Even though the official start to our new month is Wednesday, I'm going to kick off our new topic now: essential oils.

You've probably noticed that we use several different kinds of essential oils in our products, and there are very good reasons for this. But first, let me tell you what an essential oil is.

An essential oil is "essential" in the sense that it contains the "essence of" the plant's fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived. Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants. The oils capture the plant's scent and flavor, or "essence." Unique aromatic compounds give each essential oil its characteristic essence. Once the aromatic chemicals have been extracted, they are combined with a carrier oil to create a product that's ready for use.

Essential oils have been used for centuries for all kinds of health and skin care. Most are antibiotic and antimicrobial in nature, making them excellent for protection of the skin, and they help reduce inflammation.

Ever use an essential oil? Tell us about it below.

Stay tuned for tomorrow, where we'll dive into a favorite essential oil: lavender (of course!)

#essentialoils #healtyskin #vermontlavender