Can You Get Apple Essential Oil?
What is Apple Essential Oil?
Apple essential oil is an extract from the fruits, leaves, and branches of apple trees that captures the scent and many of the plant’s beneficial compounds. It is produced through the process of distillation, where the aromatic molecules are separated from the original plant material.
To make apple essential oil, different parts of the apple fruit or tree can be used as the raw material. Most commonly, the leaves and skin of the fruit are distilled along with some slices or pieces of the apple itself. The essential oil derived from the skin and leaves tends to have more of the characteristic apple aroma. Oil made from the apple flesh produces a more floral scent.
Apple essential oil contains various volatile compounds that make up its aroma and potential benefits. Key chemical constituents found in apple essential oil include esters like hexyl acetate and butyl acetate, aldehydes like cinnamaldehyde and benzaldehyde, as well as alcohols like eugenol and linalool.
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Benefits of Apple Essential Oil
Apple essential oil has several potential health benefits when used aromatically or topically. Some key benefits include:
Promotes relaxation – The sweet, fruity aroma of apple oil is very calming and soothing for many people. Inhaling apple essential oil scent can help relieve stress and anxiety, promote feelings of comfort, and support restful sleep.
Provides antioxidant support – Apple essential oil contains compounds like polyphenols that exhibit antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help protect the body’s cells from damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress. Using apple oil may help boost antioxidant defenses.
Supports healthy digestion – Some people find that diffusing or applying diluted apple oil helps ease stomach upset and encourages healthy digestion. The aroma seems to have a soothing effect on the digestive system.
Potential skin benefits – With its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, apple essential oil may offer certain benefits when applied topically to the skin. It has the potential to soothe minor skin irritation, reduce the appearance of blemishes, and keep skin looking smooth and youthful. Always dilute apple oil before using it on skin.
How to Use Apple Essential Oil
Apple essential oil is commonly used in aromatherapy and personal care applications. Here are some of the top ways to use it:
Diffusing: Add a few drops of apple essential oil to an aromatherapy diffuser or vaporizer. Breathe in the sweet, fruity aroma to lift your mood and promote relaxation.
Massage: Dilute apple essential oil with a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil. Massage into skin for a soothing, spa-like experience. It may also help improve skin hydration.
Baths: Add 5-10 drops of apple essential oil to a warm bath along with epsom salts. Soak to enjoy the aroma and promote soft, glowing skin.
Ingesting: Apple essential oil is considered safe for ingestion when highly diluted. Add 1-2 drops to water, tea, or smoothies. Start with minimal doses to ensure tolerance.
Always dilute apple essential oil before applying it topically or ingesting. Perform a patch test before wider use to check for sensitivities. Only use high-quality, 100% pure essential oils meant for aromatherapy.
Blending Apple Essential Oil
Apple essential oil blends well with complementary scents like cinnamon, clove, and rose. These can help enhance the sweet, fruity aroma.
A good starting ratio is 2 drops apple to 1 drop cinnamon or clove. Rose can be added in equal amounts. Increase the complementary oils for a stronger scent.
Some simple apple essential oil blend recipes to try are:
- 2 drops apple, 1 drop cinnamon, 1 drop clove – a warm apple pie accord
- 2 drops apple, 1 drop rose – a floral, fruity bouquet
- 3 drops apple, 2 drops cinnamon – spicy apple scent for autumn
When blending, add the apple essential oil first as the base note. Then layer on the complementary scents. Always do a skin test before diffusing any new blend.
Where to Buy Apple Essential Oil
When looking to purchase pure, high-quality apple essential oil, there are some reputable essential oil brands to look for:
Young Living (www.youngliving.com) – This brand is one of the world leaders in essential oils and sets high standards for purity and quality. Their apple essential oil is steam distilled from apples grown on their own farms.
doTERRA (www.doterra.com) – doTERRA is another trusted name in essential oils known for their stringent CPTG quality protocol. Their apple essential oil is gentle distilled and comes from the United States.
Plant Therapy (www.planttherapy.com) – This company is known for affordable essential oils that undergo rigorous testing. Their organic apple essential oil is third-party tested for purity.
To identify pure vs diluted oil, check that the label states “100% pure essential oil” and look for signs of third party testing. Pure apple essential oil ranges from $10-30 for a 10mL bottle from reputable brands. Anything significantly cheaper could be diluted or lower quality.
How to Make Your Own Apple Essential Oil
Apple essential oil can be made at home using apple peels, cores, and scraps left over from food preparation. The key steps involve collecting apple waste, drying the apple pieces, and then extracting the essential oil through steam distillation.
Apple peels and cores contain the highest concentration of oils and fragrant compounds. Allow the peels and cores to dry completely before distillation, as water content can dilute the final product. Spread the apple waste in a single layer on trays or racks and allow to dry for 1-2 weeks. Drying helps concentrate the aromatic compounds.
Steam distillation involves heating the dried apple pieces in water to extract the essential oil. The steam helps liberate the volatile compounds from the plant material. The steam and vaporized plant oils are captured and cooled, allowing the water and apple essential oil to separate based on density. Home extraction kits are available to perform small batch steam distillation.
The entire process can take several hours to multiple days depending on the batch size and equipment used. Expect a very low yield from the homemade extraction, around 0.1 to 0.5% essential oil by weight. So drying and distilling 1 kilogram of apple peels and cores may only produce 1-5 grams of apple essential oil.
Storage and Shelf Life
Proper storage is important for preserving the shelf life and potency of apple essential oil. According to sources, apple essential oil should be stored in a cool, dark place in small bottles to limit exposure to light, heat, and oxygen (https://www.oillife.com/collections/storage-displays). Essential oils kept in ideal storage conditions can have a shelf life of 2-3 years or longer if unopened.
It’s recommended to store apple essential oil in dark amber or blue glass bottles that protect against UV light degradation. Make sure bottles have tight-fitting lids to limit air exposure. Storing oils in the refrigerator is another option for longer shelf life, but essential oils may become cloudy in cold temperatures. Freezing is not recommended as it can damage the delicate plant compounds.
Proper labeling of bottles with the name and date is also important. Over time, the aroma and therapeutic benefits of essential oils will start to diminish so it’s best to use them within the first 1-2 years. Pay attention for any changes in smell, texture, or color as signs the oil may be expired. For maximum freshness and effect, use apple essential oil within the manufacturer’s recommended shelf life.
Safety Precautions
While apple essential oil is generally considered safe for topical and aromatherapy use, there are some precautions to keep in mind:
Dilute before topical use – Apple essential oil should always be diluted with a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil before applying to skin. Using undiluted apple essential oil can cause skin irritation in some people.
May cause skin irritation in some – Apple essential oil contains chemicals like limonene that can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some individuals. Do a patch test before wider use.
Not safe for internal use – Apple essential oil should never be ingested. Essential oils can be toxic if swallowed and apple essential oil is no exception. Only use apple essential oil aromatically or topically.
Keep out of reach from children and pets. As with any essential oil, proper storage is important. Store in a cool, dark place in tightly closed bottles.
FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about apple essential oil:
Is apple essential oil safe to ingest?
No, apple essential oil should not be ingested. According to the Aromatherapy Trade Council’s safety guidelines, apple essential oil is restricted and should not be ingested.
Does apple essential oil come from eating apples?
No, apple essential oil does not actually come from the fruit of the apple tree that we eat. According to the AromaWeb essential oil guide, apple essential oil is extracted from the leaves and blossoms of the apple tree, not the fruit.
Is apple essential oil good for skin?
Yes, apple essential oil can be beneficial for the skin. According to Medical News Today, apple essential oil contains antioxidants that may help protect the skin from damage. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe irritated skin.
What does apple essential oil smell like?
Apple essential oil has a sweet, fresh, fruity aroma, similar to a green apple. According to Aromatics.com, it has top notes of galbanum and green apple. The apple aroma is balanced by earthy bottom notes of oakmoss and patchouli.
The Takeaway
Apple essential oil may bring many helpful qualities to your wellness routine. This delightful oil lifted from apple peels contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds like quercetin. It is also rich in beneficial phytochemicals and flavonoids. Add apple essential oil to beauty products for a sweet scent and possible skincare benefits. Diffuse it or inhale it directly to evoke feelings of energy, positivity, and focus. Or use it topically or in massage blends to soothe muscles, relieve stress, and promote calmness.
Seek out 100% pure, therapeutic grade, organic apple essential oil from reputable brands and suppliers. Examine labels and descriptions for details on sourcing, extraction method, purity, and safety testing. High quality apple essential oil that meets purity standards will provide the best aroma, effectiveness, and safety when used appropriately.
