Essential Oil Extraction Process

Essential Oil Extraction Process  are the liquid extracts of aromatic plants. They have powerful therapeutic, fragrant, and healing properties. They are used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, and air fresheners. They are also used in aromatherapy and as natural medicines.

The extraction of essential oils is a complex process that relies on precise science and brilliant artistry. A single pound of formulation-ready patchouli requires 15 pounds of raw plant material.

Most essential oils are extracted using steam distillation, although there are other methods of extraction, such as cold pressing (using mechanical pressure to separate oil from citrus rinds) and solvent extraction. Solvent extraction uses a solvent, usually hexane, to dissolve the oils from plant material. The hexane is then evaporated, leaving behind the essential oil. This method is used for delicate, or low-oil producing plants.

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Steam Distillation
In steam distillation, a large stainless steel vessel holds the plant material. The steam from a boiler is introduced under the screen and the plant material is heated to a specific temperature, vaporizing the volatile compounds in the plant. The vapor rises through the condenser and is separated into two different vessels: the essential oil and a water-soluble vapor known as a hydrosol.

The essential oil is then filtered and bottled. The hydrosol can be diluted with water to create a hydrosol/essential oil blend or distilled again to produce pure, potent essential oil. Another extraction technique is CO2 extraction. CO2 extraction utilizes carbon dioxide under pressure, but without heat. This leaves the plant’s molecules more intact, resulting in an essential oil that is more closely related to the original plant than a distilled essential oil.