Botanical Basics
Ingredients derived from plants used for cosmetic and therapeutic benefits.
Botanical ingredients
This method uses alcohol or glycerin to pull plant compounds into a liquid extract and is commonly used in herbal medicine.
A tincture
Aromatherapy uses these concentrated, aromatic plant extracts.
Essential oils
Before using essential oils on a new client, this check should be performed.
Patch test
Essential oils must be combined with this before skin application.
Carrier oil
These natural plant chemicals function like the plant’s immune system, helping defend against parasites, environmental stress, and damage, and provide therapeutic benefits when used in skincare.
Plant compounds
This extraction method does not alter the plant; instead, the herb is used whole, often in masks or wraps, because it does not dissolve in formulations.
Dried herbs
Essential oils must never be applied directly to the skin without this.
Dilution (carrier oil)
Oils like bergamot and lemon can increase this reaction if exposed to sunlight.
Photosensitivity?
Blends are structured using three scent positions: top, middle, and what notes.
Base
True or False: Botanical extracts are more consistent and potent than whole raw plant material.
True
When plant material is steeped in hot, or sometimes cold water, the resulting extract is known as what?
An infusion
This essential oil is well-known for calming, balancing, and supporting sleep.
Lavender
This chemical family found in many citrus oils can become irritating when oxidized.
Monoterpene hydrocarbons
In blending, when two or more essential oils are combined and create a stronger therapeutic effect than each oil alone, it is called what?
Synergy
This extracts support skin with soothing, anti-inflammatory, and healing actions, making them common in professional skincare.
Aloe barbadensis
This method mechanically presses seeds, nuts, or fruits to extract pure fixed oils like jojoba, grapeseed, or olive oil, without solvents.
Expeller pressing
The brain area activated when inhaling essential oils, tied to memory and emotion.
The limbic system/olfactory pathway
Too-high concentration or incorrect use of essential oils can lead to irritation, sensitization, and what?
Contact dermatitis or adverse reaction
For best results, carrier oils used in aromatherapy should be expeller-pressed, unrefined, and what certification level when possible.
Organic
This term refers to individual therapeutic components that have been separated from a plant extract, such as alpha D-tocopherol, used for targeted activity in skincare.
Isolates or isolated compounds
This advanced extraction method uses carbon dioxide in a state between liquid and gas, producing highly concentrated extracts with a scent closer to the original plant.
Supercritical COâ‚‚ extraction
When essential oils are inhaled, scent molecules stimulate the olfactory pathway and influence this part of the brain that regulates hormone release, homeostasis, and emotional response.
The hypothalamus
Essential oils high in ketones, such as rosemary verbenone, mugwort, or thuja, must be used cautiously because they may have this type of safety concern.
Neurotoxicity
This plant-derived emulsifier comes from soy and is commonly used in natural skincare formulations.
Lecithin