Absolutes are botanical extracts that are created using a special, solvent extraction process. The solvent is used to first extract what is called a concrete from the plant. A concrete consists of waxes, resins, essential oils, and other oil soluble materials. Although the concrete is fragrant, many of the components within the concrete are not. Another solvent, often ethyl alcohol, is used to "wash" the concrete, extracting a pungent oil which is called "absolute". The wax that remains is named floral wax and also has uses in perfumery and skin care.
Just as they are extracted differently than essential oils, absolutes look and feel different than essential oils. They are often thick, slow moving, and have very powerful aromas. You may be surprised by the huge variety of plants that absolutes are made from. Jasmine, rose, and vanilla, are some of the most popular types, but they are hardly the only absolutes out there. Flowers like mimosa, carnation, and lotus are made into absolutes. Some more surprising varieties include coconut, sea vegetables, and cocoa. There are even absolutes made from non-plant materials such as honey and beeswax.
The high price of Absolutes have limited their availability to hobbyists and small businesses in the past. For some time they were mostly used in the creation of high end perfumes. With natural skincare’s surge in popularity, they are beginning to become more desirable to cosmetic companies. Nowadays you can find them used in designer products, everywhere from your local pharmacy to Sephora. FromNatureWithLove.com is proud to carry a line of high quality Absolutes that are great for perfumery and cosmetic formulations.
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