Essential oil is a concentrated chemically active essence containing odorous substances from plant parts (fruits, leaves, bark, trunk, petals, etc.). Professional and amateur perfumers obtain essential oils in different ways, depending on the type of plant (squeezing for citrus fruits, obtaining from solution for some flowers, etc.). The most economical and popular method for producing essential oils is distillation.
Instructions
Step 1
Depending on the type of plant, start distilling immediately after harvest or after a few days when it is dry. Violation at this stage can lead to a change in the chemical composition of the plant and the future smell.
Step 2
Place the plant in an enamel pot of water, put it on gas and bring to a boil. You can substitute steam distillation for boiling. To do this, place the plant on a net above the pot; in both cases, construct a cooling tube above the pot that leads to a special cistern.
The plant cells will break down and release the essential oil. The steam will transfer the aroma into the container.
Step 3
After two to three hours, turn off the gas, wait for the steam to stop flowing into the tube and into the tank. Wait a few hours. When the mixture of water and oil in the tank has settled, the water-insoluble oil will either rise to the surface or sink to the bottom, depending on the ratio of its density to the density of water. Drain the water and transfer the oil to a dark glass container and leave in a cool, dark place.
Step 4
Squeeze the plant from which the oils have been extracted. The liquid from it can be used as eau de parfum.
