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Sylvia Rose

Steam Distilling Floral & Herbal Essential Oils

Updated: Oct 30

Distilling essential oil can be used for aromatherapy, in cuisine, beauty, healing or to set a mood. Here's the methodology to capture the aromatic florals from rose, lavender, sage and other flowers and herb.



steamy roses
Steamy Rose

What is Steam Distillation?


Steam distillation is a separation process using steam to extract volatile aromatic compounds from plant material. The process works by passing steam through the plant material, causing the essential oils to evaporate.


The steam and oil mixture is then cooled, allowing the essential oil to condense and separate from the water. For citrus the cold-press technique is better citrus oils. The essential oils are in the peel. Resin oils, alternately, are separated with solvents as resin melts when heated.



Small distillation setup
Small distillation setup under $200 online

Distillation separates components of a mixture based on differences in their boiling points. In aromatherapy, the most common method is steam distillation, where steam is passed through plant material to vaporize the essential oils.


Materials


  1. Distillation Apparatus: Distillation kits can be found online or assembled at home using a pot with lid; a heat-proof bowl; a heat source and ice.

  2. Fresh Plant Material: Choose your desired type: floral petals, resinous materials or citrus peels.

  3. Water: Distilled or purified as desired.

  4. Ice: For creating condensation, if required.



fragrant petals

Distilling Floral Essential Oils


Floral essential oils, such as lavender, rose, and chamomile, are best extracted through steam distillation due to the delicate nature of the flowers. The aromatic compounds are in the petals.


Simmering rose or other flower petals also makes a fragrant rose water or hydrosol. Rose water is used for scent, a soft perfume; beautiful skin, health and even cuisine.



flower basket
Flower Basket

Distillation Ingredients:


  • Fresh or dried flower petals (lavender, rose, chamomile)

  • Water


Prepare Lab Distillation Setup or put a pot of water on the stove. Set the heat-resistant bowl inside the pot, making sure it floats above the water.


Add Flowers: Fill the water with flower petals. Cover with a lid turned upside down. The lid should cover the pot, with the inverted end over the empty bowl. Fill the lid with ice to speed condensation.



This is rowdy ice. Better just get it from the freezer.
This is rowdy ice. Better just get it from the freezer.

As the water heats to boiling, the vapors containing both water (hydrosol) and essential oils condense on the inverted lid. The liquids run down the lid into the bowl. They can be separated as the oils cool and float on top of the hydrosol


Collection: After 30-60 minutes of steam distillation, collect the liquid from the bowl. The oil will typically rise to the top and can be separated.



Several distillations may be needed to collect this much
Yarrow oil is a lovely deep blue

With the lab setup the oils should travel through a condensing tube as vapor, condense and drain into a collector vessel such as a measuring beaker or jar.


Safety Precautions


  • Always work in a well-ventilated area.

  • Use caution when handling hot equipment to avoid burns.

  • Ensure your workspace is clean to prevent contamination of the essential oil.

  • Beware of unscrupulous online lab equipment vendors


The time varies but can take several hours. The plant material can be restocked as necessary during the process.



patience is important
Worth the Wait

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