What is the Difference Between Volatile Oil and Fixed Oil?

The main difference between volatile oils and fixed oils lies in their evaporation properties and composition. Here are the key differences between the two:

Volatile Oils:

• Also known as essential oils.
• Can easily evaporate at normal temperatures.
• Have characteristic odors.
• Extracted from various plant parts such as leaves, bark, and petals.
• Examples include melissa oil, zingiber oil, and peppermint oil.

Fixed Oils:

• Also known as non-volatile oils or carrier oils.
• Do not easily evaporate at normal temperatures.
• Odorless or have a very weak odor.
• Produced by seeds of plants.
• Examples include groundnut oil, peanut oil, oleum oliva, teel oil, maize oil, and margosa oil.

Volatile oils, also called essential oils, are highly volatile and can evaporate even at room temperature. They are extracted from various plant parts and have characteristic odors. On the other hand, fixed oils, also known as carrier oils, do not evaporate easily and are odorless or have a very weak odor. They are produced by seeds of plants and can be blended with essential oils for various applications.

Comparative Table: Volatile Oil vs Fixed Oil

Here is a table comparing the differences between volatile oils and fixed oils:

Volatile oils, also known as essential oils, are concentrated hydrophobic liquids consisting of volatile chemical compounds from plants. They are commonly used in aromatherapy and are extracted from various plant parts such as leaves, bark, and petals. In contrast, fixed oils are nonvolatile oils of animal or plant origin, typically derived from seeds. They are used for cooking, skincare, and massage oils and are more difficult to extract compared to volatile oils.