Questions about Essential Oils
Why we have to dilute essential oil before use? 為甚麼精油需要稀釋使用？
Essential oils are highly concentrated solution extracted from plants, we must dilute the oil properly in carrier oils before use(only a few oils can be use directly on skin e.g. Lavender or Tea Tree...) If we put such intensive extracts directly on skin, it may cause irritation and corrosion which it can seriously hurt our body. Therefore we should always dilute the oils properly before skin application. Our store also provides some organic carrier oils, It is good for aromatherapy purposes.
Always remember the aim that "less is more" when using essential oils.
DILUTION RATE GUIDELINES:
1% = 1 Drop of oil : 5ml Carrier Oil / 2 Drop of oil : 10ml Carrier Oil
2% = 2 Drops of oil : 5ml Carrier Oil
3% = 3 Drops of oil : 5ml Carrier Oil ... and so on
Percentage of oils on aromatherapy purposes:
Facial Steam : 3 drop a bowl into hot water
Massage Oil : 2-8% dilution, depends on your purposes
Inhalation : 5 drops into a mug of hot water
Room Spary : 2-5% dilution, depends on how abundance the odor you want
Lotion : 2-5% dilution in ready made lotion, depends on your purposes
Facial Oil : 1-2% dilution in carrier
精油是高濃度的溶劑，使用前必須稀釋（只有少量精油可以直接使用例如薰衣草和茶樹）。假如我們直接將100％未經稀釋的精油塗抹會剌激皮膚及黏膜，嚴重可以導致化學焯傷；通過皮膚吸收過高濃度的精油，我們的身體也需花更多能量將它們代謝掉，更甚傷害到身體。所以我們應該將精油正確地稀釋於基底油中使用，稀釋時永遠緊記「少即是多」的原則。
稀釋濃度比例指引
1％＝ 1 滴精油 ： 5毫升基底油／2 滴精油 ： 10毫升基底油
2％＝2 滴精油 ： 5毫升基底油
3％＝3 滴精油 ： 5毫升基底油 … 如此類推
不同使用方式的建議稀釋濃度百份比
3％＝3 滴精油 ： 5毫升基底油 … 如此類推
身體按摩油：2－8％稀釋於現成乳霜中，視乎你的目的
吸入式： 5滴精油 加入一杯熱水中
空間噴霧：2－5％稀釋於酒精或其他合適基底中，視乎你的目的
乳霜：2－5％稀釋於現成乳霜中，視乎你的目的
面部油：1－2％稀釋於基底油中
How do I know my essential oils are real? 如何辨別精油的真偽？
We always mix up essential oils with artificial fragrances. Essential oils are 100% extracted from plants, it's odor sometimes is not as same as the plant itself, some may even smell weird; Fragrances are compound from different chemical isolates, which it can be a mixture of essential oils and chemical isolates. Most of the perfumes and aroma diffusers are made by fragrances, they have sharp odors and long lasting time than essential oils. The expression of fragrances is rich, imitating men made objects like tea, leather or candy notes is common. M
Real essential oils always provide bontanical names, extraction method and origins. The package would sometimes stated "100% essential oil". Besides, Real essential oils is usually more expensive than fragrances, especially flower oils and sandalwood oil. You should always doubt your oils if it is too cheap but smell-too-good.
我們經常混淆了精油和香精兩者的分別，在香港市場常將兩者皆稱為香薰。事實上精油是100％提取自植物，精油的氣味有時與所萃取的植株的氣味有所不同，有些氣味甚至讓人覺得莫名奇妙。而香精是由不同化學單體分子混合而成的成果，也可以是單體加上精油的總和。大部份香水和室內香薰時間也是以香精製成，相比精油它們的留香程度較高，氣味濃郁鮮明，更可以輕易模仿人造物的味道，例如糖果、茶、皮革等等味道。
購買精油是可留意以下條件，辨別其真偽。真正的精油包裝上應清楚標明它的植物拉丁學名、萃取方法及產地。有時候包裝上也會寫明100％純精油。而真正的精油價錢通常會比香精貴，特別是花類的精油、檀香木等等。假如你所購買的精油價錢貼地得來聞上去又有「太香」的感覺，就要細心留意他的真偽。
What is Absolute and CO2 Extacted Oils? 甚麼是原精和二氧化碳萃取？
Most of our oils without specific mention are extracted by Steam Distilled method. Besides, some are marked with "Absolute" or "CO2 Extracted", they are :
Absolute :
Extracted using solvent. Absolute contains a higher density of constituents from the plant, making the aroma highly concentrated and more true to nature. Its odor has a great different from distilled oils. Commonly uses on delicate flowers.
CO2 Extracted :
Extracted using Carbon Dioxide gas under pressure at ambient temperatures. Since there is very low heat during the process, a greater amount of valuable constituents can be retained. CO2 Extracted oils are relatively new method in the industry, the cost of extraction is higher than traditional methods.
如無特別標示，我們店裡出售的精油都是以蒸餾法萃取。有些標示為「原精」及「二氧化碳萃取」，他們是：
原精 Absolute :
以溶劑萃取所得的稱為原精。相比蒸餾法得出的精油，原精含有較高密度的芳香結構，所以它的氣味會更貼近植株本身。原精的氣味比蒸餾法精油更飽和濃郁。此方法常用花朵類萃取，我們店也出售一些在香港較少見的葉質類原精。
二氧化碳萃取 CO2 Extracted :
通過改變壓力使二氧化碳轉變成液態，將植物中的精油萃取出來。由於二氧化碳萃取涉及的溫度較低，不會傷害這些精油中的化學分子，能完整保存更多分子。二氧化碳萃取精油相當濃縮，使用時可將滴數減半。二氧化碳萃法在行業中是相對新的方法，成本較高，所以二氧化碳萃精油價錢會略為高一些。