How Are Essential Oils Extracted?
There are three commonly used methods of extraction, steam distillation, expression and solvent extraction. In steam distillation plant parts are exposed to steam. The high heat of the steam causes the essential oil to evaporate from the plant. When the vapor is cooled, the condensation of the oil and water is produced. Since oil and water do not mix they are fairly easy to separate. Expression is exclusively for extracting citrus oils. Citrus oils are heat sensitive to the extent that steam distillation would damage them. The outer colored parts of the peel hold oil in “pockets.” These pockets secrete the oil from within when pressed either by hand or machine, though machine pressing is much more practical. The entire process is done at room temperature thereby not damaging the oil and giving validity to the term “cold pressing.” Flowers that may not be able to withstand the pressure of cold pressing are soaked in a spirit solvent that extracts the essence, this is known as solvent ex
