Absolutes are also natural essences. They are usually essences of flowers which are too delicate to be extracted by steam distillation. Absolutes have the fragrance which resembles the essence of the flower more closely than the essential oil since some components of the essential oil are artefacts of the extraction process.

The preparation of the absolute is a two stage process. Stage one involves extraction of the plant material using pure hexane. This produces a thick oily, way fragrant product called a ‘Concrete’. The Concrete is then mixed with Ethanol and after thorough mixing it is filtered to remove the insoluble waxes. The ethanol is removed from the essence by distillation under reduced pressure. The essence left behind is called an Absolute.

Phoenix Products supply absolutes which are pure and natural and that have low levels of residual hexane and ethanol.