Essential oils have been important contributors to personal care and medicinal products for hundreds of years, and offer a wide range of attributes, from fragrance to antimicrobial activity to anti-inflammatory benefits.
The name ‘essential oil’ is something of a misnomer as they are not ‘oily’ in feel. They are, however, very much the essence of the plant and highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way. In recent years there has been considerable debate regarding the issue of skin irritation and sensitisation and it therefore goes without saying that it is very important to choose the correct ingredient at the right use level for the formulation.
The fragrance attributes offered by essential oils thanks to the volatile compounds are probably the first aspect to come to people’s minds, however now the therapeutic benefits of a number of essential oils are being more widely recognised.
Following is an overview of some of the products available on the marketplace that can help formulators create innovative, effective and safe personal care products.
Log in or register FREE to read the rest
This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text.
If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
