I have prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from questions that I have been asked in the past and from questions that I had when I first began my essential oil research.  

If you have a question that I have not addressed and if you feel that it will be useful to all people, please email it to me and I will research it and add it to the site.

What are Essential Oils and Where do they Come from?

What are Essential Oils? Essential oils are the regenerating, oxygenating, and immune defense properties of plants.  Essential oils contain the oxygen molecules that transport nutrients to the cells of the body.  They have a bio-electrical frequency that is several times greater than that of herbs or foods.

Essential oils are substances extracted from a singe botanical source: they are 70 times more concentrated than what is found in plant form.  Essential oils are taken from leaves, bark, peel, flowers, etc.

Essential Oils are concentrated plant essences.  They are life enhancing gifts from the plant kingdom.

(Calling them an oil is something of a misnomer, in that they really aren't oily.)  Essential oils are composed of hundreds of components and elements that have a combined antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and immune-stimulating effect. Most essential oils are clear, but some oils such as patchouli, orange and lemongrass are amber or yellow in color. Others such as blue tansy have a blue cast to the oil.

The use of essential oils is also commonly known as "aromatherapy" which combines the science of scent and the essence of pure plant life.

The use of Essential Oils can promote health, healing, beauty and vitality.

Essential oils are messengers of the defense-system of an aromatic plant. These special oils protect the plant from invading organisms and microbes; help it heal from wounds; and, carry nutrients to it's cells.

Essential oils also have many health-enhancing properties to assist the human body in its regenerative process.

Essential oils are derived from relatively a few plants and depending on the variety only from a particular part of the plant -- leaves, roots, buds, twigs, rhizomes, bark flower petals, resin, seeds, heartwood and fruit.  As a result they encompass a wide range of aromas and taste.

Some are tart and tangy, such as the oils from the citrus family of lemon, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, mandarin, and lime. Some essential oils are warm and spicy, like the oils of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, or cumin. Some essential oils smell like heaven such as the floral scents of geranium, rose, and lavender. Some oils are powerfully herbaceous, like oregano, basil, dill, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and savory. Peppermint and spearmint are fresh and minty.

What is the difference between perfumes and essential oils and why is it important to me?

There is a BIG difference between the two.  And, those differences are important to you as a consumer and potential user of Essentials Oils. 

Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant they were derived from.

Always keep this distinction clear in your mind. Perfume oils, also known as fragrance oils or “fragrances”, are not the same as a pure essential oil.

(Perfume oils and fragrances contain unnatural chemicals and do not provide the therapeutic benefits of pure essential oils. Please note that many fragrances or perfume extenders can actually be toxic to the body, particularly to those people sensitive to chemicals.  If you are going to use oils it is extremely important to be able to distinguish between the two.)

In the last few years, awareness of the art of aromatherapy has risen tremendously, both in the news and in the marketplace.  As exciting and encouraging as this is, it has also resulted in products which are better suited to what could be considered "recreational aromatherapy."  These are the products we see advertised on a daily basis which boast of amazing fragrances, coupled with use of the word "aromatherapy" in their description.  However, these products more often than not contain "essential oils" of unknown quality or origin, many of which are derived not from plants but rather from a test tube in a laboratory, of which have been adulterated with synthetic or unsuitable extenders.

Essential Oils intended for therapeutic medicinal purposed are a different matter altogether.  Every therapeutic-grade essential oil must be traceable back to the field where it was grown and the distiller from which it originated.  This why it is important to choose, whenever possible, oils which have been certified. E.O.B.B.D or H.E.B.B.D.

What sets TRUessence Essential Oils apart from other companies?

Alexandria Brighton TRUessence Essential Oil Formulator
Alexandria Brighton is a master formulator, author, and educator on the application of pure and therapeutic essential oils. She has spanned the entire globe in search of essential oils that meet her highest quality standards and brought them to you through TRUessence.

Alexandria Brighton has authored a book that will be invaluable to add to your TRUessence Essential Oils Library: From the Stillroom -- a Collection of Aromatherapy Recipes.

Another invaluable book to add to your TRUessence Library is by Lorene Karewa Forbes entitled: Nature's Farmacy -- A Guide for the use of Essential Oils for healthy living.

She has traveled the world studying with scientists, physicians and other specialists learning about the chemistry of essential oils and their health and wellness benefits. She has a deep and profound love of essential oils.

How Do Essential Oils Work?

There are several ways that oils can work for us:
Micro-Diffusion, Massage, In the Bath, Hot and Cold Compresses, Direct (Neat) Application, BioElectric Activity, Misting Spray and Anointing Oil.

Micro- Diffusion Through Your Sense of Scent or Smell:  Essential oils affect people first through their nose and their sense of smell. Smell is actually the most rapidly responding of all your senses; it’s the source of all moods, emotions, creativity and motivation; therefore, scents affect each immediately.

Inhalation through micro-diffusion has also been tested and found effective for their airborne antiseptic activity.  For instance, essential oils -- especially those containing monoterpenes -- would be a good choice to disinfect and purify the air in the event of a bacterial contamination.

Two types of diffusers are available:  A Nebulizing Diffuser and an Ultrasonic Diffuser.

Take a moment and think about it — the smell of popcorn can bring forth several responses in your body within seconds.

Your mouth may begin watering, a sense of warmth can run through your body, and emotions tied movie or sports events may quickly come to your awareness — all from the scent of popcorn. Through the wonderful aromas of certain essential oils, an overall sense of well-being can be created or enhanced.

Topical Application: When essential oils are applied topically to your skin, an almost instantaneous absorption occurs, moving into your blood stream, then to the deprived area. Swelling may decrease, blood circulation returns, the discomfort is diminished, and mobility may be restored.

Did you know that it has been reported that when essential oils are applied to the bottom of the feet, the constituents of that oil travels to every cell within 20 minutes of application? Oftentimes, the smell of certain oils can emanate on someone’s breath within seconds of application to the skin! 

Bioelectric Activity: This may be a little more difficult to understand.  Basically, bioelectric activity is a coherent and harmonic balance of energy which helps maintain life.

At a cellular level, a person does not live or die all at once, but rather one cell at a time. So if your diet is lower in frequency than that of your body, your cell’s ability to live may be in jeopardy and will probably die.

The death of cells creates a place for toxins, which then creates a host for disease to thrive.

Using essential oils may help elevate the body’s frequency. When elevating the body’s frequency, disease no longer has a supportive environment.

Ingestion: Caution:  Essential Oils should only be ingested orally with the guidance of suitability qualified practitioner, or as indicated in the recipes found in the book entitled From the Still Room -- a Collection of Aromatherapy Recipes because the recipes in that book use essential oils that are "Generally Regarded as Safe" (GRAS) by the FDA.
 

What does E.O.B.B.D. and H.E.B.B.D. certified mean? Understanding Essential Oil Purity.

E.O.B.B.D. (Essential Oils Botanically and Biochemically Defined) is an exacting standard of certification of purity.

H.E.B.B.D. is the French Version of E.O.B.B.D.

In order to be E.O.B.B.D. certified, oils are tested by third-party professionals using methods which determine exactly what constituents are in the oil, as well as breaking down the percentages.

Essential Oils that are intended for therapeutic medicinal purposes must be traceable back to the field where it was grown and the distiller from which it originated.  The exact chemical composition must also be known.  This is why it is important to choose, whenever possible, oils which have been certified as E.O.B.B.D. or H.E.B.B.D in French.  A guarantee of purity, the E.O.B.B. D. label and the H.E.B.B.D. label is only granted through the I.N.S.A. -- Insitut de Normalization Scientifique d' Aromatolgie -- a scientific committee of independent health professionals based in Europe.

The TRUessence essentials oils referenced on this website are available from ForeverGreen International and are sourced primarily from a laboratory in France which carries the H.E.B.B.D. certification.

Absence of E.O.B.B.D. or H.E.B.B.D.  certification may mean adulteration of an originally authentic essential oil.

What makes TRUessence Essential Oils so Exceptional?

The essential and most important difference is that ForeverGreen brings to the marketplace a premium-grade, 100% pure, therapeutic essential oil.

Make no mistake about it — there is a distinct difference in quality of essential oils offered to consumers today.

There are very few essential oils on the market - that we’re aware of - that provide the same benefits as TRUessence Essential Oils.

TRUessence therapeutic-grade essential oils deliver positive benefits to the body as aromatherapy, through massage, diffusion and when taken internally.

Be careful when purchasing essential oils for therapeutic use some may have been compromised in one way or another by:

Being extracted with hexane, or other toxins

Being extended with synthetic oils and other potentially health-compromising synthetic ingredients

Being extended – meaning they’re “in a base of...” various kinds of fatty oils (almond, sunflower, etc), thus diluting the therapeutic value and impacting the essential oils!

Do your research.  Never, ever be in such a hurry that you will run out to the store to get it to save time or because you feel that you are getting it cheaper.  You may find it "cheaper" and "quicker to find" but at what cost. What penalty to your body.  Store bought oils are likely not to be as effective and could be toxic.  Please, please do your research before you purchase an essential oil and know what makes a quality oil.

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