| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Naomi |
Extracting oilsHi ,I am really interested in using some of my herbs and plants as scenting agents or therapeutic oils in my own household or bathroom products . So I wondered if there was a simple way that I could extract oil from rosemary ,for example ,at home? The resulting oils would only be for my personal use and not for sale . Can anyone help? |
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| sally_in_wales |
Its pretty impractical to distil oils at home unless you literally have acres of the stuff. However, infused oils are simple to make and will have a lot of the aroma and volatile oil content of the original plants. Choose your base oil with care, as some go rancid quickly, but basically you bruise the herb, put it in a sterilised jar, cover in oil, put the lid on and either stand in the sun for a few days or in a bain marie for a few hours. Shake frequently, strain out the herbs and replace with fresh herbs. Usually about three changes of herbs will give an oil with a respectable content of volatile oils and scent.
Bottle in a dark jar and use according to your needs! I have distilled floral waters successfully at home, but essential oils take too much raw material 
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| dpack |
steam distillation is fairly simple ,a yeild of a few percent from raw to oil is pretty good though .
as above infusions are good . |
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| Stacey |
Didn't someone on ACL used to be an expert in it and do it at home? I seem to remember a post a couple of years ago about how much it stank
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| Naomi |
Thanks for the advice everyone .
I will go search the archives of ACL to see if I can find that info Stacey. Thanks again. |
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| Blue Peter |
You've just missed this course:
http://www.lowimpact.org/courseoutlineessentialoils.htm which sounded interesting, Peter. |
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| tahir |
D'you mind sticking that up in the Whats On section too Peter 
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| Bugs |
There was an article several years ago in Country Living about getting oil from lavender, involving something terrifying with kettles, rubber piping and ice cubes (at least I think it was Country Living, not a specialist publication TD gave me for an anniversary or something). I think we might have discussed it here before and Sally said something similar about it probably not being very effective?
I might have sent the article itself to Wellington Womble, I shall prod her later if she doesn't turn up of her own accord. |
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| Blue Peter |
But it's not on, now. Peter. |
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| tahir |
Has it been cancelled? |
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| tahir |
Whoops, OK let you off 
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| gnome |
have you got a condenser? it'll help if you have. I found a bit about using condensers to make essential oils in a book about alchemy of all things. | ||||
| oddballdave |
Re: Extracting oils
Different oils are dissolved in different ways so you can:- Dissolve in water (boil the herbs, gently) Dissolve in alcohol Steam the herbs and distill the condensate. Cold press the herbs to squeeze out the oils. Masceration or Infusion. Some of these techniques require distillation equipment, some produce oil which is to be used immediately. Others are really only for flavouring. If you can get the use of a still, then Lavender, Rosemary, Mint and Citrus peel can all be distilled in pure water. The condensate will be a water oil mix which separates out after a couple of hours. Keep everything clean, and good luck. Dave Occasional Aromatherapist |
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| Naomi |
Thanks Dave.
Where will I find the info about which method I use to extract the various oils from the different herbs? I haven't got a condenser or still. Can I make a still? Or maybe I should stick to making infusions? |
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| dpack |
a steam source , some heat proof pipe , a closed container with an in and an out , a cooler around the out pipe the cooled liquid out is collected in a pot .
that will do the steam distallation some oils seperate from the distillate , some need persuading by other means . beware of fire risks
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| wellington womble |
I don't think you did (could be though - it might be under a book somewhere!) However I do have a book, which suggests an emanel kettle, connected to a plastic pipe run thorhough a bowl of ice on a stool and a bowl to catch the drips on the floor, will produce quite a lot of nice flower water, and a little oil. I meant to make the water, and regard any oil as a bonus (and proably leave it the water for making cream) but I couldn't find an enamel kettle that wouldn't bankrupt me (why does it have to be enamel?!) Don't prod me - I've had a rough week! 2nd G and T on its way to keep the first company! |
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| sally_in_wales |
You can make lovely floral waters using a basic still like my medieval replica one below, but mostly its just a problem of quantity. To get oil you nees a lot of raw material, whearas to get a floral water just a handful will do | ||||
| wellington womble |
Looks a lot prettier than the plastic tubing I nabbed out of himselfs tool store!
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