The solvent used to obtain the extract will be selective and will thus remove only those substances with which it is miscible or which pass into suspension.

The most common solvents for cosmetic extracts are glycols and water, in which case only small amounts of oils and fats will be present in the extracted liquid. Botanical extracts for cosmetic use may, however, be prepared which are either alcohol soluble or oil soluble depending upon the solvent used during the process of extracting the plant material.

Variable ways are available for obtaining access to the liquid of the living plant cell, the most common being the crushing process, (to rupture the cell walls), followed by solvent extraction to dilute and thus leach out the contained liquid. The liquid thus obtained is clarified and, where necessary, preservatives and stabilisers are added.