 This may sound silly to those in the natural health industry, but I didn't actually know what the difference was between essential oil and infused oil until recently. So I'm gonna explain what I know about both types of herbal oils. Both oils are good for us when used correctly. but they have very different purposes in our skincare.
Essential Oils USES Essential oil is what we sell at Mob studios next to our diffusers. You don't need to use very much oil, because essential oils are extremely concentrated. 3- 7 drops of oil in the diffuser is plenty. People diffuse oils to for aromatherapy to promote relaxation, mood enhancement, or a sense of calm. The oil contains the essence—the distinct fragrance and flavor compounds—of the plant. The other use of essential oil is topical application where oil is applied to the skin. Often used for massage, home remedies, and skin care products, essential oils can be mixed with a neutral "carrier oil" (like coconut, jojoba oil) to prevent skin irritation. Here are some facts about how essential oils are used in skincare...
HOW THEY ARE MADE Essential oils are a complicated product to make... thus... most product companies outsource their oils.
*Safety note: Because essential oils are intensely concentrated, using them improperly can cause skin rashes, allergic reactions, or harm if swallowed *Most essential oils last between 1 to 6 years, depending heavily on the plant source, chemical composition, and how they are stored. Next lets talk about infused oils. USES Culinary Skincare Moisturizing: Massage herbal-infused oils (such as calendula or lavender) directly into damp skin Salves and Balms: Use herbal oils as the foundational base melted together with beeswax to create healing salves for dry skin, minor burns, or irritated areas. Scalp and Hair Care: Massage nourishing oils into the scalp to condition hair and stimulate circulation. Body Massage: Use infused oils to ease muscle tension and boost blood flow during a massage HOW THEY ARE MADE Infused oils can be made easily at home so many skin care companies make their own infused oils. Infused oils are made by steeping whole plant parts in a carrier oil. Plant parts (like leaves, flowers, or roots) soak in a base vegetable oil—such as olive, jojoba, or sunflower oil—for weeks. The oil slowly extracts the fat-soluble compounds of the plant. Infused oils are mild in scent and gentle on the skin. They contain the properties of both the base carrier oil and the infused herb. These oils are safe to apply directly to the skin without dilution. You can use them for massages, skincare, or even cooking (depending on the food-safe base oil used). "The process of infusing oils requires steeping the plant over a period of time to properly imbue the plant’s benefits. “A plant has a broad spectrum of constituents—or ingredients and chemicals—and they all work together,” Mitchell says. “Nature has intelligence. Plants were here long before we were, and the innate intelligence of plants is amazing. By infusing oils into a carrier oil for topical use, all the plant’s benefits may be utilized, not just the volatile oils. When essential oils are extracted, most of the plant material is left unused. When oils are infused, the entire plant soaks into the oil for three weeks or three months, depending on the type of plant and process required." -Em's herbals *Safety note: IT IS IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE CARRIER OIL USED IN INFUSED OIL PRODUCTS . Infused oils typically last 1 to 2 years when stored properly, SO EXPIRATION DATE IS IMPORTANT WITH INFUSED OILS. Now that I know the difference between the two oils, I have started looking at products differently. I know that a product made with essential oil will have a stronger smell (most likely) and a longer shelf life and the oil will most likely be outsourced from an essential oil distillery. I also know that a product made with infused oil will have better healing properties, a shorter shelf life, and hopefully grown locally. This is very exciting to me with my plans for Badger Hill Orchard!!!! Next, step...understanding carrier oils.
0 Comments
Badger Hill Orchard is a privately owned Permaculture Orchard southwest of Lewistown Montana. Rosanna Mecklenburg and Shaun Griffith (the McGriff Family) planned the orchard, ordered the trees and in the fall of 2019 with the help of their family members, Izzy, Miles, Finn, Jo, Bert, Somer, Cody, and Wyatt, planted in the spring of 2020.
Before planting the orchard, Rosanna sent a soil sample through the county extension office in Lewistown and it was determined that the soil was good for planting. After that the McGriffs hired JG Company to build a half acre, 9 foot tall fence to keep the big critters out. Next, Shaun built a shallow well from a spring on the property and brought water to the orchard. Badger Hill Orchard was planted from the model that Stefan Sobkowiak established at miracle farms in Ontario Canada. After learning about permaculture, Rosanna became very interested in the subject and spent many hours researching soil building, gardening, organic farming, orcharding, and landscaping in zone 3-4 growing zones. The definition of permaculture is a nature-inspired, holistic design philosophy for creating sustainable ways of living by mimicking natural ecosystems and their patterns to meet human needs with minimal waste and environmental impact. It combines the words "permanent" and "agriculture" and can be applied to various systems, including households, gardens, businesses, and communities. Having been raised on a family-built nursery in Bozeman Montana, Rosanna’s curiosity was mixed with her prior knowledge of horticulture in Montana. Shaun had his own background in farming along with bachelors degree in Wildlife Biology, and a strong interest in agriculture. Permaculture was something exciting, practical and hopeful. When she learned about the thriving orchard in Canada with a similar growing zone as Lewistown, Rosanna pitched the idea to Shaun. Along with the Canadian orchard, Rosanna became interested in The Hugelkultur concept. Hugelkultur is a German Permaculture technique of building raised garden beds by layering rotting wood with soil, compost, and other organic matter to create a nutrient-rich, self-sustaining system that mimics natural forest ecosystems. This method utilizes decomposing wood to retain moisture and release nutrients over time, resulting in fertile, drought-tolerant beds that improve with age. One of the reasons that the couple decided to plant the orchard was their belief in permaculture and also their accessibility to heavy equipment. Rosanna and Shaun had founded an excavating business in 2015 so they had access to heavy equipment and operators. So the week before the trees were scheduled to arrive, Shaun and his brother-in-law Cody VanLith dug 4 foot tall trenches in the 15 rows inside the orchard, dropped 16 feet tall logs into the trenches, and covered the trenches in cow manure that had been donated 2 years prior by ranching friends Todd and Kelly Davis. After that, Shaun spent a couple days digging and forming a berm and a swale on the west side of the orchard for water retention in the winter, as well as wind protection. Meanwhile, Rosanna designed a plan for her 90 bare root trees that she had ordered from Krings nursery out of Lewistown MT. Using the NAP system, the orchard was planned to have a progression of bloom time (South to North) with 15 rows of trees planted 5 feet apart, and set 10 feet back every other row. The trees were planted in trios, Nitrogen, Apple, Pear or Nitrogen, Apple, Plum. The fruit trees were only one layer in the permaculture system, the other layers planted were root crops, Groundcover, Vines, Perennials, Shrubs, and Canopy trees. The orchard is on its sixth year, and many more trees have been introduced since initial planting. The orchard has lost a few trees every couple of years due to winter winds mostly. Currently the orchard has Apples, Pears, Plums, Apricots, Cherries and Honey locust trees. The fruit crop depends on the weather pattern each fall and spring, but when the flowers are pollinated the orchard is full of fruit. 2025 was the first year that the orchard has been given no water. It is thriving! |
ArchivesCategories |
RSS Feed