Infused Herbal Oils vs. Essential Oils

Hey there! Have you ever heard of essential oils and infused oils, and wondered if they're the same thing? Or, have you ever read the ingredients on a skincare product and wondered whether "lavender oil" is an essential oil or an herbal-infused oil? Essential oils and infused oils are actually two different types of extracts, and the terms 'herbal oils' and 'aromatic oils' are often used interchangeably, which can cause confusion. So, I want to clear up this confusion and share with you some of the key differences between the two and how it’s more pure and effective to use herbal-infused oils in your skincare routine.

First, let's talk about essential oils. Essential oils are concentrated liquids that contain volatile aroma compounds from plants. They are usually made through a process called steam distillation, which involves heating plant material to release the essential oils, and then collecting the resulting vapor and condensing it back into a liquid form. This vapor or volatile oil (also referred to as the 'sulfur' or 'soul' of the plant) is believed to comprise only one-third of a plant's medicinal properties.

Furthermore, plants that contain volatile oils have very small amounts of them so big essential oil brands are distilling mass quantities of the plant material for a very small yield (like an ounce or two). Therefore, producing essential oils on a large scale can be resource-intensive and potentially unsustainable, depending on several factors such as the type of plant being used, the method of cultivation, and the extraction process. Additionally, some extraction methods may require large amounts of water, energy, or other resources, which can be unsustainable if not managed carefully. There is also another potential drawback of essential oil production, such as the potential for over-extraction, which can harm the environment and the plant species.

However, it is also important to note that there are sustainable and environmentally friendly methods for producing essential oils, such as using renewable energy sources, implementing sustainable cultivation practices, and using efficient and non-polluting distillation methods. When selecting essential oils, it's important to consider their source and production methods, and to look for brands that prioritize sustainability and environmentally conscious practices.

Herbal-infused oils, on the other hand, offer a more traditional and accessible way to harness all the benefits of herbs. They are milder, gentler, and extract a wider spectrum of the plant's chemistry and a wider spectrum of the plant’s medicinal properties. These oils are infused in a carrier oil (olive, jojoba, sweet almond, avocado, sunflower, etc) with the whole herb, meaning they contain not just the volatile oil compounds (essential oils), but also the other beneficial components of the plant.

The use of an herbal-infused oil is not just for topical application for wounds and sore muscles, but can bring systemic effects to the user by penetrating through the skin and into the bloodstream. Herbal oils can nourish, strengthen, tone, tighten, hydrate, regenerate, and heal the skin, muscles, and fascia.

In addition, herbal-infused oils have the advantage of being safer, more sustainable, and they can easily be made at home. You don't need a large quantity of plant materials and it is a more effective way to extract the benefits of herbs that don't contain essential oils like plantain, arnica, and calendula.

I personally use a small amount of essential oils in my home cleaning and skincare recipes, but the ingredients in my Mommy Turns Green products are virtually all made with potent herbal-infused oils with herbs I grow in my garden, using a unique method of herbal extraction, which is less commonly used; this method draws off the broadest spectrum of a plant's medicinal potency, resulting in a holistic and therapeutic experience for the body, mind, skin, and planet.

So, don't be fooled into using just essential oils for herbal medicine. Next time you're thinking of purchasing a product be on the lookout for the mislabeling of essentials oils as herbal oils. For example, Lavandula Officinalis (Lavender) Flower Oil or Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil–these are just essential oils. Finally, consider trying products with ingredients that contain herbal-infused oils instead and observe the impact they make on your skincare routine.