Comparison SCFE Oil and Solvent

Higher Active Ingredients

Retains conditions

Often results in loss of active compounds due to solvents and high temperatures

Avoids degradation of sensitive compounds, preserving essential oils’ integrity.

Risk of solvent residues affecting purity and effectiveness of active ingredients.

Better Shelf life

Produces oils with longer shelf life by preventing oxidation and degradation

Oils may have shorter shelf life due to residual solvents and high temperatures

Oils are less prone to rancidity and remain stable over time

Higher risk of oxidation and degradation, reducing stability and shelf life.

Visual Clarity & Turbidity

Produces purer oil free from contaminants, offering superior visual clarity and minimal turbidity

Oils can be visually turbid due to residual solvents and impurities, often requiring additional refining to improve clarity.

Consumer Safety

Non-toxic and non-flammable. Ideal for products intended for sensitive applications, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Risk of residual solvents remaining in the final product, not suitable for products requiring stringent purity standards.

Efficiency

Optimised to selectively extract specific compounds for high-quality products.

May extract unwanted components, requiring additional purification steps.

Yield

Lower yield compared to solvent extraction but with higher quality.

Higher yields due to the aggressive nature of solvent penetration