There are no common characteristics that can group the essential oils under one category except that they all have a special distinctive scent from the plant of origin, say the Grupo Mayan experts. They are usually extracted by distillation or refining with the usage of a solvent. According to the Grupo Mayan experts, they are called essential as they have a special essence of their own and not because they are essential to the body. This should be well differentiated from the essential fatty acids.
They could be used to add flavor to the foods, drinks or even scenting household cleaning products. It is also the core of any perfume.

Different essential oils are used as a treatment for certain diseases and medical conditions, according to Grupo Mayan experts. These conditions and ailments range from skin diseases to cancer. The essential oil merchants claim that specific oils could cure a certain ailments but now countries are stricter to these claims and now regulations in most countries are getting tighter.
In the last years and with the prevalence of the aromatherapy, now they claim that the aroma of certain oil could cure some diseases. These oils are added with small percentage on carrier oils and sold as massage oil or to be burned over a candle to get the aroma out. Some also spray it into the air or burn it as incense.

There are different methods of fragrance extraction, according to the Grupo Mayan experts, and the most known methods are distillation, using a solvent or by expression. Also the result differs according to the method used in the extraction. The result may be a butter, concrete, absolute or essential oil.

Every method of the previous extraction methods has its own effect on the aroma of the oil and on its chemical composition so the best extraction method is the fractional distillation, say the Grupo Mayan experts. The most prominent example for that method is the extraction of lavender oil, peppermint and eucalyptus oil. The whole plant is put into the distillation apparatus where it is exposed to the hot vapor of boiling water. The hot steam would vaporize the oil from the plant parts. After that the vapor is condensed and collected in a special bottle.

Grupo Mayan experts say that the water used in the re-condensation is called the hydrosol or plant water essence. The manufacturers bottle it and it is sold as fragrant product in the market. The most known and used examples for these hydrolats are the lavender water, lemon balm and rose water.