Vanilla Essential OilVanilla (Vanilla Planifolia) The rich, beautiful flavour and aroma of vanilla comes from the seeds contained within the beans of the vanilla orchid. Unlike lavender, peppermint, cedarwood, tea tree and so many other aromatic plants that are capable of being steam distilled to produce beautiful essential oils, vanilla beans do not effectively release their precious aromatic molecules when steam distilled (or cold pressed as is the case for citrus rind