I was lucky on Saturday to be able to attending the demonstration at Pearl Farmer’s Market. Imagine Lavender Farms in Vanderpool, Texas (visit them at Imagine Lavender Farm) distilled lavender. Not only that but she gave a mini class on essential oils. She spoke of how the essential oils were the life force of the plants.

Essential oils are distilled in a variety of manners. I learned all this when I became an aromatherapist. Some are cold pressed, some are even solvent distracted. The most preferred method is steam distillation. If a plant will give up their essential oil in this method it is used. Steam distillation does not over heat the plant matter. Boiling water and steam only reach a temperature of 212′ Fahrenheit. Essential oils are very volatile and should not be exposed to high temperatures if it can be avoided.

The one thing that she said at the beginning of the class was, “you will never be so excited to see water drip.” That is the processes of steam distillation. As the steam rises through the plant matter it keeps rising and takes the essential oil with it. It then goes through a length of extraction chambers. This is where the steam is cooled. At the end of the pipe you can watch the essential oil and the hydrosol drip out. Hydrosol is the water left from the processes. The essential oil will remain on the top and can be separated out.

Watching the demonstration almost made me want a still of my own, until she told a story. She said that once she had put in 55 gallons of plant matter and only gotten 5 oz of essential oil. She also stated that was good for that type of lavender. Many plants have very little essential oil. The thing is, what they have is worth it. Rose and Jasmine absolute can be the same way. That is why the real stuff is so very expensive.

I was always told that patience is a virtue. I guess that applies to watching water and essential oil drip and growing lavender.