Aromatherapy has more benefits than we have time to cover here, but as users of essential oils, we know this and this is why we have a container of our favorites close by so we can smell, diffuse, massage, or add a few drops to our bath. These extracts mean the world to us, but have you ever questioned the safety of having these laying around your home?
There are risks to using and keeping these pure essences, but for today, we are going to answer the question, “are doTERRA essential oils flammable?”
Table of Contents
How Do They Create Their Oils?
We talked a little bit about how they source their products, but once the crop is harvested, where does it go from there? The next step is extraction, which is typically steam distillation or expression also known as cold pressing. The extraction process is delicate, and if it isn’t conducted correctly, the extracts can become damaged and lose some of their beneficial compounds.
doTERRA employs more than 30 scientists and owns laboratory space that covers more than two thousand square feet. The equipment used is top of the line and the testing they put their batches through are rigorous. Supplying their customers with the purest product they can is what doTERRA has strived for since the beginning.
Steam Distillation
This process, which is used to extract most of the scents in the aromatherapy world, isn’t as complicated as one might think. The host plant is put into a vessel that resembles a pressure cooker. Water is at the bottom of the pan, and the top is secured on with a tube rising out.
When the water boils the steam moves through the plant and leaves the cooker through the tube. In the outer layer of the tube, cold water is run, which cools the steam that runs through the inner tube and restores it back to a water-like substance. It separates from the oils that were pulled from the plant, and when put into a different container, the final result is the essential oil.
Cold Pressing
This method is a bit simpler and used primarily for citrus scents like lemon, grapefruit, and bergamot. The rind of the fruit is pricked until essences are released from their pores. They drip down and are collected in a container.
What Does This Have To Do With The Question?
It seems logical to us that if we are going to question whether or not doTERRA’s products are flammable that it would ultimately come down to the whether or not all essential oils are a fire hazard. Yet, doTERRA prides themselves in the purity of their products, which means they never add fillers or carrier substances to their products.
So, Are They Flammable?
Yes, doTERRA’s oils are combustible because they all are. As it turns out, essential oils are highly flammable, so they need to be stored and treated as such. For example, keep them out of the kitchen and be sure not to use any candles or matches around your products that are or hold these extracts
How To Store Essential Oils
Your extracts should be stored in a clean, dry area and out of the natural and artificial light. They should be kept in the bottle they come in and stored and kept in a cool place. Of course, you should keep these oils out of reach so your children can’t get into them, and they should never be used near an open flame.
Because of their potency, it is important to dilute your oils well before topical use and to consult a professional before starting any serious aromatherapy regimen. If you are pregnant, nursing, or suffering from an illness or on medication, ask your doctor before using.
Conclusion
I love my oils, and before researching this article, I didn’t’ realize that they were flammable. Now that I know, I will keep it in the back of my mind and be sure to not use them around candles or burning incense. We hope that you follow these safety instructions as well when using your oils.
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