Distillers are ordinarily associated with the making of whiskey, vodka and other liquors in which alcohol is distilled from a . Another use of distillers is the separation of aromatic scents and oils from flowers used in perfumes and other fragrances. Distilling fragrance works on the same principle as distilling alcohol.
Distillation Basics
When alcohol is distilled, a fermented mash or other source of alcohol is heated to boiling. The alcohol rises as steam that is condensed by passing it through coils. If the mash is made of barley, the condensed steam is whiskey; if fermented grapes are distilled, it is brandy, and so on.
In distilling flowers, the fragrance, like alcohol, is lighter than water. Steam is passed through dried flowers. The steam picks up the essential oils that give the flowers their distinctive fragrance. When condensed, this steam comes out as hydrosol, or aromatic flower water.
About Hydrosol
Hydrosol contains about five percent essential oils. Flower water is mild and subtle, suitable as body perfume or facial splash.
Aromatic oils are obtained by putting hydrosol through a clear-glass separating filter with a valve at the bottom.
The fragrance yielded from hydrosol depends on the flower. Lavender flowers are often used. Roses are good. Virtually any flower with a nice aroma can be used.
The Still
Distilling flowers requires three glass laboratory flasks for a small still or larger containers for a more ambitious project.
The first flask holds water that's boiled to provide steam. The second contains dried flowers. The third receives the hydrosol.
These flasks are separated by glass or flexible plastic tubing that carries the steam from the boiling flask to the flask with the dried flowers and from there to the flask that receives the condensed hydrosol.
Seperating
To separate essential oils, or pure fragrance, put the distilled hydrosol into the separating funnel and carefully drain it.
The water in hydrosol is heavier than the essential oils. When the lighter oils get to the bottom, close the valve.
The yield of essential oil is small. Four ounces of dried flowers will give about two milliliters of pure fragrance.
Plans and Supplies
Plans for simple stills can be obtained from the Internet. You can buy the glass flasks, stoppers, tubing and separating funnels necessary for a modest distiller from a store that sells laboratory supplies. You also can buy them on the Internet.
Tags: dried flowers, essential oils, alcohol distilled, fermented mash, pure fragrance