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Essential oils are used in lotions, creams, aromatherapy and perfumes and in many more products where pleasant aromas are needed. Several methods are used to extract essential oils from plant material and flowers. There is only a small amount of essential oil in the plant therefore a considerable amount of plant material is used to make a small quantity of oil. More than 100 pounds is usually required to make an ounce of essential oil. Some plants are also too delicate to use any of the cheaper methods and longer and more labor intensive ways must used. Essential oils may be very expensive although they are concentrated. Most recipes merely require a few drops so a small bottle will more than likely last for a many months or years.
Extraction by Steam Distillation
This method is the usual method for the majority of essential oil manufacture. Steam under pressure is passed through flowers or other plant material that have been placed on mesh screens inside a still. The oils enter the steam which then enters another compartment and cooled. After condensing the oil floats to the top of the water where it is easily removed. The water left behind is referred to as floral water and can be used since it contains small amounts of the oil. It can be used for mists and toners. Floral water is able to be used by those who are hypersensitive to essential oils as it is less concentrated.
Solvent Extraction
For plants and flowers too delicate to use steam extraction, solvent extraction is often used. In this method a solvent is passed through the flowers on mesh trays, repeatedly. The esential oils, together with some other soluble substances, dissolve in the solvent which is filtered and then distilled under low pressure to take off the solvent. The material left, called a concrete, is a waxy solid containing the essential oils and waxes and pigments from the plants. Further processing is then carried out to extract the oils and waxes from the concrete. The concrete is used in perfumes and the waxes are used in candle making and in creams and lotions.
Enfleurage
For plants and flowers that have only extremely low percentages of essential oils, such as jasmine, a different process needs to be employed. Flowers are placed into odourless vegetable oil and left for a few days before being replaced by fresh material. This process is repeated until the oil is thoroughly soaked with the oils from the plant material. The essential oils are extracted with alcohol from the vegetable oil. On evaporation of the alcohol the uncontaminated essential oil is left behind. This procedure is time consuming and uses a large amount of plant material and the resulting oil is very expensive.
Cold Pressing
A few oils, for example citrus oil, in which the oil is extracted from fruit, use a procedure known as cold pressing. This entails rolling the fruit between projections with spikes which puncture the skin and then the fruit is squeezed to extract the juice containing oils. The juice is then centrifuged to separate and collect the oil.
Extraction using Carbon Dioxide
In this process carbon dioxide is used to remove the essential oil. The gas is pumped into a compartment that contains the plant material. When the pressure is increased the carbon dioxide becomes liquid and now acts as a solvent. The carbon dioxide is then let into a further chamber and the pressure released. The gas vapourises which leaves behind the essential oil.
Because no residues are left the extract is very pure and has a fresh aroma. Since a much lower temperature is used than for steam distillation, oil can be extracted from fragile flowers and plants that are destroyed by steam distillation.
For more information and lots more craft and hobby ideas please visit us at Easy Craft Ideas or Essential Oil Recipes
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