Plant-derived oils have long been used by ancient civilizations for their multiple health benefits. Whether it be to alleviate anxiety symptoms, calm skin irritation or help you relax after a difficult day, these potent natural products provide numerous ways to care for your body. When added to products, botanical oils play a number of different roles – from natural preservatives, flavoring, fragrance and antioxidant agents, to functional ingredients1. If you're thinking of including plant-based oils in your next product line, here are three tips for you:
Today, a vast array of botanical oils are available to formulators, providing different medicinal properties and scents. Selecting the oil or blend of oils that work best for the desired application, keeping a balance between pleasant aromas and functional wellness, is key. Before making up your mind, make sure you do some research to identify the oils that blend well with each other and find the right quantities. For example, we have identified a successful synergy between our Roman Chamomile oil and our English Peppermint oil. This is an ideal combination for a stress-relief formulation, that helps promote healthy sleep and relaxation.
The quality of natural oils may widely vary depending on growing conditions, harvesting, manufacturing, distribution and storage . Many products on the market, including ‘nature identical’ or diluted oils, are not always suitable for use in cosmetic, personal care, food or beverage preparations. Therefore, always look for 100% pure ingredients sold by trusted and responsible suppliers that comply with regulatory requirements. Sibelius offers a selection of botanical oils derived from high-quality raw materials grown in England, UK with a well-documented history of safe use in food and cosmetic products.
Plant-derived oils are highly concentrated and extremely potent ingredients, therefore the quantity needed in a formulation is very small. In addition, there are safety concerns when it comes to their concentration – being 50-100 times more potent than in the plant . That is why botanical oils are usually diluted adequately with carrier oils prior to being added to end-user formulations2,3. In short, when working with botanical oils, always remember that less is more!
Using high-quality oils in the right quantities can make your formulations stand out! If you’d like to learn more or receive guidance on how to formulate with our new collection of Natural Oils, fill the form below!
References
1 S. Bhavaniramya, S. Vishnupriya, M. S. Al-Aboody, R. Vijayakumar and D. Baskaran, "Role of essential oils in food safety: Antimicrobial and antioxidant applications," Grain & Oil Science and Technology, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 49-55, 2019.
2 Banyan Tree, "Should I dilute essential oils?," Banyan Tree, 2019.
3 W. Robbins, "Guide to Diluting Essential Oils".[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
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