Essential oils

Lavender oil
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Essential oils, also known as volatile oils or ethereal oils, are oils that are 'essential' in the sense that it carries an essence, a distinctive scent, of the plant or fruit.There is no fixed purpose for an essential oil. It can be used for various reasons; the most favoured being the pharmacological branch, but also the medical or the culinary.

There are three common methods to produce essential oils:
I. Distillation
▪ Water: The plant material is placed in boiling water. The steam is captured and the oils are then separated from the water.
▪ Water and steam: Steam and water are pushed around and through the plant material. The steam is then captured and the oils are then separated from it.
▪ Steam: Steam is pushed straight through the plant material and the oils are then separated from the water.

II. Expression
▪ Cold-pressed: The oils are taken from the peels of fruit by being pressed at the lowest possible temperature. Because of this method, these oils are not technically considered essential oils.

III. Extraction
▪ Solvent: The oils are produced through a process which involves chemicals.

I use distillation.

What's needed:
▪ A still
▪ A heat source
▪ Water
▪ Harvested plant material
▪ Storage containers (flasks)

The basic steps:
▪ Have a recipe ready
▪ Harvest the needed plant materials
▪ It's optional to dry the plant materials
▪ Prepare the still
▪ Add water to the still
▪ Add the plant materials
▪ Close the still and start to heat it
▪ Hold watch over the process
▪ Filter the oils
▪ Pour the essential oils in a storage container

Sources:
www.experience-essential-oils.com
www.makeessentialoils.net