What is the safety consideration when using absolutes produced by solvent extraction?

• A. Absolutes may contain solvent residues; prefer high-quality essential oils when possible and avoid direct skin contact with unknown absolutes.
• B. Absolutes are always safe to use neat on skin.
• C. Absolutes have no solvent residues.
• D. Absolutes should be used only by inhalation.

Answer: (C)

Absolutes produced by solvent extraction can carry traces of the solvent used in their creation. Because those residues vary and may irritate or sensibilize the skin, it’s safer to avoid direct skin contact with absolutes when their purity or provenance is unknown, and to opt for high-quality essential oils when possible. In practice, this means diluting absolutes, performing a patch test, and preferring alternatives (like CO2 extracts) when skin contact is likely.

So, the idea is to be cautious about potential solvent residues rather than assuming absolutes are free of them. The other statements imply there are no residues, or that neat use is always safe, or that inhalation is the only route, which doesn’t align with how solvents can remain in the product and with standard dilution practices.