Also known as ethereal or volatile oils, essential oils refer to any hydrophobic and concentrated liquid that contains volatile aroma compounds from the extracted plant. Natural oils are triglycerides and are the main constituent of animal fats and vegetable oil. Its glycerin is typically esterified with three fatty acids.
The key distinction between essential and natural oils depends on how they are manufactured. Essential oils are usually distilled from different parts of specific plants depending on the type of oil being extracted. The end result is usually a highly-concentrated product which has the essence of the botanical product it was extracted from. Essential oils are typically derived from specific plant species and parts, and usually contain a variety of naturally occurring chemicals.
Natural oils are those which are manufactured without the addition of synthetic compounds. As a result, natural oils tend to be as pure as possible, and are usually well tolerated by the body. The extraction process of natural oils is usually controlled to reduce addition of any synthetic substances into the oil.
Care has to be taken when shopping for essential and natural oils to avoid being misled during the purchase. The best solution to ensuring that you get value for money when buying essential oils or natural oils is by choosing manufacturers and retailers of good repute. Reading the ingredient list of any oil product is also important. This way, you can easily identify whether the oil is exactly what you are looking for or not.