Essential oils have a profound effect on our senses and play a significant role in our daily lives. However, how secure are they? Can you burn essential oils? And what steps may we take to safeguard our houses and ourselves against calamity?
This post will discuss the components of essential oils and provide you with some useful advice so you can continue to use those wonder cures without running any risks.
Keep Reading : Is Coconut Oil Flammable?
An Essential Oil: What Is It?
An essential oil is a combination of chemicals that have been extracted from plants, generally by distillation but occasionally by mechanical means. The term “essential” indicates the belief that these oils embody the “essence” of the qualities and scent of the plant.
Since essential oils are concentrated versions of plant extract, they all have strong scents.
The extract is mixed with a carrier oil—a plant oil that is suitable to use as skin nourishment and is designed to dilute the harsh concentrated extract—which is crucial for aromatherapy.
Typical carrier oils that are utilized include:
- Coconut oil
- Jojoba oil
- Oil from apricot kernels
- Almond butter with sweetness
- Olive oil
- Rosehip seed oil
- Argan oil
- Oil from grape seeds
- avocado oil
- oil from black seeds
- sunflower seed oil
Occasionally, the carrier oil is already included when you buy an essential oil; other times, you may only buy the “essence” that has been extracted and dilute it with your own carrier oil.
It is crucial to remember that even if the oils themselves could be edible, you shouldn’t eat essential oils because they are not meant to be consumed and doing so is not safe. Plant extract manufacturing is not heavily regulated, and you don’t want to jeopardize your health in any way.
What Sorts Are Suitable for Flame?
Almost all essential oils have a flame. Some, including wintergreen, sandalwood, and clove bud, have flashpoints higher than the 199.4 degrees Fahrenheit OSHA specifies for flammability. They can all, however, catch fire really quickly.
The temperature at which a liquid releases enough vapors to catch fire when exposed to a spark or flame is known as the flashpoint.
The following essential oils are the most flammable:
- An initial needle
- Asinine
- Cleary Sage
- Pine needle
- Galbanum:
- Juniper Berry Cypress
Nevertheless, direct fires and spark sources should be avoided near any essential oils.
To reduce the chance of auto-ignition caused by sunlight shining through the bottle’s glass, store essential oils in firmly sealed containers in a cold, dark environment when not in use.
Additionally, you should be aware that spills containing essential oils require special caution while cleaning up. The oil on them dries up and poses a serious risk of spontaneous combustion, so you can’t just clean them up and toss the cloth or tissue in the trash.
Composition of Essential Oils
Plant extracts with a high concentration are called essential oils. Even though it seems straightforward, their composition is not. We need to know what they’re made of before we can determine if they’re flammable oils. Typical components of essential oils are as follows:
Terpenes: Essential oils have a strong scent and therapeutic qualities because of the high concentration of these molecules in them.
Alcohols: Essential oils include alcohols, which have antibacterial qualities that are good for your skincare regimen and can aid with respiratory issues.
Esters: These are the molecules that give essential oils their fruity, flowery, and sweet smells.
Ketones: Ketones may be stimulating or relaxing. Examples of these are menthone and camphor.
Aldehydes: These compounds are mostly present in citrus essential oils and help give them their distinct scent.
Phenols: They possess strong antimicrobial qualities.
Sesquiterpenes: These anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating compounds are present in essential oils made from wood or root materials.
Keep in mind that the composition will change based on the kind of oil, how it is extracted, and external circumstances.
Are Essential Oils Flammable?
It’s true that essential oils burn. They are rich in low-boiling-point terpenes and other very volatile chemicals.
While certain essential oils may ignite at low temperatures, others have greater flashpoints. certain essential oils have very low flashpoints. To mitigate any risk, it is imperative that you adhere to the safety instructions listed below.
Below, we’ll look at the various flashpoints associated with a few common categories of essential oils.
Examples of Essential Oils’ Flashpoints
Depending on its composition, essential oils can have wildly different flashpoints. The oil can ignite in the air at this lowest temperature. Examples of essential oils and their flashpoints are as follows:
Essential Oil of Lavender: around 131°F (55°C)
Essential Oil of Peppermint: around 135°F (57°C)
Tea Tree Essential Oil: about 131°F, or 55°C.
At about 120°F (49°C), eucalyptus essential oil is found.
Essential Oil of Lemon: around 118°F (48°C)
At about 115°F (46°C), sweet orange essential oil is extracted.
At about 147°F (64°C), cinnamon essential oil is used.
At about 200°F (93°C), clove essential oil is used.
around 115°F (46°C) for rosemary essential oil
At about 109°F (43°C), frankincense essential oil
Recall that the actual temperature might differ based on the specific essential oil batch and its constituent chemicals, and that the flash point for essential oils is only an estimate.
Is It Better To Diffuse Or Burn?
It is theoretically possible for burning essential oils to destroy their chemical components; however, this is unlikely to happen if you are utilizing the oils for therapeutic purposes.
It’s important to remember that utilizing essential oils in a burner is often seen as dangerous since the oil may quickly catch fire if it comes into touch with the flame, making your peaceful evening filled with a lovely aroma more likely to become thrilling than restful.
In order to guarantee that there is no fire danger and that you do not alter the chemical qualities of the oil, it is generally preferable to use a diffuser.
What Kind of Essential Oils Are Not Flammable?
To some degree, all essential oils are combustible. If you use essential oils improperly, even those with relatively high flashpoints can still be dangerous for fire. Whatever the kind, flammability is an inherent feature of the constitution of essential oils. This is because volatile substances like alcohols, esters, and terpenes are present.
Remarks
Despite the fact that essential oils are flammable, you shouldn’t allow this to scare you away from taking use of all of their wonderful advantages! At The Botanist Kitchen, every essential oil is securely kept in dark glass bottles with tight closures to prevent any potential hazards.
Essential oils are used by many users, including myself, on a daily basis for a variety of reasons. By handling your essential oils responsibly, you may start to reap the numerous advantages that have been unlocked!
