Do you ever wonder what an essential oil really is, and where did it come from? How did that blade of grass unlock a beautiful therapeutic fragrance hidden by nature?
Well an essential oil is an aromatic compound that has been extracted from the plant material by most commonly steam distillation or cold expression. The essential oil in a bottle is 50-100 times more concentrated than in the plant and requires copious amounts of raw material to extract only a few drops of oil. For example, in order to produce a single pound of essential oils you would need 10,000 pounds of rose petals, 250 pounds of lavender, and 1,500 lemons.
According to the IFEAT (International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trade), 95% of the botanicals we use are produced by small scale farming predominantly in developing countries. Only a few of the botanicals are produced by large scale agricultural enterprises. With such a high demand for essential oils there can be pressures to work longer hours, involve children in the labor, and over-harvest plant material to the point of endangerment. In light of this, it’s important to understand how these plants are farmed and how we can protect those small scale farmers. One way is by supporting the Fair Trade initiative which supports agricultural sustainability and equity in working conditions while empowering workers to know their rights, participate in community change, and gain access to better living conditions.
To read more about the socio-economic impact this has on developing countries click here.
Flo Aromatherapy's commitment is to ensure the highest level of purity, safety, and ethically-sourced natural products for you to enjoy confidently.