Essential oils are highly concentrated oils that are extracted from aromatic plants, such as lavender and rosemary. There are around 700 different types of plants that contain useful essential oils and numerous extraction methods - the most common being distillation. Although they are expensive products to buy, their home distillation is quite inexpensive.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Essential Oil Distiller
Step 1. Buy a still
While it is quite difficult to find them in stores (unless there is a specialist retailer nearby), stills are widely available online. However, be aware that they could be expensive - typically the price is around 200 euros. If you plan on making large quantities of essential oils, professional equipment is a great investment.
Step 2. If you don't want to buy one, build it yourself
In this case, you can unleash your creativity, as there are thousands of different designs and many are handcrafted even nowadays. The essential elements are:
- A source of heat, usually an open flame;
- A pressure cooker;
- A glass tube with a diameter of 10 mm;
- A tub of cold water to lower the temperature and trigger the condensation of the steam flow that flows in the glass tube;
- A separator that separates the essential oil from other materials that must not be present in the final product.
Step 3. Choose glass and stainless steel components if possible
Do not use a plastic tube to replace the glass one, as it may alter the quality of the oil. Some plants react adversely to copper; however, you can always use this metal as long as it is heavily plated. You can also opt for aluminum, but not when distilling cloves, Canada tea, and other oils that contain phenols.
Step 4. Bend the hose so it can pass through the cooling system
You will heat the plant material in the pressure cooker and the emitted steam will be channeled through the tube. You must be able to cool this vapor to liquid by immersing it in cold water or an ice bath. Depending on the object you used to create the cooling system, you will need to shape the pipe into various shapes. For example, if you are using a simple bowl, you will need to shape it to form a spiral so that it can rest on the bottom of the bowl. If, on the other hand, you have opted for a bucket full of ice, you have to fold it at 90 ° so that it can descend from the opening of the container and exit from a hole made in the bottom.
Step 5. Connect the hose to the pressure cooker valve
Use a small piece of flexible tubing that fits snugly across both openings and has a diameter similar to that of the glass tube (10mm). You can secure the joint with a metal clamp available in every hardware store.
Make sure you have cut a segment of pipe that is long enough to bend. If not, it will stay straight, pointing towards the sky and you will have to bend it 90 ° to direct it towards the cooling system
Step 6. Run the glass tube into the cooling pan
If you are using an open bowl, arrange the tube so that the entire spiral rests snugly against the bottom of the bowl. When you fill the tray with cold water or ice, the spiral should be completely submerged. If you have decided to use a bucket, drill a hole in the bottom so that the tube can exit the ice bath. Seal the hole with silicone or epoxy putty to prevent water from escaping and wetting the workstation.
Step 7. Place the open end of the glass tube over the separator
When the distilled product drips into the separator, this tool will do the rest of the work: it will retain all the unnecessary material and let only the essential oil pass through.
Step 8. Verify that all equipment is supported securely
Depending on the tools you have chosen to use and the shape of the tube, you will have to work a little to find a stable and safe arrangement for each component of the still. Put the lid on the pressure cooker (with the tube connected), pass the glass tube through the cooling system and place the separator under the open end of the conduit. Make sure that the angle of the condenser is adequate and that nothing can be hit.
Part 2 of 3: Prepare the Plant Material
Step 1. Choose when to collect the material
The amount of oil present in a plant depends on the phase of the life cycle in which the plant is found, so it is essential to harvest each plant species at the right time. You need to do some research to figure out when to harvest the plants you want to distill. For example, lavender should be taken when about half of the flowers have wilted. Rosemary, on the other hand, should be harvested when in full bloom.
Step 2. Harvest the plants correctly
You must inform yourself about the collection techniques, just like you did to know the right timing. By handling the material carelessly, picking up the wrong parts or even just at the least suitable time of the day, you can reduce the quantity and quality of essential oils. For example, you need to use only the apical bloom of rosemary to extract its oil. Discard the rest of the plant or use it in another way.
Most essential oils are contained in the plant's oil glands, veins and trichomes - all very fragile structures. If you disturb or break them during harvest, you will get less oil. Handle plant material very carefully and as little as possible
Step 3. If you have decided to buy plants, be very picky
When you buy ready-made plant material, you do not have the possibility to check the techniques with which it was collected. Choose those plants that look healthy, without any damage, and ask the seller when they were taken from the field. Generally, whole plant material (not crushed or pulverized) is best.
Although the distillation process removes many impurities, pesticides and herbicides can contaminate the oil. It's best to use organic plants, regardless of whether you buy them or grow them yourself
Step 4. Dry the plant material
This operation reduces the amount of oil present in each plant, but greatly increases the amount you can extract from each batch because it allows you to process more material at a time. Drying should be done slowly and out of direct sunlight. Plants you can purchase, such as lavender and mint, are sometimes left to dry in the field for a day or so after harvest.
- The ideal drying method varies by plant, but in general you should avoid exposing the plant material to excessive heat. The process done in the shade or even in a dark room minimizes oil loss.
- Keep plants from getting wet before distillation by processing them as soon as possible after drying them.
- You can also decide not to dry them if you prefer to skip this step.
Part 3 of 3: Distilling the Essential Oil
Step 1. Pour the water into the tank or rim of the still
If you are using craft equipment, the tank is the pressure cooker. Use clean water; in theory, it should be filtered or distilled and with as little limestone as possible. If you bought a still, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Either way, be sure to use enough water to complete the process. Depending on the type and quantity of plant material, the distillation could last from thirty minutes to six hours and more, starting with the boiling of the water.
Step 2. Add the plant material to the water
Try to fill the tank completely. As long as you have enough water that doesn't overflow during boiling, you can also compact the plants. However, make sure they do not obstruct the passage of steam through the pressure cooker lid valve. Leave about 5 cm of margin.
You do not have to break or prepare the plants in any other way, otherwise you will lose some of the oil contained
Step 3. Bring the contents of the pressure cooker to a boil
Seal the lid so that the steam can only escape through the hose you connected to the valve. Most plants release oil when it reaches 100 ° C - the normal boiling point of water.
Step 4. Check the still
After some time, the distillate should begin to flow through the condenser and separator. The process shouldn't require any intervention on your part, but you need to make sure the water in the pressure cooker doesn't run out. Depending on the duration of the distillation, it may be necessary to change the water in the cooling system. When the glass tube heats it, you need to replace it with cold water or add ice to allow the condensation process to continue.
Step 5. Filter the oil you collected (optional)
Once the distillation is finished, you can decide to filter the product through a cheesecloth or similar fabric, made of cotton and dry. Make sure the cloth is dry and clean, as detergent residues and dirt can contaminate the oil.
Don't feel disappointed if you only get a very small amount of essential oil from a lot of plant material. The percentage yield varies according to the species of the plant, but is always lower than a beginner can imagine
Step 6. Quickly pour the oil into a storage container
Most essential oils last at least one or two years, but others only last for a very short time. To be able to use the oil as long as possible, keep it in a dark glass bottle or stainless steel container. Use a clean funnel to transfer the oil and make sure the container is also intact before proceeding. Finally, store the latter in a dark and cool place.
- Decide what to do with the hydrosol. The material that has remained in the separator is called hydrosol and it is the distilled water in which the scent of the plant has been infused.
- Some of these hydrosols, such as rose or lavender, can also be used alone.
- If you don't want to keep it, you can pour it back into the still for immediate distillation of the next batch of plant material or you can throw it away.
Advice
Essential oils are extremely concentrated and it is generally recommended to dilute them in a carrier oil before applying them to the skin. The most used is that of almonds, but others can also be used. The carrier oils must be added during the bottling phase or mixed with the pure essential oils just before application. Usually, the second method is preferred, because in some cases it is useful to have pure oil; moreover, the carrier oil is kept shorter
Warnings
- Most essential oils should not be ingested, especially if in pure form. Many need to be diluted for topical application as well. Additionally, some of these extracts are toxic. Consult the links you find in the article for more information.
- Most of the flowers must be distilled immediately, immediately after harvest, skipping the drying phase.
- Don't distill a batch of plant material for too long (check recommendations for specific plant); While you can get larger amounts of oil this way, there is a risk of contaminating it with unwanted chemicals.
- If the plant is of biological origin, it does not mean that it has not been treated with pesticides or fertilizers, but rather that the products used are not of synthetic origin. However, some organic fertilizers and pesticides are more toxic than synthetic ones. Try to get the material from a local farmer who can give you all the information about his cultivation techniques.
- When drying the plant, you should be careful that the material does not become contaminated with earth, dust or other substances, as the quality of the oil will be affected and the oil itself may become unusable.
