The Art and Science of Essential Oil Distillation and Herbal Preparations

Steam Distillation

Most essential oils are made through steam distillation. This distillation process turns these pure molecules into a vapor that is then condensed back into liquid form.

This is how that process works: the appropriate plant matter (herbs, roots, berries, or flowers) is put in a large stainless steel or glass container that has holes in the bottom. Steam from boiling water in a furnace below the alembic rises up through the holes, moves through the herbs, and collects the aromatic plant molecules. Then the steam moves up through tubes at the top of the pot into a condenser. The steam is cooled and condensed into a liquid called a hydrosol (in the distillation of rose essential oil for example, the remaining hydrosol is more familiarly known as rosewater). The essential oils are collected off the top of the hydrosol.

Cold Pressed

This is the simplest and purest method for creating oils from the peel of a fruit, especially citrus oils. The whole fruit is put in a mechanism that makes thousands of micro-pierces in the peel to rupture the cells that contain the aromatic oils. Then the whole fruit is pressed to release the juice and the oils. This lovely liquid is centrifuged to separate the fruit solids, juices, and oil. The oil is siphoned off the top into another container.

Extraction Distillation

Extraction style distillation uses a solvent to help release the aromatic molecules from the plant material. An extraction method is generally reserved for aromatic essences that cannot successfully release their essence through steam distillation, such as vanilla, myrrh, carnation, tuberose, jasmine, tonka bean, and lilac. There are a few types of extraction, and the most common are CO2 and absolute.

Absolute Extraction

Some delicate plants produce a very low yield with steam distillations yet the process of absolute extraction with hexane as the solvent can pull more of the essences out of the plant. In this process, delicate flowers are arranged on a wire mesh or a perforated tray and then washed with the solvent. The solvent dissolves part of the plant material leaving behind a waxy substance. This waxy stuff is mixed with alcohol and then strained. The essential oils stay in the alcohol. All of the hexane is removed after the distillation process, and it is even recycled and used again and again.

Although absolute oils used food grade hexane and are available to the food and flavor industries, we like to use absolutes solely for their exquisite use in perfumery and diffusion.

Nadine Artemis

Founder of Living Libations

Nadine Artemis, the founder of Living Libations, is the author of Holistic Dental Care: The Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums, and Renegade Beauty: Reveal and Revive Your Natural Radiance, which was named one of “The Top 10 Books on Skin Care” by The Strategist of New York Magazine. She is a respected media guest and contributor, and her products have received rave reviews in the New York Times, LA Times, Elle, People, Vogue, and Hollywood Reporter. Described by Alanis Morissette as “a true-sense visionary,” Nadine crafts elegant formulations and healing creations from rare botanicals that have skin glowing around the world. Her concept of Renegade Beauty encourages effortlessness and inspires people to rethink conventional notions of beauty and wellness.