Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Extract Oil From Plants
How to Extract Oil From Plants. Essential oil is a valued component of plants. It is used in cosmetics, aromatherapy and medicine. Pressurized stem extracts the volatile plant oils. The steam then cools into a liquid that contains both essential oil and the water used to extract it. This process, known as "distilling," is the same procedure used to...
Essential oil is a valued component of plants. It is used in cosmetics, aromatherapy and medicine. Pressurized stem extracts the volatile plant oils. The steam then cools into a liquid that contains both essential oil and the water used to extract it. This process, known as "distilling," is the same procedure used to make distilled alcoholic beverages.
Things You'll Need
Distilling equipment
Medium size container
Harvest plant material right before beginning the distillation process, to ensure it is at its freshest. Plants that sit after harvesting and before extracting essential oils can become desiccated and some of the essential oils can evaporate.
Fill the still approximately half full with plain water.
Place plant materials in the "steam" basket of the still. The steam basket sits above the liquid, similar to a kitchen steamer for vegetables. Fill the steamer with the plant materials but do not pack them in tightly.
Place a receptacle under the outlet valve of the still to catch and hold the resulting liquid, which is a mixture of water and distilled plant oil. The oil will rise to the top and you can skim it off and separate it from the distilling water.
Put the still together, following the directions and procedures relative to your particular model.
Turn on the heat source. Allow the still to extract the oil from the plant materials.
Tips & Warnings
Carefully and thoroughly follow all instructions, directions and recommendations of the manufacturer of your distilling equipment.
