Absolute: An aromatic substance produced using solvent extraction.
Acid mantle: The film that coats the outermost layer of our skin and supports its barrier function and immunity.
Analgesic: A substance that helps relieve or reduce pain.
Antibacterial: A substance that destroys bacteria.
Antidepressant: A substance that relieves or reduces depression.
Antifungal: A substance that destroys fungus or reduces or inhibits fungal growth.
Anti-inflammatory: A substance that reduces or relieves inflammation.
Antimicrobial: A substance that destroys or resists microbial pathogens.
Antioxidant: A substance or molecule that is thought to protect body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation, a chemical reaction that produces free radicals leading to damaged cells.
Antiperspirant: A substance that reduces excessive sweating.
Antiseptic: A substance that destroys or prevents the growth of microbes that could be harmful.
Antispasmodic: A substance that relieves muscular spasms.
Aphrodisiac: A substance that increases sexual stimulation and excitement.
Aromatherapy: A complementary and alternative care modality that centers on the holistic, olfactory, and therapeutic application of essential oils (see Essential oil) to support, enhance, and balance the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health of the individual.
Astringent: A substance that causes cells to shrink, contract, or tighten.
Balm: An ointment made with beeswax, vegetable and/or herbal oils, butters, and essential oils that is used to soothe skin and promote healing.
Carrier oil: A base oil used in health and beauty formulations to help dilute essential oils and “carry” them into the skin from an external application so the body can benefit from the essential oils’ therapeutic properties. Carrier oils are typically derived from nuts or seeds. They possess their own spectrum of nutrients, including vitamins.
Clay: A naturally occurring substance from the earth that is used to help absorb excess oil and remove toxins and dirt from the skin.
CO2 extraction: The method by which liquid CO2 is used as a solvent to extract medicinal and aromatic constituents from plant materials.
Cold-pressing: A high-pressure pressing method used to extract the essential oils from citrus peels.
Collagen: A complex long-chain protein that is tough and does not stretch. Skin manufactures these proteins in the dermis to help the skin keep its shape.
Deodorant: A substance that reduces or removes unpleasant body odor.
Detoxifier: A substance that supports the body’s innate ability to remove excess toxic substances from the body.
Diffusion: The process of dispersing essential oils so that their natural aroma fills a room or an area.
Dilution: Diluting the potency of essential oils by blending them with a carrier, such as vegetable oils, herbal oils, butters, spray mists, and gels.
Disinfectant: A substance that destroys bacteria and pathogenic microbes.
Distillation: The method by which essential oils are extracted from plant materials using steam.
Elasticin: A protein component of fibers found in the dermis layer of the skin that provides the skin with its elasticity.
Emollient: A substance that has the effect of softening or soothing the skin.
Enfleurage: A method of extracting aromatic substances from plant material using solid (animal) fats, so that the fats are imbued with the plant’s scent.
Essential oil: A highly complex molecular compound derived from the steam distillation of various aromatic plant materials like leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, wood, and roots, or the mechanical pressing of citrus rinds. Essential oils are extremely volatile and do not dissolve in water.
Exfoliation: The application of natural ingredients (such as salt, sugar, etc.) to remove dead skin cells and other debris from the surface of the skin.
Fatty acids: Constituents of vegetable oils that are essential to cellular health and stability.
Herbal oils: Vegetable oils that have been infused with medicinal herbs.
Hormonal balancer: A substance that helps balance the endocrine system.
Hydrosol: A water by-product of the steam distillation process of plant materials that contains trace amounts of the water-soluble molecules of the essential oils of the plant materials that were distilled.
Immune enhancer: A substance that supports the immune system.
Insecticide: A substance that kills or wards off insects.
Mucolytic: A substance that dissolves mucus or helps break it down so it can be released from the body more easily. It may also provide a drying effect when there is overproduction of mucus.
Neat: Refers to the act of applying an essential oil directly onto the skin without a carrier oil to dilute it.
Olfaction: The sense of smell.
Orifice reducer: A small piece of specially shaped plastic that is inserted into the neck of a glass bottle used to dispense essential oils, usually in 5 ml to 10 ml glass bottles. This small plastic piece actually reduces the amount of air that naturally circulates into the bottle and may subsequently prevent the highly volatile essential oil from oxidizing too rapidly. An orifice reducer also offers a safe way to dispense the essential oil in the form of drops. When the bottle is carefully tilted on its side, essential oil can flow through the tiny opening of the orifice reducer and be dispensed in measured drops.
Pipette: A slender disposable plastic measuring device used to transfer small quantities of liquid. It is typically used in aromatherapy to dispense essential oils drop by drop.
Salve: An ointment made with beeswax, vegetable and/or herbal oils, and essential oils that is used to soothe skin and promote healing.
Sebum: An oily substance naturally produced by the oil glands (sebaceous glands) below the skin surface.
Sedative: A substance that calms and soothes the central nervous system.
Solvent extraction: The method by which a petrochemical substance like hexane is used to extract the aromatic constituents from aromatic plant materials.
Synergy: The working together of three or more essential oils to bolster their therapeutic effectiveness as a blended formulation, as compared to their individual effects.
Toner: A substance that causes the contraction of body tissues. In beauty care, a toner is often used to help remove makeup, dirt, or remnants of soap or cleanser from the surface of the skin to prepare it to accept nourishing skin products.
Toxin: A substance that is harmful to the health of the body, mind, and environment.
USP: The US Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific nonprofit organization that sets standards for the identity, strength, quality, and purity of medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed, and consumed worldwide.
Viscosity: The thickness of a fluid.
Volatility: The ability of an essential oil to evaporate or vaporize.