Extraction: Steam/Hydro Distillation, Cold Pressing.

Plant Parts: Leaves, flowers, bark, roots, resins, peels.

Aroma: Captures volatile top & middle notes; often bright, fresh, herbaceous, woody, citrusy, sometimes floral.

Consistency: Thin, mobile liquid.

Common Examples: Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Tea Tree, Frankincense, Rosemary.

Primary Uses: Aromatherapy (therapeutic effects), diffusion, massage (diluted), natural cleaning, skincare (diluted).

Pros: Well-studied therapeutic benefits, versatile, generally safer for diffusion.

Cons/Cautions: Heat of distillation can alter some delicate compounds; skin sensitization possible; requires dilution.

Extraction: Solvent Extraction (e.g., hexane, ethanol).

Plant Parts: Primarily delicate flowers, sometimes leaves or resins.

Aroma: Captures heavier base notes & non-volatiles; often rich, deep, complex, very true-to-the-flower scent.

Consistency: Can range from thick liquid to viscous, waxy, or semi-solid.

Common Examples: Rose Absolute, Jasmine Absolute, Tuberose Absolute, Oakmoss Absolute.

Primary Uses: Fine perfumery, high-end cosmetics, limited aromatherapy (mainly emotional/aromatic, use cautiously).

Pros: Captures aromas not possible via distillation; intense, long-lasting scent.

Cons/Cautions: Potential for trace solvent residue (quality varies); often thicker/harder to work with; generally not recommended for diffusion; use highly diluted on skin; often more expensive.