Does anyone have any experience in this?
I decided to have a go with orange peel to try and distil orange oil.... I understood that in the distillate the oil would float on the water, and you pour it carefully off. Can't see anything floating... I can smell it though !
Steam distillation of essential oils
- doofaloofa
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Re: Steam distillation of essential oils
I worked on a lemon balm farm and helped load the cut herb into the boiler
It was my understanding that the oils evaporated and were condensed like you see in a whiskey still
It was my understanding that the oils evaporated and were condensed like you see in a whiskey still
ina wrote: die dümmsten Bauern haben die dicksten Kartoffeln
- Green Aura
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Re: Steam distillation of essential oils
Citrus essential oils aren't made by steam distillation - in fact they aren't true essential oils. They are made from a "concrete" and contain wax, which is why they are pretty much the only oils that have a really short shelf lie - about 12 months.
Doofaloofa - Melissa is one of the hardest essential oils to obtain. The plants give up such a small amount they're processed several times - hence true Melissa EO costing about £70 for 5ml!
Could you both try something desperate to give up its oil, like lavender or pine.
Doofaloofa - Melissa is one of the hardest essential oils to obtain. The plants give up such a small amount they're processed several times - hence true Melissa EO costing about £70 for 5ml!
Could you both try something desperate to give up its oil, like lavender or pine.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
- doofaloofa
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Re: Steam distillation of essential oils
Green Aura wrote: Doofaloofa - Melissa is one of the hardest essential oils to obtain. The plants give up such a small amount they're processed several times - hence true Melissa EO costing about £70 for 5ml!
thats what they said
ina wrote: die dümmsten Bauern haben die dicksten Kartoffeln
Re: Steam distillation of essential oils
I was going to try lemon balm last year but never got around to it (I have loads growing in the garden)... My lavender plants all died !
I was trying orange peel as a warm-up / practice.
I was trying orange peel as a warm-up / practice.
- doofaloofa
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Re: Steam distillation of essential oils
They had about 10 acres, i think, and only got a small bottle of oil, as Green Aura remarked
ina wrote: die dümmsten Bauern haben die dicksten Kartoffeln