learn about O&3

This market can be tricky for knowing exactly what you are buying.

With ever changing personal care regulations, it is so important that the quality and manufacturing methods of the products you buy from us are crystal clear. Throughout this section you can explore the different manufacturing techniques and definitions of what some of our oily jargon actually means. It’s at your fingertips 24/7. Oil purchasing made simple.

Learn about our oils

  • Carrier Oils

    A carrier oil is a ‘fixed’ product that is pressed from either a seed, nut or fruit then kept in its virgin state or alternatively refined. It is typically used on its own or applied to a formulation, mainly to ‘carry’ other ingredients such as essential oils. Carrier oils carry a wide range of skin nutritional benefits but predominantly they hold emollient and moisturising properties. The decision between whether you take a cold-pressed or refined oil depends on what you are looking to achieve in your final application.

    Those that wish to savour a carrier oil’s natural inherent aroma would choose a cold pressed (virgin) version. Those that choose refined are looking for an oil that has no aroma however acts as a perfect emollient to carry the rest of the formulations ingredients.

  • Essential Oils

    An essential oil is a concentrated liquid containing the essence and aroma of a plant, usually obtained via a water or steam distillation process. Essential oils are predominantly used to provide the distinguished aroma of your final product.

  • Absolutes

    Absolutes are similar to those of essential oils in that they offer a distinct, concentrated aroma from a selected plant. The difference, however, is that they are solvent extracted rather than steam distilled.

  • Butters

    Our range of natural butters can be delivered in two different formats.  Expeller pressed (sometimes referred to as refined) butters are those which maintain their inherent benefits.  Hydrogenated butters however are those whereby hydrogen is added to the the liquid oil to turn it into a solid form; this process is the most cost effective route when it comes to butter selection.

  • Waxes

    There are two different formats across our range of waxes. The first being those which are pastillated and refined. The second are those in a hydrogenated format. Hydrogenation is a process in which hydrogen is added to liquid oil to turn the oil into a waxy-solid format.