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Absolute Oils are produced by solvent extraction. Absolutes dissolve in alcohol and fixed oils but not in water. As the name implies, solvent extraction causes substances such as petroleum ether to pass through the prepared plant parts. The solvent is then evaporated off leaving a mixture of waxes and oil. This is called the concrete. After the removal of the waxes there remains the highly fragrant, intensely strong substance known as the absolute.

A Concrete is the first step to producing an absolute oil. The freshly harvested plant parts are submerged into a solvent, usually hexane. This results in a highly fragrant and usually solid mass due chiefly to the high waxes content. This material is then usually further processed in order to obtain an absolute oil which by definition is entirely alcohol soluble. Concretes though can prove to be very valuable within perfumery, often showcasing further complexity in aroma profile than that of the corresponding absolute. They are also available at a lower cost than the corresponding absolute but are rarely available for sale. Due to their waxes content, concretes are ideal used within solid perfumes and will require filtration if used in alcohol based perfumes.

Please note: Despite their quality, all of our products are of a highly concentrated nature and are therefore to be strictly intended for perfumery and aromatherapy use only. Hermitage Oils strongly discourages internal consumption of the products, which are not intended to be used as foods in any capacity. All photos and images on this website have the sole purpose to evoke the raw materials from which the products offered are obtained, their place of origin or their scent.