What Is Essential Oils?
What It Is
Essential oils are a class of concentrated aromatic plant materials rather than one ingredient with one INCI name. Individual oils are identified according to their botanical source and preparation, such as Lavandula Angustifolia Oil for lavender oil.
What It Does
In cosmetics, essential oils are used primarily for fragrance and sensory purposes. Individual oils can have additional documented cosmetic functions, but their composition and safety considerations vary by botanical source, cultivation, harvesting and processing.
How It Functions in a Formulation
Essential oils can be incorporated into bath salts, bath soaks and other aromatic formulations. Each oil needs to be evaluated as an individual material, including its concentration, dispersion, composition and relevant allergen considerations.
Safety and Tolerance
Safety cannot be assigned to the generic category alone. The source emphasises that the specific oil determines its composition and safety considerations. Natural origin should not be treated as a guarantee of universal tolerability.
What the Source Supports
The source supports Essential Oils as a formulation category and recommends individual ingredient records for specific oils. PE's Lavender 40/42 record is an example of that individual-ingredient approach.