Both essential oils and extracts appear as ingredients in beauty products, so it can be confusing to determine what the differences are. If you are looking for the highest-quality products, it’s important to understand the benefits of essential oils vs extracts and when you should choose one over the other.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are compounds which are extracted from various types of plants. The part of the essential oil that provides the wonderful aromas is the chemicals from the plant which have been removed and separated. There are many different methods for extraction, including steam distillation and cold pressing. This results in an oily substance which is the “essence” of the plant. Essential oils can be blended to create exquisite aromas. They can be inhaled or applied topically when diluted.

What are Extracts?

Plant extracts, in contrast to pure oils, are not concentrated and instead contain the plant compounds along with other components. Instead of removing the essence of the plant, extracts are obtained by soaking the plant matter. This removes the aromatic compounds and dissolves them in the solvent. Extracts can also be obtained from essential oils by combining them with ethyl alcohol, glycerol, or propylene glycol.

Three types of extracts exist: infusions, tinctures, and glycerites. Infusions are when the plant material is left to steep in water or oil over a period of time. Water infusions can be as quick as 5 to 30 minutes, whereas oil infusions may take up to a few days or weeks. Tinctures are alcohol-based extracts which are in a solution that is composed of 40%-50% alcohol. Finally, glycerites are liquid extracts in glycerin.

Using Essential Oils vs Extracts

Extracts are used in the kitchen for baking and cooking. One example is vanilla extract, a popular ingredient in many household recipes. Extracts that are common today are derived from spices, nuts, herbs, fruits, flowers, and other types of natural ingredients.

Essential oils are commonly used for diffusion to fill any room with your favorite scent. Each oil provides different benefits and has special properties. These oils can also be used for massages or facial application when diluted.

Are Essential Oils Better Than Extracts?

There are some cases when either oils or extracts are clearly the better option. For example, you should never add extracts to your diffuser, as the solvents can cause damage and extracts are not generally suited for aromatherapy. Conversely, using essential oils for cooking is not recommended. Extracts are generally safer for consumption and are more effective for adding flavor to your food.

You are likely to see both essential oils and extracts in beauty products. Sometimes, both will appear in the same item. Although essential oils are a more concentrated form of plants and are usually better to make your own beauty products, there is nothing inherently wrong with products that use extracts. In fact, many plants cannot produce usable oils. This includes most fruits besides citrus. Rather than focusing on whether an item contains oils or extracts, it is better to consider the brand’s reputation as a whole and the overall quality of their products.

Essential Oils and Beauty Products by Pyurvana

At Pyurvana, you can find therapeutic-grade, 100% pure essential oils that you can use topically or for diffusion. We also offer health and beauty products that include high-grade oils and/or extracts. No matter what you purchase, you can trust that you are getting the best quality.

Browse our website today to learn more about our essential oil products.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Pyurvana’s products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.