How are Essences Made?
The simplest method for collecting essences, often these days called ‘the sunlight method’, is by floating flowers on the surface of a bowl of spring water, in sunlight, for several hours. The resulting liquid (the ‘mother’ essence) is then preserved in brandy or vodka. Dilution of this ‘mother’ essence is simple, without succession: 1-7 drops are diluted further to create ‘stock’ essences and sometimes diluted further in the same way, to create ‘dosage’ strength. Essence bottles are sometimes shaken 10-20 times before use or dilution. Laboratory testing on ‘mother’ essences can find no physical trace of the source material.
The simplest method for collecting essences, often these days called ‘the sunlight method’, is by floating flowers on the surface of a bowl of well water, in sunlight, for several hours. The resulting liquid (the ‘mother’ essence) is then preserved in brandy or vodka. Dilution of this ‘mother’ essence is simple, without succession: 1-7 drops are diluted further to create ‘stock’ essences and sometimes diluted further in the same way, to create ‘dosage’ strength. Essence bottles are sometimes shaken 10-20 times before use or dilution. Laboratory testing on ‘mother’ essences can find no physical trace of the source material.
