Absolutes, similarly to essential oils, are highly concentrated plant essences. Unlike essential oils, they are extracted using a more complex methods due to the delicate nature of the plant parts used and therefore, resembles the essence of the flower more closely than the essential oil. The essence is first extracted from its source using hexane which produces a thick oily/waxy fragrant substance called a ‘concentrate’. The ‘concentrate’ is then thoroughly mixed with ethanol and filtered to remove the insoluble waxes. It undergoes further processing whereby ethanol is removed via low pressure distillation leaving behind a viscous, high concentrated fragrant product referred to as an ‘absolute’.
