METHODS

Question 1

Most commonly used method for aromatherapy-grade essential oils.

Answer 1

Steam Distillation

Question 2

Used for oils like mustard oil, which are not pre-existing in plants but form through enzymatic action.

Answer 2

Enzymatic Hydrolysis

Question 3

Mechanical extraction method for citrus oils (lemon, orange, bergamot).
■ Fruit rinds are pressed or rolled to rupture oil glands.
■ No heat involved → retains fresh, natural scent.

Answer 3

Expression

Question 4

Traditional, labor-intensive method for delicate flowers (e.g., jasmine, tuberose).
■ Flowers placed on layers of fat to absorb scent, then extracted with alcohol.

Answer 4

Enfleurage

Question 5

Solvents like hexane or benzene dissolve volatile and non-volatile plant components.
Suitable for perfumery and specialized therapeutic applications.

Answer 5

Solvent Extraction

Question 6

Uses supercritical CO2 as a solvent under pressure.
■ Extracts a broader range of compounds.
■ Leaves no solvent residue.

Answer 6

CO2 Extraction

Question 7

■ Used to obtain empyreumatic oils (e.g., pine tar, wood tar).
■ Involves decomposition of plant material without air.
■ Produces tars, methyl alcohol, and crude acids.

Answer 7

Destructive (Dry) Distillation

Question 8

Developed in the late 1980s by Dr. Peter Wilde as an innovative approach to extract essential oils and bioactive compounds from plants.

Answer 8

Florasol/ Phytol Extraction