Living Magazine English Living Magazine 2016 | Page 26

Ever wonder about the journey of a drop of oil? Here is a behind the scenes look at how a tiny seed becomes a powerful essential oil. 1 A. d o-TERRA® carefully selects artisans whose expertise, location, and growing practices ensure the highest quality essential oil. Most of the artisans partnered with do-TERRA are family owned businesses where their expertise and knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. In developing countries where crops for essential oils are available, do-TERRA Co--Impact Sourcing™ initiatives empower local artisans to maintain high quality crops while empowering the growers to improve their own lives. B. Specific plant species are then chosen for their distinct profile of aromatic compounds. Potency starts with the seed. To be safe and effective, especially for internal use, essential oils must have the proper chemical profile and be free of any impurities and adulterations. C. To ensure the most powerful potency, the plant must be harvested in the right way at the right time. Depending on the essential oil, that could be the seed, stem, leaf, flower, root, or rind. In addition, the region in which the plant is grown has a major impact on its constitution, which in turn determines its potency. The potency and quality of essential oils are determined by: • • • • 26 / 2016 EUROPE LIVING MAGAZINE Growing season Elevation Climate Moisture • • • Soil Terrain pH factor