The Following books are recomended for following up on information and topics discussed on our website. They can be borrowed from libraries, bought from your local bookseller or ordered online from Amazon.com. Should you wish to buy one of these books or just find out more about it, clicking on a title will take you straight to either www.amazon.com (USA) or www.amazon.co.uk (UK) and to the book in question. Both offer online purchase and delivery worldwide.
The Distillation and Chemistry of Essential Oils :
This is the 'Bible' of the technical aspects of the distillation of essential oils and a 'must' for any serious researcher into essential oils. In six volumes, which can be bought separately or as a set, it covers: in Vol. 1 the technical aspects of 'classic' steam distillation and other extraction methods. Vol.2 is devoted entirely to the chemistry of essential oils. Vols. 3 to 6 are a systematic description of the cultivation and production of essential oils derived from a huge number of aromatic plants, arranged in order of the plant families. Vol. 6 also contains a complete index of all 6 volumes. The only shortcomings are that the book, still regularly reprinted in small numbers, was completed in 1948 and some of the more 'modern' essential oils are not mentioned. The price of all six volumes is also high. It remains, nevertheless, the definitive source on the vast mjority of essential oils. If you want to study and understand the principles and practice of steam distillation, then start with Vol. 1.
A comprehensive covering of a range of Oils concentrating mainly on those from Tropical or Sub Tropical Climates and including 'modern' oils like TeaTree. Well researched and practically founded with, like Guenther, information on the oils, cultivation and production. Rather expensive.
A thorough and wide ranging textbook on the chemistry of essential oils. Although the chemistry stands on its own merits, the book is largely concerned with the perfumery aspects of essential oils. An excellent section on GC analysis with, uniquely, 'scratch and sniff' panels to ' illustrate' the olfactory points made. Medium price.
Particularly useful for its toxicology information, this little handbook is a good source for basic hard information on principal components, adulteration issues, and bioactivity of a selection of the major essential oils. Rigourously 'scientific' in tone. Inexpensive