounds than any other distillation process. In certain conditions at a low temperature, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) can be pressurized to become a liquid. This liquid then acts as a solvent and is used to extract the oil from plants. After extraction is completed, the extraction vessel is brought back to normal temperature and the CO2 rapidly converts to gas, leaving behind a high-quality oil that is free of solvents.
To learn more about Essential Oil extraction methods, click here.
What are the different ways to use Essential Oils?
There are many ways that Essential Oils can be used. The following are the most common ways:
Massages: Massage is one of the most beneficial methods of using Essential Oils, because it combines the aromatic benefits of the oils with the benefits of Touch Therapy.
Inhalation: Inhalation is one of the quickest ways to experience the benefits of aromatherapy. This method is reputed to be highly beneficial for comforting individuals with respiratory ailments. However, those with asthma or epilepsy should avoid inhaling Essential Oils.
Baths: Diluting Essential Oils and adding them to a warm, soothing bath can create a relaxing experience.
Diffusers: Diffusers and Aromatherapy go hand-in-hand. Adding Essential Oils to a diffuser effectively introduces their aromatic properties and fragrances to any environment.
Hot/Cold Compress: Compresses are an effective way to apply Essential Oils directly to the topical areas where they are needed the most.
How do you know that the essential oil are pure?
We have had direct buying relationships with ethical producers around the world for nearly 20 years. Our buyers regularly visit their facilities and have the products tested by credible third-party laboratories. We have now purchased our own Gas Chromatograph machine to set up a sophisticated laboratory on site, enabling us to better protect and evaluate our quality. New Directions Aromatics continues to improve in this area and is committed to selling the best quality Essential Oils at market-leading prices.
Can your oils be ingested?
Due to their highly concentrated nature, we do NOT recommend the ingestion of any of our Essential Oils or Carrier Oils because they have the potential to cause serious damage if used internally without the necessary expertise required for administering them. This is supported by the International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFEAT), which does not recommend ingestion of Essential Oils unless the individual is under the supervision of a medical doctor who is also qualified in clinical Aromatherapy as practiced in France.
How is it that you sometimes carry more than one variety of an Essential Oil?
We try to carry a high grade, a medium grade, and a low grade to suit the various requirements of our customers. Low grades are usually used in blends and in natural cosmetics, while the higher grades are preferred by licensed Massage Therapists and Aromatherapists.
How are you able to charge such reasonable prices for your oils?
Although many companies would like to have direct buying relationships with top suppliers around the world, they simply do not have the necessary volume to negotiate with these suppliers. Similarly, they lack the warehousing and logistics infrastructure as well. This results in these companies having to pay a steep price for small quantities and, in the end, they charge very high prices when selling these products.
At New Directions Aromatics, we are fortunate to have the buying power of 7 offices around the world. Our buyers negotiate volume purchases during the harvest season, and simple economics allows us to pass the savings on to our customers. New Directions Aromatics remains committed to rolling back prices as we negotiate better volume discounts with our suppliers and as we continue to grow globally – that's our promise to you!
Why are most Essential Oils not to be used directly on the skin?
Many Essential Oils can cause irritation to the skin, and for this reason they should be diluted in a Carrier (vegetable) Oil before being applied to the skin.
What does the term 'phototoxic' mean?
An Essential Oil that is phototoxic increases the skin’s sensitivity and pigmentation if applied topically prior to direct sun exposure. Most citrus Essential Oils are phototoxic, although non-phototoxic varieties are available. Oils that should be avoided approximately six hours before prolonged sunlight exposure include Bergamot, Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, and Mandarin. These should be avoided while taking phototoxic medications, as any direct sunlight on the skin could trigger the possibility of a medical emergency.
Why should some oils be avoided during pregnancy?
Pregnant and nursing women are advised not to use Essential Oils without the medical advice of a physician, as they can have effects on certain hormone secretions and it is unclear whether these effects are transferable to babies at these stages of development. Some Essentials Oils can also potentially encourage bleeding. Always consult your physician or a reputable Aromatherapist before using any Essential Oil. Some oils to refrain from using throughout pregnancy include Ajowan, Basil, Camphor, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Cypress, Fennel, Hyssop, Juniper Berry, Marjoram, Rose Geranium, Rosemary, and Thyme.
What is the difference between an Essential Oil and a Fragrance Oil?
Essential Oils are essences that are obtained directly from plants or plant parts and are all natural, whereas Fragrance Oils are manufactured in a lab and are composed of different aromatic substances.
How do I store my Essential Oils once I have purchased them?
It is recommended that oils be stored between 0 and 20 degrees Celsius (room temperature) and out of direct sunlight. Refrigeration after opening is optimal.
NDA's 500 ml and 1L sizes are transported in aluminum bottles, and sizes larger than 1L are transported in metal cans to prevent breakage and spillage. However, their Epoxy Resin coating can cause a change in the Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil, if they are not decanted into dark glass containers/bottles after they have been received. Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils cannot be immediately decanted, they should be decanted with the top left off for a day or two so that the oil's scent may rectify itself. On rare occasions, this will not be possible, but the quality of the oil will not be degraded.
Do you sell natural preservatives?
Yes, we do. Grapefruit Seed Extract 60/40 (Citricidal) is reputed to exhibit effective broad spectrum anti-microbial properties. Vitamin E MT50 Full Spectrum contains antioxidant properties and will delay rancidity when added to formulations. To see our most popular preservatives, click here.
What Carrier Oil do you use for 3% dilutions?
For 3% dilutions, we recommended using Jojoba Golden Carrier Oil. This means 97% of Carrier Oil and 3% of the real Essential Oil.
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