What’s the difference between a vegetable oil and an essential oil ?

This is a question which comes frequently and to which one it’s not always easy to answer. However, the difference between the two oils isn’t so difficult to understand, and it’s even quite simple.

In practical terms, what’s the difference between a vegetable oil and an essential oil ?

The main difference between these two oils takes place in the extraction process to get it : the vegetable oil is extracted by a pressing process or blending process of an oleaginous plant, that means a plant which contains lipids. These lipids are mainly located in seeds, walnuts, almonds or fruits of the plant. By making a pressure or a blending on these elements, we will liberate the vegetable oil contained inside. A vegetable oil has a greasy texture and it’s never contraindicated in case of pregnancy.

An essential oil is however obtained by a water vapour distillation of an aromatic plant or an aromatic sap. This oil isn’t miscible into water cause more dense, but only in vegetable oil or alcohol solution. Its texture isn’t greasy as is a vegetable oil and its use isn’t only for skin or hair. In fact, an essential oil can also be used to aid digestion, increase tonus, aid relaxation etc…

In conclusion, the main difference between vegetable oils and essential oils is in the extraction process, the first one is obtained by a pressing or a blending process (vegetable oils), and the other one by a water vapour distillation (essential oils). Besides, their texture are very different, vegetable oils have greasy texture and have regenerating properties for skin thanks to its richness in vitamins and polyunsatured fatty acids. Essential oils are more liquid.