STEAM DISTILLATION                                   [home]   [topic page]

Live steam is pushed through a vat of herbs. This strips volatiles from the surface of the herb where they are collected by condensation at the top of the vat. They may then pass into a separator which relies simply on differences in density to separate. The oils either float to the top or settle to the bottom. If the densities are similar, they may be centrifuged.

The final essential oil, to be of highest quality, must have only the molecules of the essence required with no solvent nor heat changed molecules. Samples must therefore be checked using infrared spectrometry, gas chromatography and other techniques for composition.