Extraction Methods

The Egyptians were the first to distil plants in an effort to extract essential oils. Since then methods of extraction have evolved and diversified.

Essential oils may be obtained from various parts of the plant: petals, roots, shoots, plant sap, leaves or bark. Depending on the type of plant in question the essential oil molecules may be located in different parts of the plant and so the extraction methods would also vary.

Essential oils are characteristically volatile, that is they evaporate rapidly when exposed to air and are insoluble in water. Extracting essential oils before they evaporate can be tricky. Various methods of extraction exist. The more industrial methods are rather elaborate but home made methods of extraction can allow you to extract your very own essential oils.

Distillation: is undoubtedly the easiest and least expensive method of extraction which continues to be used by the most prestigious perfume houses for the extraction essential oils. The essential oils are vaporised in alembic pots and then finally condensed back to liquid. There are various options for distillation besides the traditional alembic or alquitar with which you can create your very own heavenly scent to infuse your mind and body with positive energy. Any of the following distillation units are suitable for essential oil extraction:

- Distillation appliance stills
- Alquitars (riveted union)
- Rotating column alembic
- Alembic (riveted union)
- Portuguese Arrastre de Vapor distilling system