Isoprene units

Most compounds found in essential oils are terpenoid molecules and they are the carbon backbone and consist of either 10, 15, 20 or 30 carbon atoms - made up from the 5 carbon isoprene units.

Various terpenoid compounds are found and can be listed as follows:

Isoprene is not a terpene, yet all terpenes consist of isoprene units and these terpenes are either found in the plant material from which essential oil is extracted or terpenes are formed in the extraction process.

Examples of this are the natural terpenes found in expressed citrus oil, while terpenes are formed in the oil of steam extracted rose oil, yet are either low or non-existent in rose oil extracted by means of solvent extraction.

The two principal constituents of essential oils are

1. Unsaturated hydrocarbons, with their structure based on the isoprene unit, known as terpene hydrocarbons.

2. Compounds with oxygen atoms, known as oxygenated compounds and include:

   • Alcohols

   • Esters

   • Aldehydes

   • Ketones

   • Lactones

   • Coumarins

   • Ethers

   • Oxides etc.

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  • Natural face packs (face masks)
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  • Floral waters
  • Foot and hand baths
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  • Dry shampoo recipe
  • Recipe for final rinse
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  • Scalp stimulation lotion
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  • Massage
  • Saunas
  • Showers
  • Sitz bath
  • Steam inhalations
  • Vaporization
  • Air freshening
• Holistic health and healing
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