Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for medicinal, ceremonial and personal use, and are still used in today. Many people wonder how the essential oils are extracted, and question whether they can extract the oils themselves. Some methods of extracting essential oils involve complex processes, and others you can do at home.
Steam Distillation
Steam distillation uses steam to envelop the flowers or plant material, such as rose petals or herb leaves, which causes the fragrant chemicals in the flowers or plants to become vaporized from the cellulose. Once the chemicals are separated, the mixture is cooled slowly. During the cooling process, the chemicals from the flowers and plants are condensed into oil, and the water vapors from the steam condenses into water. This successfully separates the oil from the water. The result is a purified essential oil that isolates the strongest fragrant chemical in the plant or flower. The steam distillation method of extracting essential oils is the traditional method.
Carbon Dioxide Extraction
Carbon dioxide extraction, also referred to as supercritical CO2 extraction, is a relatively new extraction process. It involves forcing carbon dioxide molecules into the flower or plant material, and the separating them again. During the separation process, an essential oil is produced that contains a larger variety of fragrant chemicals from the flowers or plants it was extracted from. This process is the most difficult and requires access to laboratory equipment and carbon dioxide gas. Carbon dioxide extraction produces a higher-quality essential oil whose scent is richer and more complex.
Expression
Expression is a basic form of extracting essential oils that is usually reserved for citrus fruits. It does not require any special devices or heating, and you can do it at home. The peel of a citrus fruit is roughened up, and then pressed or squeezed to release the essential oils. The oils are collected into a bottle. To get a visual of the expressive powers of citrus fruit, bend the peel of a citrus fruit backward in the light, which causes the release of the oils from the peel. The expression of essential oils from citrus fruits requires little preparation and a gives a more raw form of essential oil.
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