STEAM DISTILLATION

Distillation is a process that involves separating a substance into its constituent parts based on its boiling points or volatility. This delicate and time-sensitive process requires the correct environment and careful attention to detail in order to protect the integrity of the essential oil’s complex chemical profile. The benefit of steam distillation is that it yields oils that are exceptionally clean and pure. It also allows for collection of temperature-sensitive compounds that may be damaged or altered by other collection processes.

In this method, steam is directed through plant material, which vaporises the lighter chemicals contained within the plants. To start the process, water is boiled and the resulting steam passes through the plant material. The steam carries the volatile aromatic compounds from the plant into a collecting tube, where the steam is cooled and condensed back into a liquid. This process generates two products: the essential oil, which contains lipid-soluble molecules, and hydrosol, which contains water-soluble molecules. These two products naturally divide into two distinct layers that can be separated.
Steam distillation requires careful control of time, temperature, and pressure. These conditions must be fine-tuned for each plant type.
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