Many essential oils have more than 10% of hydrocarbons. This
is not a complete list of all oils and does not mean that if the oil is
not on this list, that it is okay to use, this is a small example only: Angelica 95% Bay 30% Bergamot 55% Cajuput 40% Carrot Seed 50% Cascarilla 30% Cedarwood 60% Celery Seed 80% Cistus 10% Copaiba Balsam Oil 90% Chamomile 15% Citronella Sri Lanka 15% Clove Leaf 15% Clove Stem !5% Costus 30% Cubebs 70% Cumin 50% Cypress 70% Oils containing Methyl Salicylate are toxic to cats. Loosely
think of methyl salicylate oils as aspirin to your cat. However unlike
aspirin, methyl salicylate rapidly permeates the skin and can
potentially constitute a risk situation in cases of high levels of
exposure. The amounts resulting from exposure to floral oils and
absolutes containing methyl salicylate is more insignificant e.g. ylang
ylang and gardenia compared to those which mainly comprise methyl
salicylate such as Wintergreen and Birch oils. Use caution when these
or any essential oil is used around cats.Methyl Salicylate occurs in
several essential oils and absolutes e.g. ylang-ylang, gardenia
absolute and is a major component of wintergreen and birch oils.
Natural Aromatic Materials - Odours & Origins, by Tony Burfield.
Tony,
What really is in the hydrosol you buy? With regard to hydrosols, the
position is further complicated. Where the pure hydrosol is taken, only
the water soluble components of the oil should be present. Since
monoterpene hydrocarbons have a very low water solubility, and
oxygenated materials are slightly more hydrophilic ("water-loving") you
would expect to see more of the latter compounds present unless
there are complicating factors operating. Thus in lavender hydrosol, we
would expect plenty of linalol, linalyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, and
enhanced quantities of lavandulyl acetate, octyl acetate etc. at the
expense of say limonene, para-cymene etc. Amongst the complicating
factors are the occurrence of micro-emulsions and solublilised oil
droplets in the hydrosol itself, in other words the essential oil may
not be homogenously dispersed in the separated distillation water, but
present as a minor continuous oil (undissolved) phase, the composition
of which which is more representative of the whole oil than a truly
solubilised oil. Complex micro-emulsion formation and other
physio-chemical phenomena may further complicate the issue. In addition
after a few days, microbiological and chemical changes will occur and
may affect this balance to a limited extent.Also bear in mind some
hydrosols on sale are not true hydrosols, they are essential oils
solubilised in water with a surfactant. Obviously the composition of
these fake hydrosols will bear no relationship to true hydrosols.
Notes
on one type of hydrosol: Hydrosols are a by-product of the production
of essential oils, but often find their own local uses. For example, in
the processing plant where production of Kewda (Champaca) otto and
Kewda attar is manufactured in villages such as Paralakhemundi which
are near to the coast bordering the Bay of Bengal in India, it is
possible to produce some 18 litres of Kewda hydrosol by water
distillation (known as Kewda water) for every 1000 blooms. In fact the
male spadices of the Champaca flower (generally Pandanus odoratissimus
L. , or Pandanus fascicularis Lam.) only are employed, since these are
the fragrant parts of the blooms. The resulting Kewda hydrosol is used
to flavour confectionary, sugar syrups and local non-alcoholic
beverages.
Other examples of hydrosols produced include those
from Rose Rosa damascena and Lavender Lavendula angustifolia, although
the employement of water distillation to produce hydrosols in the
latter case causes loss of linalyl acetate, with a corresponding rise
in linalol and alpha-terpineol contents. http://www.tonyburfield.co.uk Click to review more about essential oils by Tony Burfield