Welcome to August. According to the Gregorian calendar, August signifies the end of Summer, while the Celtic calendar heralds it as the
beginning of Autumn. Regardless of which calendar you follow, August is a time brimming with vibrant flowering plants and a rich variety of foliage and color, showcasing the beauty and abundance of nature.
Before I downsized a few years ago, August was the month I reaped the full benefits of the hours spent in the garden planting and weeding. My garden would be a burst of color and life. Now, one of the greatest pleasures of this month is taking long, leisurely walks in my local park or along the sandy beaches of Co. Wicklow, Ireland. The longer, warmer days provide ample opportunity to immerse myself in nature.
Connecting with nature profoundly enriches my work as an
Aromatherapist, reminding me of the deep connection between the oils in our essential oil bottles and their origins in the natural world. Each drop of essential oil carries with it the strength, beauty, and healing power of these beautiful plants, encapsulating the essence of nature’s bounty.
Enjoy the beauty of August, and may it inspire you to cherish and appreciate the natural origins of your essential oils even more.
Embrace this month’s splendor and let it deepen your connection to the wonderful world around you!
All the bottles in the picture above contain 20 drops showing us that we have to ask the question: How big is a drop? Usually, we get our bottles of essential oils with a drop counter or, more correctly, an orifice reducer, which helps us to get the right amount of essential oil as well as protecting the oil by reducing the amount of oxygen that enters the bottle.
You might think that a drop is a drop when using an orifice reducer. However, this isn’t entirely true as the size can differ in order, perhaps, to help thicker oils to flow more easily, for example. The hole can vary from 0.55mm up to 1.15mm [3]. If your collection of essential oils comes from different brands, this is something to be aware of if you are formulating a blend where precision is needed. Using a pipette at your workbench could also make a difference.
We can conclude that all drops are NOT equal
But does that really matter?
It depends on the purpose of the blend you are making.
What is the alternative?
When your aim is to blend as precisely as possible, it is better to measure in weight or volume instead. For many, volume is the easier option, since you only need to have a couple of measuring tools such as lab cylinders, etc. In a more professional setting, many prefer a scale which can measure down to 0.01g.
If you use a recipe where the ingredients are listed in parts of or as a percentage, how do you know how much oil to use? If you are using the scales, there’s no problem. But if you want to use volume or continue with drop counting, you have to do a little calculating. And now we meet a new problem – how many drops make up 1ml? At www.aromaweb.com [1] we see that 1ml is 20 drops and at www.tisserandinstitute.org we see that the average is 30 drops. Both can be true depending on the orifice reducer placed in your bottle and the essential oil’s viscosity. No wonder it can be a little confusing! To illustrate all these words, I have created some experiments. All of the bottles in the pictures below contain 20 drops and have been weighed on a jeweler’s scale.
This picture illustrates the volume of Copaiba.
A: Copaifera officinalis (martii) from company A with orifice reducer (0.82g)
B: Copaifera spp. from company B with orifice reducer (0.92g)
C: Copaifera spp. from company B with pipette (0.79g)
Here we see three different oils from company A.
A: Anise seed Pimpinella anisum (0.69g)
B: Eucalyptus globulus (0.60g)
C: Nutmeg Myristica fragrans (0.4g)
The third experiment shows the volume of oils from company B.
A: Ginger Zingiber officinale (0.83g)
B: Buddha Wood Eremophila mitchellii (0.88g)
C: Cedarwood Juniperus virginiana (1.06g)
References
[1] Measurements for essential oils. Aromaweb. https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/measurements-essential-oils.php
[2] How big is a drop? (2021, April 9). Tisserand Institute. https://tisserandinstitute.org/learn-more/drop-size/
[3] Not all drops are created equal! (n.d.). Essence of Thyme. https://www.essenceofthyme.com/blog/not-all-drops-created-equal
Violet leaf (Viola odorata)
Essential Oil Profile by Ian Cambray-Smith, FIFPA
In Essence Vol 7 No 1 Summer 2008
Ian talks about the beauty of the violet plant, the chemical makeup, and how it is used medicinally, and how it blends with other essential oils.
This article and many more are available to members through the In Essence archive in the members’ area of the IFPA website. Please click here to find out how to become a member and what benefits you gain.
Latin name: Cocos nucifera
This tropical oil, extracted from the coconut tree, is highly valued for its numerous benefits and its aroma reminiscent of summer vacations. It contains nearly 50% lauric acid, a medium-chain saturated fatty acid that helps protect the skin by creating a barrier. Lauric acid is also believed to have antibacterial properties. Coconut oil acts as an emollient and occlusive agent, preventing excessive water loss and improving skin dryness. It is highly resistant to oxidation and has a low melting point of 24 degrees Celsius. Commonly used for massage, body skin care, and protection against hair damage. Many love its tropical aroma, but some may prefer the refined version where the scent is removed.
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