How to - Origami

Essential oils are used in lotions, creams, aromatherapy and perfumes and in many more products where a nice smell is needed. A variety of methods are used to extract the essential oils from flowers and other plant material. Only a very small quantity of essential oil is in each flower so a considerable amount of plant material is used to produce a small quantity of oil. More than 100 pounds is usually required to produce an ounce of oil. A number of plants are also too delicate to use any of the easier techniques and labor intensive and time consuming methods must used. Essential oils are often very expensive but they are very concentrated. Most recipes merely use a few drops so a very small bottle may last for a very long time.

Extraction by Steam Distillation

This method is the usual method for the majority of essential oil manufacture. Steam that is under pressure is passed through flowers or other plant material that have been spread out on screens in a still. The oils are absorbed by the steam which then is lead to a different chamber where it is cooled down. As it condenses the oil floats to the top of the water where it is easily removed. The water remaining is known as floral water and is also used as it contains tiny quantities of the essential oil. It is used for toners and facial mists. Floral water can be used by people who are hypersensitive to essential oils because it is much less concentrated.

Solvent Extraction

For plants and flowers too delicate to use steam extraction, solvent extraction is often used. A solvent is repeatedly passed over the plant material on mesh trays. The oils, along with some other materials that are soluble, become absorbed by the solvent which is filtered and then distilled to remove the solvent. Concrete, the material produced, is a waxy solid containing the essential oils and waxes and pigments from the flowers. Further processes are then carried out to extract the waxes and oils from this concrete. The concrete itself can also be used as a perfume and the waxes are used in creams, lotions and for candle making.

Enfleurage

For those flowers and plants that have only extremely low levels of essential oils, for example jasmine, a different process needs to be used. Flowers are soaked in vegetable oil and left for a few days before being replaced by fresh material. This is repeated until the oil becomes thoroughly soaked with the oils from the plant material. The essential oils are extracted with alcohol from the vegetable oil. When the alcohol is evaporated the pure essential oil is left. This treatment takes many days and uses a large amount of plant material which makes the essential oil very expensive.

Cold Pressing

A few oils, for example citrus oil, where the oil is extracted from fruit, use a system known as cold pressing. In this method the fruit is rolled between spikes which pierce the peel and then the fruit is squeezed to extract the juice containing oils. The juice is then centrifuged to separate and collect the essential oil.

Extraction using Carbon Dioxide

In this system carbon dioxide is used to remove the oil. Carbon dioxide is pumped into a chamber containing the plant material or flowers. As the pressure increases the carbon dioxide becomes liquid and absorbs the essential oils. The gas is then passed into a further chamber and the pressure lowered. The carbon dioxide vapourises leaving the oils behind.

Because no impurities are left the oil is extremely pure and has a lovely, fresh perfume. As a lower temperature is used than for steam distillation, essential oil can be obtained from delicate flowers that are ruined by steam distillation.

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