In this article, we’ll talk you through the process of how volant essential oils are produced, from how they are extracted from the raw plant materials to how they are used by our customers.
The volant difference
At volant, we keep the process of making our essential oils as simple as possible. This helps to minimise our carbon footprint and bring you natural products that are free from harmful toxins and additives.
When a plant is grown in sub-optimal conditions, or in an unnatural climate, this can compromise the quality and aroma of its essential oils. That’s why we only use plants which are grown in the best possible conditions, and as naturally as possible. At volant, our essential oils are sourced from locations across the globe to ensure this outstanding quality. Our plants are grown organically and go through a careful distillation process, enabling us to extract their natural essential oils without compromising on the quality of the end product.
Once we’ve harvested your favourite essential oils, we bottle them up and send them straight to your door. However, we’re careful to respect the planet in everything that we do. That’s why we choose the most eco-friendly packaging options, using paper packaging and light-proof glass bottles. If we look after our planet, it will look after us.
When your essential oils arrive, there are endless possibilities of how you can use them to enhance your mood and revitalise your body. Whether you decide to create your own hydrosol or use your concentrated essential oils to freshen up your home and body, we know that you’re going to love our pure and organic essential oils.
How are essential oil raw materials produced?
It’s important to us that our essential oils are 100% pure and organic. That’s why we make sure that the plants our oils are derived from are grown in the finest conditions, without risk of contamination. All of our luxurious essential oils are produced organically, but what does that actually mean?
Something which is vegan and organic has been crafted solely using natural plant products rather than harmful chemicals and pesticides. This allows for the creation of natural and additive-free products that you know are safe for you and your whole family. When you choose volant essential oils, you can rest assured that all of our products are organic, vegan, non-toxic, natural and 100% pure, so you know exactly what’s in the bottle you receive.
When you’re nourishing or treating your body, you need to know that the oils you’re using are safe and effective. That’s why it’s so important that you choose high-quality, organic essential oils. Just like you wouldn’t want to eat something that you didn’t know the contents of, you want to be able to trust the aromas you are inhaling and absorbing into your body.
How are essential oils distilled?
Here at volant, we use two forms of distillation to ensure the highest-quality essential oils are produced. The method used depends on the plant that the oil is derived from. The majority of our oils are distilled using steam distillation while four of our oils are cold pressed. Let’s take a look at these two methods of distillation.
Steam distillation
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Steam distillation is a process that is used to extract and isolate essential oils from specific parts of plants.
First of all, a large container is filled with the raw plant material. Steam is then added, causing the plant’s aromatic molecules to be released as a vapour. These vaporised plant compounds then travel to a condenser, where the pipe is surrounded by cold water. This causes the vapours to condense back into a liquid form.
The aromatic liquid formed is then ready to be collected. It is put into a separator where the oil and water naturally separate. As oil and water do not mix, the essential oil floats on top and the water sinks to the bottom of the container. From here, the essential oil can be harvested and bottled.
This distillation process is used for a wide range of essential oils, including cedarwood, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, Roman chamomile, rosemary, spruce, tea tree and ylang-ylang.
Cold pressing
Cold pressing is mainly used for citrus oils, including lemon, sweet orange, bergamot and grapefruit. The process of cold pressing is extremely natural and involves no heat or chemicals.
Citrus fruit has essential oil sacs which lay on the underside of the rind. During cold pressing, these sacs are punctured to release the essential oil. The fruit is then carefully pressed to squeeze out all the oil and juice.
The liquid collected during this process contains solid pieces from the fruit. After collection, it is then centrifuged at high speeds to separate the solids from the liquids. After the solids have been separated, the oil is able to naturally separate from the juice, where it can be harvested and bottled.
What are hydrosols?
You might have also heard of essential oil hydrosols. These are a less concentrated type of essential oil, which gives them a softer and more subtle scent, as well as being gentler on skin. Hydrosols are commonly used in skincare and aromatherapy.
The good news is that you can make hydrosols at home: there’s no need to buy hydrosols as well as essential oils.
Start by adding 6-10 drops of essential oils to one cup of boiling distilled water in a bowl and cover with a lid or plate to contain the steam. Leave this to sit for around 30 minutes before pouring the mixture through a coffee filter to separate the oils from the water. The hydrosol will pass through the filter into the container whilst the neat oil will be unable to pass through.
Leave the hydrosol to cool completely before pouring it into a bottle and storing it in the fridge. Kept in the fridge, a hydrosol will typically last for around 6 months. However, if you notice any changes in the appearance or scent, you should discard the solution immediately.
Hydrosols make an ideal spray for freshening your soft furnishings, towels, bedding and carpets, leaving your home with a fantastic aroma all year round. You can even try spritzing your dressing gown and pillowcase with lavender and chamomile hydrosol to help you relax and unwind before bed.
Spritzing it over your skin is another great way to use your homemade hydrosol. Then massage a carrier oil over your skin to help the essential oil to fully absorb into the skin, leaving it feeling irresistibly soft. This can help to restore your skin’s natural pH after cleansing, whilst preventing the growth of bacteria.
Where do volant’s essential oils come from?
Volant essential oils are produced from the finest plants grown all over the world. From ylang-ylang grown in Madagascar to Eucalyptus grown in India, each of our plants used are grown in the very best environment and conditions to suit their individual growing needs. We’ve carefully selected locations with the ideal climate and agricultural land for each type of plant. This means that every single one of our plants is grown organically and naturally, at its own pace, and with the ideal soil composition that enriches each plant with its health-giving properties. By the time each crop is harvested, it is bursting with essential oils, ready to be extracted and bottled by our team. Let’s take a look at where each of our essential oils come from.
| Essential Oil | Country | Plant |
|---|---|---|
| Bergamot |
 Italy
|
Citrus bergamia |
| Cedarwood |
 India
|
Juniperus virginiana |
| Eucalyptus |
India
|
Eucalyptus globulus 80% |
| Frankincense |
India
|
Boswellia carterii |
| Geranium |
 Egypt
|
Pelargonium graveolens |
| Grapefruit |
 USA
|
Citrus paradisi |
| Lavender |
 Bulgaria
|
Lavandula angustifolia |
| Lemon |
Italy
|
Citrus limon |
| Lemongrass |
India
|
Cymbopogon flexuosus |
| Peppermint |
India
|
Mentha piperita |
| Roman chamomile |
 Hungary
|
Anthemis nobilis |
| Rosemary |
 Spain
|
Rosmarinus officinalis |
| Spruce |
 Canada
|
Picea abies |
| Sweet orange |
 Brazil
|
Citrus sinensis |
| Tea tree |
 Australia
|
Melaleuca alternifolia |
| Ylang-ylang |
 Madagascar
|
Cananga odorata |
What are essential oils used for?
Essential oils have been used for many centuries. In fact, the first known use of essential oils was by the Ancient Egyptians in 4,500 BC, when essential oils were used for their healing properties as well as in cosmetics.
Today, essential oils are used for a wide range of purposes. Not only do essential oils smell great, but they can also help to enhance mental and physical wellbeing, improve sleep, and even clean the home.
Some of the benefits of essential oils include:
● Easing stress, depression and anxiety
● Reducing nausea, pain and headaches
● Improving sleep
● Promoting relaxation
● Decreasing inflammation
● Fighting bacteria
● Nourishing skin and hair
These are just a few examples of the benefits that aromatherapy can offer. The good news is that essential oils are a safe and effective way to promote both mental and physical wellbeing, thanks to their natural and toxin-free composition.
The scent receptors in the nose can send messages to the brain. That’s why essential oils are able to effectively target specific areas of the brain. This includes the limbic system, which helps to control your mood and emotions. Certain essential oils can also help to encourage the hypothalamus to release mood-boosting hormones such as serotonin to lift your mood naturally and effectively.
How to use essential oils
There are endless possibilities when it comes to how to use essential oils, so it’s all about finding what works best for you on a day-to-day basis. It’s important to ask yourself what you want to get out of using your essential oils, as this will help guide you in the best way to use them.
Let’s take a look at some of the different ways that essential oils can be used to benefit both your mind and body.
Essential oils for sleep
If you’re looking for a restful night of sleep, essential oils such as lavender, chamomile and ylang-ylang are perfect for calming your mind and encouraging your body to drift off into a peaceful sleep. Alternatively, volant’s Sleep blend of essential oils is ideal and offers a ready-made solution.
Try diffusing these oils in the bedroom for an hour before you go to sleep to help you unwind and drift off to sleep quickly. You can also try spritzing your bed sheets and pillowcase with a hydrosol containing these essential oils so that you can enjoy the soothing scent all night long as well as an uninterrupted, refreshing sleep.
Learn more about using essential oils for sleep here
Essential oils for energy
If you’re in need of some inspiration and focus before a big day at work, diffusing an energising essential oil whilst you get ready can really help your mind to get into the zone.
Peppermint essential oil is renowned for sharpening the senses and awakening the mind, helping you to focus on whatever challenges may lay ahead. Volant’s Energy blend of essential oils is also a great option, containing an energising blend of lime, grapefruit, bergamot and amyris to kickstart your day and stimulate your senses.
Essential oils for illness
If you’ve awoken with a blocked nose or are feeling under the weather, we’ve got the perfect solution. Eucalyptus essential oil is a natural decongestant, naturally clearing mucus and opening up the airways.
You can create a facial steam by adding a few drops of Eucalyptus oil to some boiling water, placing a towel over both your head and the bowl and inhaling the steam. Slowly inhale and feel your airways reopening as the soothing aroma of Eucalyptus unblocks your nasal passages and clears your sinuses.
Learn more about essential oils to help you through winter illnesses here
Essential oils for skin
Essential oils are a great way to treat your skin. For dry skin, nourishing essential oils such as lavender, chamomile and sandalwood are perfect for hydrating dry skin and reducing any inflammation. For oily and acne-prone skin, clary sage, rosemary and geranium are a great way to balance out skin oils and control acne.
There are a few different ways that you can use essential oils for your skin. Our favourite essential oil skincare routine begins with a bath to relax your body and calm your muscles. Volant’s Spa blend of essential oils is ideal for adding to your bath – simply mix a few drops with a carrier oil and then add it to the water to relax your mind and soothe your body.
After a long soak in the bath, mix a few drops of your favourite skincare essential oil with a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond oil and massage it into your skin. This skincare routine will nourish your skin whilst boosting your mood.
For more ideas on how to use each of the essential oils in our range, be sure to check out the ‘best uses’ section below each product listed on our website. This will inspire you to find new ways to enrich your self-care routine.
To sum up
We believe in the power of nature. That’s why each of volant’s essential oils is created in the most natural way, with the plants grown at their own pace in their ideal locations, free from any pesticides and chemicals. By choosing essential oils that have been produced in the most organic and pure way, you can rest assured that you are treating both your body and the planet.
There are many different ways to use your essential oils, and the best combination of oils will depend on your unique requirements. Try creating different blends and hydrosols until you find your perfect combination, or you can opt for one of volant’s readymade blends, created by professionals especially for you.
