How to Extract Essential Oils
Essential oils cover a vast array of aromatic products. Found mainly in plants, there are various methods
that are being used to extract these oils. In this article you will get a lot of information on how to extract
essential oils...
Essential oil is a general term used to define a large variety of aromatic products like essence oils,
resinoids, concretes, absolutes etc. The main aim of any of the extraction processes is to obtain the oils
from the aromatic essence molecules of a particular plant. These molecules are present in different parts
of each plant. Lavender oil is extracted from the lavender flower, orange is extracted from the rinds of the
fruit, cinnamon from the bark of the tree, pine from the needles of the pine tree and so on. Therefore, to
extract essential oils, a certain part of the plant is required.
Essential Oil Extraction Techniques
Basically, there are four methods used in the extraction of essential oils. The most commonly used ones
are discussed below:
Steam Distillation Process
This is the most popular, and at the same time, the oldest method to make essential oils. It is believed that
this method of extraction started as early as the 8th century. The reason behind the popularity of this
method is that many people opine that this method helps to extract the most superior quality of essential
oils. This method can be used to extract oil from roots, stems, seeds, leaves, and flowers. Essential oils for
aromatherapy are extracted with the help of this method.
For this method, two large containers are required. The first container holds steamed water and the raw
material from which the oil has to be extracted. This is then heated at a low pressure. Due to the
simmering heat, the oils are released into the water and change into vapor. The extracted oil is then
passed on to the second container through a vent. The cold water present in the second container
converts the vapor of the oil into liquid. Then the mixture of oil and water is made to pass through an
alembic so that the oil separates from water. Apart from the oils, you also get some other by-product at
the end of this process. Rose water, orange water, and lavender water is obtained after the floral
distillation process.
Enfleurage Process
This method is highly expensive and is used to extract essential oils from those flowers that are delicate
in nature like rose, jasmine, violet, etc. Here, a thick layer of vegetable oil is applied on a glass sheet which
is then placed on a wooden rack. Then the flower petals are kept on the glass and the glass is placed
under the sun. Due to the heat of the sun, the oil of the flowers gets extracted and mixes with the
vegetable oil. Once the vegetable oil gets saturated with the essential oil of the flower, the mixture is
dissolved in alcohol and left untouched. When the alcohol evaporates, the essential oil is obtained in its
purest form. Sometimes, animal fat is also used in place of vegetable oil.
Solvent Extraction Process
This is another method which is good for extracting oil from delicate flowers. For this process,
hydrocarbon solvents like petroleum ether are used. A metallic tray with perforations is used, on which
the flower petals are kept. Then the solvent is sprayed on them, which gets absorbed by the petals. As a
result, the essence of the flower gets released. Then alcohol is added to the concentrated essence. When
the alcohol dries up, the fatty substances are removed and the essential oil is left behind.
Maceration Process
This method is used not only for extraction of essential oils, but also to create resins. It is very similar to
the enfleurage process. Here, the raw materials are soaked in vegetable oil which is then heated
artificially to extort the oils from them. Then the vegetable oil is strained to get the oil. Essential oils
extracted in this way are often used for body massages. When instead of oil, other solvents like water or
alcohol are used for soaking the plant matter, then a thick extract or resinous substance is obtained at the
end of the process.
The quality of essential oil mainly depends on the method used to extract it. It also largely depends on the
quality and quantity of the raw materials used to extract essential oils. Good quality raw material can be
obtained if the soil is good and the plant is grown in a geographic location where the climatic condition is
suitable for the plant.
By Bidisha Mukherjee