ESSENTIAL OILS (EOs) are also known as volatiles or ethereal oils. Technically, they are not oils, but volatile liquids that evaporate. They contain chemical constituents such as, Aldehydes, Esters, Phenols, and Terpenes. . They are obtained mainly by steam distillation of various aromatic parts of a botanical, including the leaves, bark, or flowers. . They tend to be clear to yellow in colour, are highly concentrated, and carry the powerful, characteristic aroma of the plant they came from. They can be diluted in carrier oils for use on the skin, diffused in the air, or burned as incense. . CARRIER OILS, on the other hand, are true oils. They are also known as vegetable oils or base oils. . They are typically obtained from the fatty portion of a plant (or animal!) via a variety of different methods, including cold-press, solvent extraction, maceration, and centrifuge. . Their molecular structures are much heavier and larger than those of EOs and consist mainly of lipids, such as fatty acids, waxes, and fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K. . They generally do not have a strong, concentrated odour and do not evaporate. They are called “carrier oils” because they carry EOs into the skin. . Check out my post pic for a summary of their differences. . #thedifferencebetweenordinaryandextraordinaryiseos #eosvscarrieroils #essentialoils #carrieroils #volatileoils #vegetableoils #fattyacids #aliyaaromas (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByvWz-PFapt/?igshid=1tnsqkilto6e1