Where are essential oils made?

Essential oils are made from plant extracts that contain the essence of the plant's aroma. These can be derived from flowers, roots, leaves, wood, bark and sometimes fruits. The production process involves various techniques such as steam distillation, solvent extraction, expression and infusions using carrier oils. Essential oils tend to be sourced from specific geographical locations where their production is most feasible and cost-effective.

The origins of Essential Oils

The use of essential oils dates back to ancient times, when cave paintings in the area of Lascaux, France, suggested humans used medicinal plants as far back as 18,000 B.C.E. As civilizations continued to develop, more evidence was found of the use of plant-based remedies such as aromatherapy and organic treatments for physical and emotional health ailments. Essential oils have been found in archaeological findings from Egyptian tombs and later became part of traditional Chinese medicines.

Essential oils have a long, rich history that can be traced all the way back to 4500 B.C.E. in Ancient Egypt. It was there that aromatic oils were first used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes and where the infamous mixture of 16 ingredients known as Kyphi was invented and used as incense, perfume, or medicine.

During the rule of Huang Ti, the legendary Yellow Emperor, Wu Ch’eng wrote "The Yellow Emperor's Book of Internal Medicine" in 2697-2597 B.C.E which contains records of using aromatic oils for healing and health purposes. This book is still considered as a useful classic among practitioners of eastern medicine today.

During the Crusades, the Knights and their armies brought knowledge about herbal medicines from the Middle East to Western Europe, along with information about distillation. This included fragrant aromas such as frankincense and pine, which were burned in the streets during outbreaks of the Black Death in order to ward off evil spirits.

Where do Harmony’s Essential Oils come from?

Harmony's Essential Oils are sourced from trusted family-owned farms around the world. Our botanical experts check and inspect these farms to ensure that organic practices are followed for the highest quality of essential oils. We source them from more than 40 countries and from small farms in the United States.