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Anointing Oil
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Anointing
Oils &
Ointments ~
Natural
or
Synthetic
Anointing oils can be prepared using a wide variety of techniques
and ingredients. They can be made using fragranced perfume
oils (synthetic - man made chemicals) essential oils, herbs, spices, gums or resins. Some
anointing oils are unscented and are made with only a pure high
grade olive oil.
Consumers should be able to discern the ingredients used to create
an anointing oil, ointment, or perfume, by reading the ingredient label on the bottle.
Anointing oils are
technically classified as a cosmetic item and are governed by the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Fair Packaging and
Labeling Act, and the regulations published by the Food and Drug
Administration under the Authority of these two laws.
Click
here for more information about labeling.
False and Misleading
Labels: There are many anointing oils on the market today
that have false or misleading names and labels. For instance
there are anointing oils called Frankincense and Myrrh, Spikenard,
or Pomegranate that are actually a blend of other cheaper essential
oils and/or synthetics and may have little or no authentic
ingredients in them. There is nothing wrong with blending
anointing oils with cheaper essential oils or synthetics, however,
the label on the bottle needs to be accurate and truthful. If
an individual making anointing oils does not want to disclose all
their ingredients it can be labeled "fragrance" if made with a
combination of synthetics and essential oils or a "blend of
essential oils" if made with real essential oils. Perfumers
and formulators are not required to disclose propriety fragrance
formulas, however, they are required to label the product
accurately. Reputable companies will list all or many of the
key ingredients because of the medicinal attributes the natural
plant extracts possess and to assist individuals with health
problems, allergies or fragrance sensitivities make informed
decisions about the products they are purchasing.
Anointing oils can be
used as a symbolic representation of our faith in Jesus Christ to
answer our prayers through divine intervention; applied as a healing
salve or ointment that has true medicinal attributes, or used as a
perfume for hygiene purposes. When synthetic ingredients are
added to pure ingredients the medicinal attributes of the plant
extracts are often diminished or destroyed.
Terms and
Definitions
Fragrance or Perfume
Oils: Fragrance oils are compounds of synthetic chemicals
put together to create a specific scent or aroma. Fragrance or
Perfume Oils have no therapeutic or medicinal benefits. Individuals who are sensitive to synthetic chemicals will want to be
careful when purchasing anointing oils made with fragrance or
perfume oil.
Essential Oil:
An essential oil is a liquid that is generally steam distilled from
the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a
plant. Essential oils contain the essence of the true plant
and have natural therapeutic qualities. The quality of the
essential oil will depend where it was grown, how it was harvested,
and experience of the distiller, etc. Crops may vary from year
to year. There are many inferior essential oils being sold on
the market today. Thus, the buyer needs to become educated to
discern between a pure therapeutic grade oil, poor quality oils, and
adulterated oils (synthetics or a blend of cheaper essential oils
are added).
Absolutes:
An absolute is similar to an essential oil, except the it is
extracted in a different way. Solvents or grain alcohol are
used to extract the plant essence which is later removed during the
final stages of production. Rose of Sharon (Cistus Absolute)
is produced using this method.
CO2 Extractions:
These plant essences are extracted using carbon dioxide. This
is one of the purest forms of extraction because the plant material
is not damaged by heat. CO2 plant extractions are often
thicker than essential oils or absolutes and are sometimes more
difficult to blend with a carrier oil such as olive oil.
Resins:
Resins are typically extracted from trees like Frankincense and
Myrrh. These trees are injured so that they are forced to
produce the resin which is collected and later graded for quality.
Resins are difficult to work with as they are sticky and hard to
dissolve in a carrier oil. Frankincense and Myrrh
essential oil are made by distilling the tree resins.
Carrier Oil: A
term to described various vegetable oils used to dilute essential
oils, absolutes, or CO2 extraction before applying to the skin.
Carrier oils are usually cold pressed from the fatty part of the
plant. Carrier oils extracted using heat have less therapeutic
qualities and have poor odor qualities.
There are many different
types of carrier oils on the market today: olive, almond,
jojoba, wheat germ, grapeseed and pomegranate are a few. Each
carrier oil has its own distinct therapeutic qualities and shelf
life. The term shelf life refers to the length of time the
carrier oil stays fresh before is begins to oxidize and eventually
go rancid. The shelf life for olive oil is about 1 year.
Almond, grapeseed, and pomegranate oils have a shorter shelf life.
Infused Oil: Infused
oils are similar to carrier oils except herbs, resins, or plant
material are blended with the carrier oil for a period of time, with
our without heat, and then strained and removed from the final
product. The plant material, herbs and resins usually must be
completely removed to prevent the finished product from going
rancid.
Enfleurage: This
is another ancient extraction method where a layer of fresh flowers
are placed on an oil soaked cloth or on a thin layer of lard. The
flowers are then replaced by fresh ones every day until the right
concentration is obtained. Although this method does not allow a
separation of the essential oils, the product obtained will work
well for creams, ointments, perfumes, massage oils, and bath oils.
Frequently Asked
Questions:
Q. Where can I
get instructions to make anointing oils?
A. Please read our
page on making anointing oils.
Click Here.
Q. Is there a
natural Lily of the Valley essential oil or absolute?
A. No. The
Lily of the Valley scents currently available on the market are
either synthetic, synthetic with the addition of pure essential
oils, or a natural blend of essential oils and absolutes.
Q. Where can we buy
henna "flower" oil?
A. Currently,
there is no authentic henna "flower" essential oil or pure absolute
available on the market. There is Henna Leaf Absolute and a
Henna Flower
Co-Distillation
(distilled with Sandalwood) available. The Henna Leaf Absolute
has a deep green earthy aroma. The Henna Flower
Co-Distillation has a touch of a floral note, but very faint.
Both of these ingredients are difficult to extract and are also very
expensive.
Q. What is the
difference in Pomegranate "Flower" Fragrance Oil and Pomegranate Absolute?
A.
Pomegranate "flower" fragrance oils are made from synthetic ingredients.
You will notice synthetic fragrances are very sweet and have long lasting scents.
This is because of the chemical fixatives that are added.
Authentic pomegranate seed absolute
and pomegranate seed oil have a fruity wine aroma and are expensive.
These products are extracted
from the seeds. We are not aware of any authentic pomegranate
"flower" essential oil that is steam distilled and extracted from the flowers.
Disclaimer:
Essential oils and anointing oils are not intended to treat
medical conditions. Individuals with health or medical
conditions must consult a licensed health-care professional.
Do not take these products internally. Pregnant women
should not use essential oils or scented anointing oils.
Keep all essential oils and anointing oils away from children
and pets. Products made with natural ingredients may still
cause allergic reactions with some individuals.
Discontinue use if signs of irritation develop.
Victorie Inc. does
not offer medical advice, legal or financial advice.
Information and statements regarding Victorie Inc. products have not been evaluated by the FDA and
are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health
condition or disease.
Victorie Inc. takes
no responsibility for how you use the information provided
within our website. All
information, content and product descriptions are for reference
and educational purposes.
Victorie Inc. does
not endorse anyone obtaining or using information from our
website to make or sell products and is not liable for the
actions or products made by other individuals, businesses, or
companies.
