Is steam distillation the best method of extraction?
Not necessarily. As technology improves, many new techniques become available. These methods produce wonderful essential oils with fragrances almost identical to those in the plant. One of the drawbacks with steam is that heat will affect the fragile plant components as well as the end product. In addition to volatile compounds, steam distillation also produces small amounts of non-volatile compounds. This is why an essential oil might not smell identical to the plant. Some plants are far too fragile to be steam distilled and must be distilled by other methods, often using solvents.
