The almond is native to the Mediterranean climate region of the Middle East, eastward as far as the Indus. It was spread by humans in ancient times along the shores of the Mediterranean into northern Africa and southern Europe and more recently transported to other parts of the world, notably California, United States. The wild form of domesticated almond grows in parts of the Levant; almonds must first have been taken into cultivation in this region. The fruit of the wild forms contains the glycoside amygdaline, "which becomes transformed into deadly p...

Amber oil is wonderful stuff if you can find a good one. It isn’t always easy to find. I know a place that provides very high-quality amber oil. Amber is one of the most characteristic products of the Baltic republics, especially Lithuania. It washes up on thr word electricity comes from, because static electricity was noticed by the ancients as a property of amber, that it attracts straw. In Persian, amber is called kahroba, from the words kah 'straw' and roba 'thief' (related to the English word “rob " ). The modern Arabic word for electricity was coined from kahroba (following ...

Base oil or vegetable oil also known as Carrier Oil, is used to dilute essential oil and absolutes before they are applied to the skin in massage and aromatherapy. They are so named because they carry the essential oil onto the skin. Carrier oils do not contain a concentrated aroma, unlike essential oils, though some, such as olive, have a mild distinctive smell. The carrier oils used should be as natural and unadulterated as possible. Organic oils should be used where possible. Cold-pressing and maceration are the two main methods of prod...

Grape seed oil is extracted from the seeds of grapes, typically wine grapes. Since grape seeds are usually discarded as part of the wine making process, the extraction and sale of the oil can be a profitable sideline, as well as an efficient use of a byproduct. In the 20th century, it began to be processed and sold in much higher volume, primarily in the United States and Europe. Many stores sell pure grape seed oil for various applications.  Because each seed yields a small amount of oil, grape seed oil is usually extracted chemically. The chemical extraction do...

Native American Indians used the seeds, roots and leaves of evening primrose to make various medicinal infusions, one of which was used to treat wounds.Evening primrose oil contains up to 25% essential fatty acids, such as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and linoleic acid (LA), making it highly unsaturated, unstable and reactive. It is similar to borage oil, although borage oil contains a much higher percentage of GLA than evening primrose oil. Evening primrose oil is considered by many to be valuable in the promotion of body growth and development, due to the high content of essential fatty acids...

The cucumber, or Cucumis Statius, belongs to the cucurbitaceous family of fruits, which also includes melons, squashes, and gourds. Cucumber oil, however, is extracted from the seeds, as opposed to the fruit itself. The oil extracted from the cucumber seed is known to be rich in a variety of nutrients, which are believed to be highly effective in helping to maintain healthy skin. As such, cucumber oil is believed to be beneficial for treating some dry skin conditions, acne, boils, and for helping the skin to retain moisture.  The see...

Whole coconut oil is solid at room temperature and has long unsaturated fatty acid triglycerides.  This oil has a high percentage of completely saturated triglycerides (no double bonds).  When the smaller fatty acids and long-chain triglycerides are separated from thigh ole coconut oil, it leaves only saturated fats or a fraction of the whole oil.  With no double bonds, there is no oxidation.  Thus, coconut oil is a carrier that never goes rancid.  It basically has an indefinite shelf life and is in a perfectly clear liquid form. It is odorless and colorless.  I...

Sandalwood is the name of a class of fragrant woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and unlike many other aromatic woods, they retain their fragrance for decades. Sandalwood oil is extracted from the woods for use. Both the wood and the oil produce a distinctive fragrance that has been highly valued for centuries. Consequently, the slow-growing trees have been over harvested in many areas. Sandalwood is one of the main ingredients in perfumes, incense, lotions and body oils. For over 2000 years it is one of the most important per...