Essential oils are aromatic liquids that are extracted from plants through steam distillation.
Steam distillation is the process used to separate the essential oils from the plant material. As the plant material is softened with water, the steam that rises contains the essential oils. This is genuine, therapeutic-grade oil from a first distillation. This same plant matter can be Distilled many more times to extract more oil, but each distillation produces oil that is less and less potent. It takes 5,000 lbs of Rose petals to make 2 cups of Rose oil.
Essential oils have been used medicinally since ancient times.