5 replies to this topic

[Plant]

I have had an interest in oils for a while, and also ethnobotanicals and entheogens. I researched frankincense and myrrh extensively, reading numerous scientific studies, and was disappointed to discover that the oils really don't have much of what makes those resins therapeutic. I assumed this would be the case for most things, maybe all, but recently while researching wormwood and mugwort, which I like for their effect on dreams, I discovered that in fact Thujone is a terpene and is present in VERY high quantities in the oils! Since this was the case I decided to keep an eye out for other herbs which the active compound is a terpene - and I also discovered THC is classified as a "terpenoid", now I don't fully understand what the difference is between a terpenoid and a terpene, but I wonder if it can be in essential oil. I am making this thread with the hope of engaging others who can add to my knowledge of what herbs have active compounds that are terpenes/volatile oils and are present in essential oil. I have read many online commentaries about Damiana, yet I still cannot discern if the active substance is the terpenes or the alkaloids - I get the impression nobody knows at this point. I have ordered some Damiana oil - which is rare, hard to find, and expensive - and am eagerly awaiting it's arrival. I would imagine it will be apparent quite soon if it does have the active substance, I know when I got the Wormwood oil, one wiff and I knew I better be careful with this stuff.

[CatsAndBats]

Dude I have butt-tons of heirloom wormwood if you need any.

 

[Plant]

@catsandbats - thanks, I may take you up on that sometime. Do you have it listed on Ebay or something? I am mainly into the oil now, but herbs are great too. Do you grow mugwort?

[CatsAndBats]

@catsandbats - thanks, I may take you up on that sometime. Do you have it listed on Ebay or something? I am mainly into the oil now, but herbs are great too. Do you grow mugwort?

 

 

It's a big plant in the back. It gets bigger every year.

[BallisticMystic]

I use essential oils for making incense and perfumery. There have always been debates on using extracts/isolates vs the whole compound. I think it depends on use and the result your after. With Frankincese I use both, mostly resin in incense and oil in perfumery for practical reasons. If you're chewing frankincese you'd want the resin, not because the oil is lacking anything essential but because it's difficult to chew. The best frankincense comes fom Oman and smells very citrusy with the very best smelling like fresh limes.

 

Be careful, many essential oils can cause allergic reactions from mild skin sensitivity to full blown hives choking off your airway. Some are actually poisonous. Just google anything new to you before ingesting or smearing it on your skin.

 

If you want a truly psychoactive scent, try agarwood oil/oud. It's very expensive tho and needs to be purchased from a trusted source. Basenotes.net is probably the best place to learn about current trusted sources.

[BallisticMystic]

The best source I have found for essential oils and other botanicals is Liberty Naturals. Their only drawback is you have to know what you're buying. Their site is set up for ordering and that's about it. If you want to know the specifics of any product the best way is to call and ask them. They're wholesale and have a minimum order limit of $50 IIRC. Most essential oil retailers are getting their stuff from Liberty and reselling it for 2-3 times the price.

 

The other one I use a lot is Eden Botanicals. Great site, great products and service but prices are retail. Their retail prices are better than other retail sellers tho. If you are just starting out I'd go with EBots, but once you get famililiar with things and your needs grow you'll want to check out Liberty.

 

White Lotus Aromatics has some stuff you can't find anywhere else but they have a minimum order limit and retail pricing.

Edited by BallisticMystic, 13 July 2018 - 09:21 PM.