Extracting oil and other plant matter from botanical material with CO2 gas is the purest and gentlest way to pull out the desired aromatic elements. CO2 extraction technology is able to capture the therapeutic goodness of the natural plant origin like no other process can, making it one of the best ways to obtain the purest, most therapeutic extracts organic matter can offer. As a company committed to bringing you ethically sourced and sustainable products, we are delighted that these extracts tick all of these boxes as the CO2 extraction process is sustainable, uses little energy and CO2 is a reusable resource and the same gas can be used again and again. Here’s why we love them…
CO2 Extracts differ from Essential Oils physically, as they are usually thicker or more textured than their Essential Oil relations and often exude a fresher aroma of the natural herb, spice, or plant compared to a distilled Essential Oil. CO2 extracts have been said to contain more plant constituents compared to using steam distillation. To produce the plant extract, CO2 gas is passed through botanical matter, such as leaves, flowers, or sometimes tree resins or even beans and seeds. The resulting extractions not only include Essential Oils, but fat and water-soluble matter too. Because of its gentle nature, a CO2 extraction can recover precious, fragile matter that may have been damaged or lost during other extraction processes such as pressing and distilling. The chemical compounds extracted are nearly identical to the source and therefore the resulting product smells so true to the fresh, original plant itself. Some of our favourite extracts include the Ginger, Cocoa and Coffee CO2s – they are just beautiful and have extensive therapeutic benefits too, which is why CO2 Extracts are often favoured by therapists.
Did you know that CO2 Extracts are Clean and Green?
Producing a CO2 Extract is a planet-friendly alternative for capturing botanical aromatics as it uses sustainable energy. It’s more environmentally friendly than other forms of extracting botanical compounds as the technology uses less power, there is less wastage and less processing so it’s a planet friendly option for consumers to consider. When carbon dioxide is used, it can be recycled and reused time and time again. All of our CO2 extracts are 100% pure and are always tested for their quality in our on-site laboratory before we bottle or blend them in any of our products – we even have an on-site Chemist who runs our lab and tests all of our oils before they are approved for use.
CO2s extracts can be separated into two categories as explained below…
Total Extracts – These require higher pressure and low temperatures during extraction, with the resultant extract containing a high proportion of compounds such as fatty acids, waxes, resins, and any plant pigments. These extracts are often semi-solid or solid and must be gently warmed to use them like a liquid. Because of their texture or thickness, Total Extracts cannot be used in a liquid diffuser but work well diffusing from an oil burner.
Select Extracts - These require low pressure and low temperature with the resultant liquid being a little more like an Essential Oil. The oil differs from distilled or solvent extracted Essential Oils as it can have a very different chemical composition. Select extracts contain between 35% to 95% Essential Oil along with fatty acids and other fatty substances. Because of this CO2 Extracts usually smell much closer to the original plant matter. These can be used in a diffuser.
Uses of CO2 Extracts
Because of their composition, some CO2 Extracts are solid or paste- like at room temperature and may need to be warmed to blend and use. We make sure we acknowledge their texture in our descriptions of each CO2 Extract so you know what to expect – Cocoa Extract for example is solid and looks almost identical to Cocoa Butter but is much much more concentrated and therefore will always need diluting before use. CO2 Extracts can be added to carrier oils and un-fragranced bases and blended with each other at a recommended dilution rate of around 1% and never more than 3%. An easy way to soften solid CO2 Extracts is to pop the jar or bottle into war/hot water for a few minutes prior to using it and it should transform to a liquid, ready to be added to a carrier oil or other base product.
Many CO2 extracts will be rich in vitamins, fatty acids, naturally occurring antibacterial properties and antioxidant qualities and each has its own use and purposes – be sure to check out our recommendations prior to use. It’s important to note too that there are quite saturated colour pigments in some of these extracts like Curcuma (Tumeric), Coffee, Marigold and Ginger, which may be transferred onto clothing or bedding so take care when using them. When blending CO2s, they need to be used in more diluted quantities than their Essential Oil counterparts and we recommend no more than 3% so do bear this is mind if you’re combining more than one at a time. It may be useful to collect a few pieces of kit such as a beaker to mix in, a pipette or dropper and a mug or bowl for the warming water so you can be precise in your measuring and blending. We also recommend patch tests before use to test for sensitivities and to avoid their use if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or undergoing medical treatment – if you’re unsure, just chat to your GP.
Therapeutic Benefits of CO2 Extracts
Compared to Essential Oils, CO2 Extracts have the maximum level of active therapeutic components possible extracted from the botanical raw materials. The extraction process was originally designed for the food and fragrance industries for use as flavourings (don’t try to eat them, they’re for external use only!) and as fragrances in perfume, but the benefits of these extracts are becoming more widely known for a broader spectrum of uses in Aromatherapy, other alternative therapies and in the skincare industry. Another key benefit of a CO2 Extract is that they are less prone to oxidation than Essential Oils and cold-pressed carrier oils and therefore are more stable and generally have a longer shelf life and last around 2-3 years when stored sealed and away from sunlight.
A broader spectrum of nutrients is extracted from the plant through the CO2 method which results in enhanced efficacy and because of this, they are often used in skincare, Clinical Aromatherapy and palliative care. For a wealth of information and research on palliative care and alternative therapies, the books by Madeleine Kerkhof are a great way to understand the use of these extracts further. They can be used in massage, in compresses, as inhalations and in bath blends to soothe and support patients.
CO2 Extracts to boost your skincare and Elevate your Wellbeing!
Because of their naturally occurring qualities, CO2s are a great addition to your skincare routine, whatever your skin concern is. Each extract has its own purpose and qualities; for example, Cocoa CO2 extract is full of moisture-infusing fatty acids to improve skin condition, Chamomile Flower is very calming to easily irritated skin, Lavender boasts natural antibacterial properties so can help combat blemish-causing bacteria and Rosehip Seed is a skin saviour to help improve the appearance of stretchmarks and scarring.
As we have mentioned, like Essential Oils, the CO2 Extracts must be diluted and used to enhance a carrier or base cream or oil. They also make great additions to unfragranced body lotions, washes and shampoos and can add natural benefits and amazing aromas to an otherwise dull experience… One tip we love is to add 1 drop of Ginger CO2 per 10ml of shampoo and treat yourself to a stimulating head and scalp massage while in the shower or bath. The massage itself can help boost circulation and the Ginger will be warming and boost scalp condition to support healthy, fresh-smelling hair thanks to its deodorising and rejuvenating properties.
Check out the CO2 Extracts’ pages on our website for all of our tips and guidance ideas on how each one can support your wellness practises and follow our social media pages for tips, testimonials, products launches and giveaways!
