Utah Master Esthetician Practice Exam

What is the method called for extracting essential oils from plants?

1. Filtration

2. Distillation

3. Infusion

4. Expression

The correct answer is: Distillation

The method for extracting essential oils from plants that is most widely recognized is distillation. This process involves using water or steam to vaporize the plant materials, allowing the essential oil to separate from the plant. The vaporized oil is then cooled and condensed back into liquid form, collected separately from the water. Distillation is a highly efficient and effective method for obtaining essential oils, preserving their aromatic and therapeutic properties. Filtration, while useful in various contexts for separating materials, does not apply here as it does not effectively extract oils from plant materials. Infusion involves soaking plant materials in a carrier oil or other solvent to extract certain properties but does not yield pure essential oils like distillation. Expression is typically used for citrus fruits, where the oil is extracted from the rind by pressing, but it is not the broad method for all types of plants. Therefore, distillation stands out as the primary and most comprehensive technique for extracting essential oils in a way that maintains their quality and efficacy.