Most pure essential oils are colorless or pale yellow, while some rare types may appear blue or deep red due to the plant's properties and extraction processes. To cater to consumers' imagination of plants, products on the market often have added pigments—lavender shampoo and soap turned purple, or rose products tinted pink. These are not the natural colors of plant essential oils. This article explores the five major colors of natural essential oils and unveils the beautiful color of plant-based oils
Why Do Essential Oils Vary in Color?
Environmental Factors
Seasonal changes, origin, climate, and soil conditions can cause slight variations in essential oil colors. For instance, some batches may shift from colorless to pale yellow, it is a natural phenomenon.
Extraction Methods
Different extraction techniques can also influence the color. For example, sweet orange oil is yellow or reddish when cold-pressed, but clear or pale when distilled.
What are the Colors of Natural Essential Oils?
Yellow Tones
Tones: Pale yellow, yellow, golden yellow, orange-yellow
Most essential oils, after being extracted through distillation, range from clear to pale yellow. Common oils like peppermint, rosemary, lavender, tea tree, and cypress often fall into this category. Essential oils that appear in deeper yellow or golden hues typically come from citrus fruits and their leaves, with some wood or spice oils also showing yellow tones.
| Plant | Color | Part | Extraction method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Orange | Golden yellow | Peel | Cold-pressed |
| Ajowan | Yellow | Seeds | Distilled |
| Cedarwood-atlas | Yellow | Wood | Distilled |
| Vetiver | Deep yellow | Roots | Distilled |
| Patchouli | Yellow | Leaves | Distilled |
Green Tones
Tones: Light Green, Yellow-Green, Green
Most plants are green, but only certain citrus plants or oils extracted from fruit peels and leaves will display light green, yellow-green, or deep green hues after extraction.
| Plant | Color | Part | Extraction method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bergamot | Yellow-green | Peel | Cold-pressed |
| Lime | Light green | Peel | Cold-pressed |
| Grapefruit | Light green | Peel | Cold-pressed |
| Cinnamon bark | Yellow-green | Bark | CO2 |
Brown Tones
Tones: Yellow-Brown, Brown, Reddish-Brown
Certain resinous plants, oils extracted from the wood, bark, whole herb, or roots, will present yellow-brown, deep brown, or reddish-brown hues.
| Plant | Color | Part | Extraction method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benzoin | Deep brown | Resin | Solvent |
| Spikenard | Brown | Roots | Distilled |
| Chamomile german | Yellow-brown | Flower | Co2 |
Blue Tones
Tones: Light Blue, Blue, Blue-Green
Asteraceae plants contain compounds like chamazulene, which give essential oils a beautiful blue color when extracted by distillation.
| Plant | Color | Part | Extraction method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yarrow | Light blue | Whole flowering plant | Distilled |
| Blue tansy | Deep blue | Flower | Distilled |
| Chamomile german | Deep blue | Flower | Distilled |
| Cypress blue | Light blue | Wood | Distilled |
Pink Tones
Tone: Pink
The only naturally pink essential oil in the world has a faint pink hue after extraction. While it appears transparent when dropped on paper, its delicate pink color becomes visible when placed in a clear glass bottle.
| Plant | Color | Part | Extraction method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wintergreen (Pink Wintergreen) | Pale pink | Leaves | Distilled |
These are the five major natural essential oil colors. Typically, essential oils are stored in opaque bottles to prevent deterioration. For bulk wholesale, they are often packaged in aluminum barrels, making it hard to observe their natural colors. Pureness has offices in Taipei and Taichung where you can try the essential oil scents before making a purchase. Visit us and experience the fragrances firsthand!
PURENESS | Essential Oil Wholesale | Fragrance Product OEM
For over 20 years, our professional aromatherapy team is dedicated to formulating comprehensive recipes, a full range of fragrance products, and a complete line of OEM skincare solutions. We tailor formulations based on our customers' product needs, customizing fragrance scents and effects to produce standout products under exclusive brand names. Contact us for consultations and inquiries!
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