Essential oils and essences are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they are completely different.
Essential oils are highly concentrated, aromatic liquids that are extracted from various parts of plants, such as leaves, flowers, stems, and roots. They are obtained through either steam distillation or are cold pressed.
Steam distillation involves heating the plant material and capturing the vapor that is released.
The oil that accumulates above the water, is the oil and it has varying viscosities on different levels.
Essential oils have been used as ancient remedies in Ancient India, Egypt, the Far East and today are widely used in aromatherapy, natural soaps, shampoos and now widely as natural health remedies due to their therapeutic properties.
Essences, on the other hand, are typically synthetic or artificial fragrances that are used to add scent to products such as perfumes, soaps, and candles. They are created through a process of blending various aromatic compounds, which may or may not be derived from natural sources.
Essences are often used to replicate the scent of natural substances, such as flowers or fruits, or to create entirely new fragrances.
While Essential Oils are natural plant extracts with therapeutic properties, essences are synthetic or artificial fragrances used mainly for their scent.