Sciences Behind the Scene

Essential oil is powerful because it captures the "essence" of different parts of aromatic plants. Each essential oil is a highly concentrated substance with a very complex molecular structure and combination of constituents that interact with the body’s chemistry. On average, an essential oil contains 100 components.

The main chemical components of essential oils are alcohol, aldehydes, esters, ethers, ketones, oxides phenols and terpenes, which may produce characteristic odors and a variety of healing properties. The beneficial effects of these components on the human body can be sedative, stimulating, pain-relieving, hormone-balancing, or diuretic. To effectively acquire the therapeutic values of essential oils, it is better to understand their chemical composition at the back end.

Key Essential Components

Aldehydes

Calming, Sedative, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Viral.
e.g. Lemon Balm, Lemongrass, Eucalyptus and Citronella

Alcohols

Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Viral, Stimulant, Vitalizing
e.g. Ginger, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Tea Tree, Sandlewood, Rose,Rosewood, and Peppermint

Esters

Anti-fungal, Sedative, Anti-inflammatory

e.g. Bergamot, Clary sage, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Petitgrain

Oxides

Anti-Viral, Antifungal, Anti-Bacterial, Expectorant, Mucolytic

e.g. Eucalyptus Ravensara, Rosemary, Tea Tree

Sesquiterpenes

Anti-inflammatory, sedative, anti-viral, anti-carcinogenic, immune stimulant, moves fluids.

e.g. Blue Chamomile, Tansy and Yarrow

Monoterpenes

Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral and antibacterial.

e.g. Grapefruit, Angelica, Frankincense, Cypress and Pine

Phenols

Invigorating, Warming. Strongly anti-bacterial, Immune stimulant.

e.g. Clove, Cinnamon, Cumin, Oregano, and Thyme

KETONES

Wound healing, Aids in mucus secretion, stimulates cell growth.

e.g. Camphor, Eucalyptus, Hyssop, Rosemary and Sage

Why Chemistry Matters?