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The following is part of the partial transcription of some practical operational meetings to explain the distillation of essential oils in the amateur sector and the possibility for everyone to produce an excellent essential oil themselves using the "steam current" extraction technique
The qualities of Essential Oils depend on many factors, including the extraction process, the state of ripeness, and conservation of the substance, its origin. The yield can vary from a percentage fraction up to 10%. To be fully effective the plants must come from soil suitable for the specific plant, have been harvested in the appropriate period, prepared and conserved with art. If this is not the case, failures are frequent. Such failures are often wrongly charged to others and not to inappropriate material.
Characteristics of Essential Oils
The boiling point of Essential Oils varies from 160° to 240°C. Essential Oils are stimulating products, used for internal or external use, sometimes pure, sometimes dissolved in alcohol or a suitable solvent. They are also perfumes. Most Essential Oils are lighter than water. There are, however, also heavier ones (garlic, bitter almond, cinnamon...). The latter present some operational difficulties in the grinding phase with the sole use of water. Essential Oils are generally fluid.
Adulterated Essential Oils
Essential Oils are often adulterated with alcohol and fixed oils. Those of lesser value and some synthetic ester oils are even adulterated with animal soap. There are numerous procedures that allow you to recognize adulterated Essential Oils.
Conservation of Essential Oils
It should be remembered that the conservation of Essential Oils requires well-stoppered bottles, and that they must be kept away from air and light (with coloured glass). It is important to avoid their oxidation, polymerization and resinification; phenomena that can happen if these precautions are not respected.
Yields
Here are, for some aromatic essences, the average quantities supplied per 100 kg of plants:
- Assenzio from 300g to 400g (Yield 0.3% - 0.4%)
- Eucalipto 3kg (Yield 3%)
- Ginepro from 500g to 1.200kg (Yield 0.5% - 1.2%)
- Lavanda 2.900kg (Yield 2.9%)
- Prezzemolo 300g (Yield 0.3%)
- Salvia from 1.400kg to 1.700kg (Yield 1.4% - 1.7%)
- Timo 200g (Yield 0.2%)
- Valeriana 950g (Yield 0.95%)
