Carbon dioxide, which gives sparkling water its bubbles, is also used in extracting volatile
compounds ~ antioxidants, essential oils, and fatty oils ~ from plants. The
process is known as supercritical CO2 extraction. Because this
process subjects raw materials to high pressure instead of high temperatures,
these extracts more closely resemble the original plant material in smell,
taste, and constituents, lending the resulting oils the plant’s properties,
including in some cases antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits. The
sophistication of the supercritical extraction process means that extracts can
be standardized for quality. The process is gentle and leaves no chemical
solvent residues. Produced without oxygen, the resulting extracts are also
sterile and need no preservation.
CO2 extracts are categorized in two ways, as “select”
and “total”:
-
Extracted at lower pressures, Select
extracts contain only the volatile compounds that are CO2 soluble. Waxes, resins, and compounds that lend color remain in the plant material. Selects are often thick but pourable, with an appearance similar to steam-distilled essential oils, though some of the volatile compounds they contain will not be found in a steam-distilled version of the oil.
- A Total CO2 extract, on the other hand, does contain both volatile and non-volatile CO2
soluble compounds. This means total extracts tend to be thick like paste,
though they will solubilize in vegetable oils with little or no warming
necessary. More similar to the plant themselves, totals are extracted at higher
pressure and include some
of the plant waxes and resins.
by Marianne Griffeth ©2013
An exclusive blend of cypress,
ylang ylang, and lavender ~ developed specifically for use in skin care. Only
from Prima Fleur, No. 6032.
For information on our Premier Products and pricing,
please visit
our website. For questions and to explore custom development with
exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please
contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or
call (415) 455-0957.
An exclusive blend of Rosa
damascena, ylang ylang, lavender,
spikenard essential oils ~ developed specifically for use in skin care. Only
from Prima Fleur, No. 6031.
Ingredients in bold are certified organic. For information on our Premier Products and pricing,
please visit
our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact: sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.
An exclusive certified-organic
blend of neroli, lemon myrtle, pink grapefruit, orange ~ developed specifically
for use in skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6079.
For information on our Premier Products and pricing,
please visit
our website. For questions and to explore custom development with
exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please
contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or
call (415) 455-0957.
An exclusive blend of myrtle,
lavender, and carrot seed ~ developed specifically for use in skin care. Only
from Prima Fleur, No. 6030.
For information on our Premier Products and pricing,
please visit
our website. For questions and to explore custom development with
exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please
contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or
call (415) 455-0957.
An exclusive blend of
geranium, lavender, tanancetum annum, and sandalwood ~ developed specifically
for use in skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6081.
For information on our Premier Products and pricing,
please visit
our website. For questions and to explore custom development with
exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please
contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or
call (415) 455-0957.
An exclusive blend of blue
chamomile, calendula, rose, and sandalwood ~ developed specifically for use in
skin care. Only from Prima Fleur, No. 6049.
For information on our Premier Products and pricing,
please visit
our website. For questions and to explore custom development with
exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please
contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or
call (415) 455-0957.
Carbon dioxide, which gives sparkling water its bubbles, is also used in extracting volatile
compounds ~ antioxidants, essential oils, and fatty oils ~ from plants. The
process is known as supercritical CO2 extraction. Because this
process subjects raw materials to high pressure instead of high temperatures,
these extracts more closely resemble the original plant material in smell,
taste, and constituents, lending the resulting oils the plant’s properties,
including in some cases antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits. The
sophistication of the supercritical extraction process means that extracts can
be standardized for quality. The process is gentle and leaves no chemical
solvent residues. Produced without oxygen, the resulting extracts are also
sterile and need no preservation.
