The oldest-known method for extraction and preservation of flower essences is known as enfleurage. This method, which involves pressing the flowers into some type of lard or oil, is used for delicate flowers whose scent cannot be preserved well using typical methods such as distillation or tincturing.
Delicate flowers such as lilac work well using this method. This is easy to do at home and the resulting product can be used in a variety of ways.
Lard is the typical fat used for this process, but a variety of oils can be used including the one I chose, organic cocoa butter. Cocoa butter can be added to a variety of homemade body products. Lilac infused cocoa butter will be the perfect addition to my goat milk soap I will be making soon.
The first step is to pick the lilac flowers early in the morning right after the dew has dried. Remove most of the stem.
Set up the double boiler, which is two pans, one set inside of the other, that is used to melt chocolate, oil, candle wax and a variety of other products that could burn or catch on fire easily if they were set directly on a stove burner. The pan on the bottom should be filled about half-full of water. The smaller pan which will set inside the larger one should contain the oil. I chose organic cocoa butter.
Bring the pan with the water to a rolling boil. Set the second pan containing the oil of choice inside the first pan. Keep an eye on it so it does not get too hot. As soon as the oil begins to melt, lower the heat and keep the oil stirred.
When the oil is melted, pour it into the pan you will be putting the flowers into. Begin filling the pan with the flowers.
You want the flowers completely submerged in the oil. To make sure they do not float on the oil when you are done, set a smaller glass pan inside the larger pan that contains the oil and flowers.
Be sure to remove the pan before the oil begins to dry or you may have a problem seperating the two. You can cover the pan with a lid or plastic wrap to keep debris out while the oil finishes hardening.
Allow this to sit for a few days to absorb the scent of the flowers. This process can take up to two weeks or longer. Keep removing the spent flowers and adding new ones as necessary until the oil takes on a strong enough scent to suit you.
Gently heat the oil back up if it has hardened, using the double boiler method. Stain the flowers using cheesecloth. Be sure to squeeze all the oil from the cheesecloth so you do not lose any scent.
You may use the product like this, or go one step further and make an absolute of essence.
To make an absolute of essence, soak the drained and scented hard oil in ethyl alcohol, which is pure wood or grain spirits. Allow the fat to soak for several days, then remove it.
The fat will be slightly scented and able to be used in bath and body products such as soap.
Do not cover the absolute. The alcohol will evaporate over time and the only thing left will be the absolute which can be used in aromatherapy, natural medicine or natural perfume making.
Filed under Enfleurage Extraction Methods by on Apr 17th, 2010. 3 Comments. 
Each herb, seed, bark, root or flower has a certain temperature where the plant begins to release its essential oil. Knowing what that temperature is and the best method of distillation for the plant material you are trying to distill is essential. This takes a bit of research on your part.
When bringing a still up to temperature, it is best to go slowly. It is hard to cool a still so by carefully watching the temperature and beginning to turn the heat setting back as you go, you will have more control over the end result.
It is best to use fresh cut herbs that have been harvested early in the morning as soon as the dew dries after a several day dry spell has occurred. This insures the maximum amount of oil. If their has been a drought that year you may find some plants such as lavender have more oil than on a year where there has been an abundance of water.
This chart will give you an idea at what point some herbs begin to release their oils or volatilize. Never heat your herbs past this point and try to maintain this temperature throughout the distillation process.
Marjoram and Oregano – 163 F (72 C)
Mints – 200 F (93 C)
Sage – 150 F (65 C)
Savory – 176 F (80 C)
Cinnamon Bark – 170 F to 212 F (76 C to 100 C)
Wintergreen – 218 F (103 C)
Filed under Distillation, Essential Oils by on Feb 1st, 2010. 1 Comment.
Floral waters, or hydrosols are great for the skin. Hydrosols help tone, rehydrate and rebalance the pH of skin. Fruit or floral waters can be used in a number of ways. The first way is as a face toner or refresher. Simply dab an organic cotton ball with some of the hydrosol and wipe your face. You can do this twice a day, everyday. You can add hydrosols to your bath water for a fragrant bath and an all over body refresher. You can also mist yourself with hydrosols. A gentle fragrance will be left behind. Be sure to keep floral waters out of your eyes.
Here are some good ones to try.
Calendula hydrosol is a good one to use for its therapeutic properties. It has
has anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, and astringent properties.
Lavender hydrosol is very relaxing and balancing.
Lemon balm hydrosol has a calming effect on mental stress and fatigue. It also works well on skin inflammations’.
Lemon verbena hydrosol is stimulating and uplifting.
Peppermint hydrosol is refreshing and revitalizing.
Rose geranium hydrosol is balancing. It is the perfect hydrosol for the sporadic symptoms of menopausal women.
Rose hydrosol makes a wonderful balancing toner for all skin types. It also works as an anti-anxiety spray, a deodorant and a room freshener.
Rosemary hydrosol is energizing and stimulating.
Filed under Hydrosols, Tinctures by on Jan 30th, 2010. Comment.
If you are distilling your own essential oils, you will get hydrosol as well. Hydrosol is the by-product of essential oil distillation. They are also called floral waters. They contain the same properties as the essential oil but are diluted so they are safe to use directly on the skin.
Hydrosols help tone, rehydrate and rebalance the pH of skin. Hydrosols can be used in a number of ways. The first way is as a face toner or refresher. Simply dab an organic cotton ball with some of the hydrosol and wipe your face. You can do this twice a day, everyday. You can add hydrosols to your bath water for a fragrant bath and an all over body refresher. You can also mist yourself with hydrosols. A gentle fragrance will be left behind.
Some good hydrosols to try are rose, chamomile, lavender, clary sage, orange blossom and rosemary.
Do not use hydrosols on or around the eyes. As with any new beauty product watch for an allergic reaction and if you see one, discontinue use.
Filed under Hydrosols by on Jan 28th, 2010. Comment.
Big companies have specialized equipment to separate the naturally occurring hydrosol from the essential oils they are seeking, but what is a person with a simple still to do?
The answer is easy, simply pour your distilled product into a freezer proof glass container, put a lid on it and freeze it.
The hydrosol, which is mostly water will freeze, while the essential oil will not freeze. Once the hydrosol is completely frozen you can pour off the essential oil.
Be sure to allow the hydrosol to melt as it is a useable product too. Keep the essential oil as well as the hydrosol in the refrigerator. Both products should be good up to a year.
Do keep in mind, you may end up with some hydrosol in your essential oil and some essential oil in your hydrosol. This is not an exact science, but it is the easiest way I have found to separate the two products in your standard home situation without investing in a lot of equipment.
Filed under Distillation, Essential Oils, Hydrosols by on Jan 1st, 2010. Comment.
