Vanilla essential oil is not often used in aromatherapy however, it is used for flavoring and in some perfumes and cosmetics. Vanilla oil is often used in many perfumes from the East because it is considered to have aphrodisiac actions. It is also thought to reduce fever although there is no medical proof that it is effective. The variety which is chiefly cultivated to harvest vanilla is Vanilla planifolia which is indigenous to Mexico and is today grown all through the tropics. Vanilla is a climbing plant and an orchid.
History and Myths of Vanilla
The history of vanilla is rich in legends and myths! Long ago vanilla was grown by the Totonac peoples who lived on the Gulf Coast of Mexico. Legend says that Xanat, a princess of the Totonacs, who was dedicated to the goddess of the crops,Tonoacayohua, fled to a forest with her lover as they were forbidden to marry by her father. They were found and brought back and beheaded. A vanilla orchid grew from the ground touched by their blood. Vanilla was discovered by the Aztecs after conquering the Totonac people during the 15th century. In the 16th century~A hundred years later}, with the arrival of the Spanish and the Portuguese the vanilla plant spread to the Old World. It was named vanilla which means ‘little pod’.
How is Vanilla Extracted?
labor intensive methods must be used to grow vanilla which makes it one of the most expensive flavorings. The essential oil is extracted from the green fruit of the vanilla plant. The fruit is dried and then fermented, to obtain the well-known brown vanilla pod. Vanilla oil is then extracted by a method called enfleurage which uses fats or oils are used to absorb the oil which is then extracted using alcohol. Distillation of the alcohol yields the vanilla essential oil.
Uses
Vanilla essential oil can be used in body lotions, balms and massage oils. It isn’t generally used in soaps due to the delicate character of the vanilla smell. It is regularly used with other essential oils to compliment their aromas.
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