Throughout the world, there are
approximately 3,000 essential oils, most
of which are used only in the local
regions in which they are found. About 30o
are in more general use, and are traded
worldwide. It is help¬ful to know where a
particular oil comes from because, for
example, geranium oils grown in Egypt,
China, or Madagascar each have their
unique characteristics. Also, the same
species of plant will produce an oil with
different properties depending on whether
it was grown in dry or damp earth, for
example, or at high or low altitude, or in
a hot or cold climate.
