Essential oils have been used since ancient times for various culinary and therapeutic purposes. In today’s modern world, essential oils find extensive use in aromatherapy for the treatment of several disorders and ailments. These essential oils are the main tools of the aromatherapists worldwide. These essential oils are extracted from various herbs, shrubs, flowers, seeds, roots, and a number of plants that unique medicinal properties. Since the yields of essential oils are very small and the cost involved in the process of extraction is so high, most of these oils are very expensive.
The methods used for extraction of essential oils are listed below:
- Steam distillation process
- Cold pressing process
- Solvent extraction process
- Maceration method.
Though the process used for the extraction of essential oils depends upon the plant being used for extracting the oil, the steam distillation method is most commonly and popularly used as it gives optimum and uncontaminated yield.
Essential oils distillation is done by using the essential oil distillation equipment. The equipment is referred to as an essential oil distiller. An essential oil distiller mainly consists of a still with two small openings in which the source material is placed and saturated steam is made to pass through this material at a very high pressure. The heat of the steam makes the oil evaporate from the plant material. The vapors of the essential oil mixed with steam are forced to come out from the small opening provided at the top or side of the essential oil distiller which is then collected through a pipe. This pipe water is cooled which condenses the essential oil vapors and the steam. The essential oil floats on the surface of water. Now this oil is carefully separated from top of the water bath.
Distilling essential oils from the parent plants is not easy and it requires a lot of effort and time. The essential oil obtained by steam distillation method is in its purest form with all its culinary, medicinal, and aromatic properties retained to the fullest.
If you are a do-it-yourself enthusiast, you can extract the essential oils from plants and herbs of your choice which are easily available in your area. For this, you will need to get your hands on the required essential oil extraction equipment. However, while handling the essential oil you need to be very careful as most essential oils are very strong in nature.