Re: Home Stills and Distillation

[Guest guest]

> Anyone with experience distilling their own at home...please share

> their laughter, tears and pride. It all just looks too fun not to

> investigate!

> Always learning, Vykky

>

Hi Vykky,

If you do a search on distilling, stills etc you should find quite a bit

of info. We had this discussion a while back, all the way into copper vs

glass/stainless steel

There are links in the files, too -on both types of stills.

Hope this helps. Those would not be the under 100.- type stills, and I

don't know about them either. Distilling is a lot of fun though, and if

you do have plant material available, why not invest into something that

you know will work. Just my two cents Maybe someone else has played

with the ones you're talking about. Would be interesting to hear. I've

seen them on occation, and wondered, too. A good still is not out of

reach though, even on a limited budget, unless you're looking into

really big ones.

Have fun, ne

[Guest guest]

vykky3630 <vykky@...> wrote: While perusing the vast world of

late-night Internet, I have discovered

some Stills appropriate for home use for under $100. No, they're not

professional level equipment. Yes, they can be adapted to even pull off

the hydrosols.

Wondering: has anyone within the Group ever played with these cool

little gizmos? Had success? Entertaining and educational failure?

Always learning, Vykky

No............. havn't ..... what is the url?

janita

---------------------------------

All new " The new Interface is stunning in its simplicity and ease

of use. " - PC Magazine

[Guest guest]

>

> While perusing the vast world of late-night Internet, I have

discovered

> some Stills appropriate for home use for under $100. No, they're not

> professional level equipment. Yes, they can be adapted to even pull

off

> the hydrosols.

> Wondering: has anyone within the Group ever played with these cool

> little gizmos?

OK, let me start with ... it's soooo much fun!

But there are a lot of limitations & unpublished 'tricks' (most of

which I still don't know). The most important is that it takes a lot

of herb X to get a little EO. So if the still holds less than a

pound, you will measure your yield in drops rather than ml.

I'm using glass chemistry labware. There are huge debates over glass,

copper & stainless. Much native eo production uses only unglazed

pottery & wood tubing.

There's also a significant difference between hydrodistillation (herb

in water) & steam distillation (herb in path of steam).

For hydro, it's easy to burn the herb if it's in just a little water -

it should have a large volume of water to dance around in. For steam,

you need a big enough container to hold the herb & a condenser pathway

with large enough diameter to handle the output without building

pressure. Almost impossible to burn unless you let your boiler run

dry.

My first experiment was hydrodistillation of basil - a complete bust.

From about 3lb of freshly picked nice, new growths I got...nill (OK,

there was the really interesting water). Then I opened the manual

(checked the internet) and found that I'd picked my basil too late in

the season, on a cool, windy, cloudy day, and didn't allow it to wilt

before distilling. Basically, did everything wrong except I did pick

in the morning when the oils should have been at highest concentration

(if the other factors had been considered).

If you want to try basil, do it in the summer at peak of growth. Try

older leaves & stems as well as new growth. Pick in the morning but

after full sun is on the plants on a warm/hot, still, sunny day.

Allow the picked leaves to wilt slightly in the sun.

Each herb & resin has differences in handling! Now I know why

different regions specialize in one or two herbs with methods

developed over centuries... Many flowers cannot take the heat of a

still, hence efflureage, pressing, and modern solvent extraction.

Be patient in your process - herbs prefer to waltz rather than

jitterbug.

Since the basil, I have had great success with cardamom, fresh pine

resin & fresh pine needles. Corriander was less successfull,

producing less than 1ml from a pound of dried seeds (used purchased,

dry seeds - will try again with fresh). I also found that you can

make a delightful sealing wax using 1/3 boiled pine resin & 2/3

beeswax.

I tried frankincense with mixed result - not much eo but very

pleasant. I then found that frankincense eo it typically produced

near the source so it can be distilled while very fresh. It seems

here 'fresh' means about a year old. Also, most of the frankincense

eo sold without a species name on it is B. serrata from India - very

nice, but different from carteri/sacra. Using the name 'olibanum'

does not necessarily mean it's the species you want...

[Guest guest]

At 06:10 PM 12/13/2006, you wrote:

>While perusing the vast world of late-night Internet, I have discovered

>some Stills appropriate for home use for under $100. No, they're not

>professional level equipment. Yes, they can be adapted to even pull off

>the hydrosols.

>Anyone with experience distilling their own at home...please share

>their laughter, tears and pride. It all just looks too fun not to

>investigate!

>Always learning, Vykky

Vykky, you might want to check out Jeanne Rose's Aromatic Plant

Project: http://www.aromaticplantproject.com/ After I move, I will

be getting a still and joining to link up with other distillers.

Anya McCoy

Anya's Garden of Natural Perfume http://anyasgarden.com

Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild http://artisannaturalperfumers.org

Natural Perfumers Community Group

/

[Guest guest]

>

> > Wondering: has anyone within the Group ever played with these

cool

> > little gizmos?

> <SNIP>

> OK, let me start with ... it's soooo much fun!

> Be patient in your process - herbs prefer to waltz rather than

> jitterbug.

> <SNIP>

> Since the basil, I have had great success with cardamom, fresh

pine

>

>

>

WOW ! And Thank You!!! This is exactly the response I was

hoping to read and learn from! Your kind sharing of experiences is

deeply appreciated!

I had tried searching through the messages but with no luck. Then

today, I received findings. Sigh...here lately with and I,

it's hit or miss. Have spent a major part of this sniffly rainy day

reading and learning...all due to the kind sharing of folks like

yourself.

I also found and looked hard at the all glass unit from

MagicHeart.com (I think that was it...is buried in bookmarks)and am

still deciding whether to go cheap and experiement or go serious

equipment with serious intent. Seem to remember it was Tamara who

posted that link and to her...many thanks also!

So now if I can decide, I'll get Santa to drop one off for me!

Thanks again, Vykky

[Guest guest]

At 08:04 AM 12/14/2006, you wrote:

>

> >

> > While perusing the vast world of late-night Internet, I have

>discovered

> > some Stills appropriate for home use for under $100. No, they're not

> > professional level equipment. Yes, they can be adapted to even pull

>off

> > the hydrosols.

> > Wondering: has anyone within the Group ever played with these cool

> > little gizmos?

>

>OK, let me start with ... it's soooo much fun!

>

>But there are a lot of limitations & unpublished 'tricks' (most of

>which I still don't know). The most important is that it takes a lot

>of herb X to get a little EO. So if the still holds less than a

>pound, you will measure your yield in drops rather than ml.

Hi

There are some books out there on distillation. I believe several of

them are from India. There are tricks of the trade for each oil -

when to harvest, whether to dry (usually at least just a bit),

temperature, duration, stages when to cut off (as in ylang ylang), etc. etc.

Anya McCoy

Anya's Garden of Natural Perfume http://anyasgarden.com

Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild http://artisannaturalperfumers.org

Natural Perfumers Community Group

/

[Guest guest]

> I also found and looked hard at the all glass unit from

> MagicHeart.com (I think that was it...is buried in bookmarks)and am

> still deciding whether to go cheap and experiement or go serious

> equipment with serious intent. Seem to remember it was Tamara who

> posted that link and to her...many thanks also!

> So now if I can decide, I'll get Santa to drop one off for me!

> Thanks again, Vykky

Hey there Vykky, Anya, All

This is a long one, but here goes... I ordered my still from

HeartMagic.com. I got the small one, but with the 5-liter biomass

container rather than the standard 2-liter. I also got the

hydrodistillation and solvent attachment. I don't have any juicy

adventure stories (knock on wood) because I've been ultra-cautious

with this all-glass beauty. Here's what I've done and learned so far:

1) It's a lot of really strenuous work if you have fibromyalgia. Note

to Anya: Plan to rest up before and after. I can't imagine how I

would feel after filling up a biomass container larger than the 5-

liter one I have. This one's just enough to kick my behind. I think

ne must be Super Woman -- she has a bunch of stills, including

some big ol' huge ones! She sold me on HeartMagic stills.

2) It is a really, truly, hella-cool process. Beautiful and magical.

Amazing to watch. Words can't properly describe the feeling, watching

the steam and the little teensy oil droplets. The lovely smell in my

home during and after a run. The joy of bringing the essence out of

the plant.

3) Read, re-read and re-read the instructions some more and put the

system together and tear it back down before you ever do a run. Read

the instructions again before you do the second run. It can be really

easy to forget one little step (like pre-filling the separation unit

with water so you don't lose the first drop or few of EO).

4) I really need to learn when optimum harvest time is for each plant

that I distill because, here's the amount of EO and hydrosol I've

realized so far, in the maritime Pacific Northwest, using my 5-liter

biomass flask (knowing it wasn't optimum harvest time, but doing it

anyway 'cause I couldn't wait for next year):

* Lemon Verbena (aloysia triphylla): Mid-October harvest (it took 6

plants to produce enough to fill the biomass container) -- 1/8 dram

EO, 1 quart hydrosol

* Rosemary (Spice Island cultivar): Mid-October harvest -- 1/6 dram

EO, 2 quarts hydrosol

* Lemon Balm (): Early November harvest -- 6 drops EO, 1 quart

hydrosol

* Fir -- twigs and needles: Early December harvest -- 1/10

dram EO, 1 quart hydrosol

* Fir Needle EO: Early December 1/8 dram EO, 1 1/2 quarts

hydrosol

Stripping the needles from the fir boughs was very time consuming and

back breaking work (for a fibro-person). Much physical exhaustion

ensued.

5) When I use twigs with leaves, I use pruners to chop the twigs and

plant matter into 1 " lengths. This makes it easier to clean out the

exhausted matter after the distillation run, but it's really time-

consuming.

Stripping the leaves off from the twigs to do a leaf-only run is also

very time-consuming. You can fit a LOT of leaves into that 5-liter

container!

6) Always, ALWAYS line your sink well on all sides with the rubber non-

skid stuff you put under your area rugs. Then you can rinse out your

biomass container without accidentally hearing that fatal

little " tink " a half second before you see your costly flask in pieces

in your sink. No, I haven't had this accident myself. Whew! (I've

been accused of over-caution)

6) Reclaim the last little dregs of EO from the separation unit by

pouring a little bit of Everclear into it after dismantling the still

following a run. I swish the alcohol gently (everything is done to a

glass still VERY GENTLY, CALMLY and SLOWLY) and then pour this off

into a glass test tube that I then cork. This is a lovely, single-

note " cologne " that I can then use to blend with other stuff. Only,

because it's from swished-out dregs, there's no way to know how much

EO it contains, but the alcohol is very well-scented, no problem at

all telling what each one is.

I hope this helps, Vykky, Anya and All... Distilling really is a

great way to take your home-grown plants to another beautiful level.

I'm eagerly awaiting the growing season next year. Now, if we can

make it through the big wind-storm tonight relatively unscathed...

Hang on Vykky -- I know you're slated to get the most of it up there.

I'm anticipating a bumper-crop of Fir boughs by tomorrow

afternoon. Now if I can whack up the ginger to harvest the needles

from a bunch of those and make a big non-stop run, refilling the

bioflask many times... I never see a fir bough on the ground now

without wondering how much EO's in it and how long it would take me to

strip it down and get it distilling... (Kinda like, road kill, huh?)

Warm regards,

Andrine

[Guest guest]

I was reading Nigel Groom's " The Perfume Handbook " and a few of the formulas he

offers requires mixing your oils into an alcohol base and then distilling the

whole mixture with some water. Example (I think the quantities are in cc's) :

Eau De Cologne

5 Lemon oil

10 Bergamot oil

5 Sweet Orange oil

1 oil

50 Rosemary herb (as in not the oil, but the plant?)

1000 Alcohol, 90%

100 Water

For a total of 1171 units (cc's?)

Macerate for 12 hrs in still, then distill slowly. Collect 1000 cc, the

dissolve:

2 Neroli oil

3.5 Petitgrain oil

0.5 Thyme, rectified

4 Oleo-resin Orris

Seal and mature for a month.

Does anyone out there blend in this manner? I thought it was a pretty awesome

way to tweak a formula! Like a mad scientist/perfumer!

iel

---------------------------------

Everyone is raving about the all-new beta.

[Guest guest]

>

>> After I move, I will

> be getting a still and joining to link up with other distillers.

>

> Anya McCoy

> Anya's Garden of Natural Perfume http://anyasgarden.com

> Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild http://artisannaturalperfumers.org

> Natural Perfumers Community Group

> /

>

Anya, I'm so happy to hear that. You will LOVE distilling. Just a word

of caution - it's totally addicting. Make sure you have a lot of plant

material....

I got mine in the dead of winter..... bad time, but I went and chopped

evergreens, even distilled the pets' cedar shavings (turned out nice

though). That's desperate.

Best of luck with the move - I know that's a challenge with fibro

ne

[Guest guest]

At 11:00 PM 12/14/2006, you wrote:

>Hey there Vykky, Anya, All

>

>This is a long one, but here goes... I ordered my still from

>HeartMagic.com. I got the small one, but with the 5-liter biomass

>container rather than the standard 2-liter. I also got the

>hydrodistillation and solvent attachment. I don't have any juicy

>adventure stories (knock on wood) because I've been ultra-cautious

>with this all-glass beauty. Here's what I've done and learned so far:

>

>1) It's a lot of really strenuous work if you have fibromyalgia. Note

>to Anya: Plan to rest up before and after. I can't imagine how I

>would feel after filling up a biomass container larger than the 5-

>liter one I have. This one's just enough to kick my behind.

Hey, Andrine, I life 40 lb bags of mulch all the time, carry them,

hold them while I shake the contents out, etc. All this with a little

hernia, too. I'm tough. Then I collapse, lol.

>2) It is a really, truly, hella-cool process. Beautiful and magical.

>Amazing to watch. Words can't properly describe the feeling, watching

>the steam and the little teensy oil droplets. The lovely smell in my

>home during and after a run. The joy of bringing the essence out of

>the plant.

You sound like a cat hypnotized by watching a drop of rain run down

a windowpane.

Was it you or someone else who warned about the amount of biomass

needed? Yes, I realize that, I compare it to the amount needed with a

juicer -- buy 25lb bags of carrots, apples, etc. Be prepared to need a lot!

Anya McCoy

Anya's Garden of Natural Perfume http://anyasgarden.com

Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild http://artisannaturalperfumers.org

Natural Perfumers Community Group

/

[Guest guest]

At 12:42 AM 12/15/2006, you wrote:

>Anya, I'm so happy to hear that. You will LOVE distilling. Just a word

>of caution - it's totally addicting. Make sure you have a lot of plant

>material....

Ah, I just answered Andrine about the amount of biomass -- yes, lots

and lots are needed.

>I got mine in the dead of winter..... bad time, but I went and chopped

>evergreens, even distilled the pets' cedar shavings (turned out nice

>though). That's desperate.

That's hysterically funnyh!

>Best of luck with the move - I know that's a challenge with fibro

I'm packing and moving stuff out of the house every week, a little at

a time. Stress will flare up then, I'm sure, but I'll try to take it in stride.

Anya McCoy

Anya's Garden of Natural Perfume http://anyasgarden.com

Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild http://artisannaturalperfumers.org

Natural Perfumers Community Group

/

[Guest guest]

>2) It is a really, truly, hella-cool process. Beautiful and magical.

>Amazing to watch. Words can't properly describe the feeling, watching

>the steam and the little teensy oil droplets. The lovely smell in my

>home during and after a run. The joy of bringing the essence out of

>the plant.

Hey Andrine?

what have you been able to distill so far......? this is so exciting

janita

---------------------------------

The all-new goes wherever you go - free your email address from

your Internet provider.

[Guest guest]

>

>

> >2) It is a really, truly, hella-cool process. Beautiful and magical.

> >Amazing to watch. Words can't properly describe the feeling,

watching

> >the steam and the little teensy oil droplets. The lovely smell in my

> >home during and after a run. The joy of bringing the essence out of

> >the plant.

>

It's like watching magic working.... that's the words coming to my

mind. Seems also appropriate, since the process transfers life essence

into a bottle.

ne

[Guest guest]

>

> Ah, I just answered Andrine about the amount of biomass -- yes,

lots

> and lots are needed.

>

> >I got mine in the dead of winter..... bad time, but I went and

chopped

> >evergreens, even distilled the pets' cedar shavings (turned out

nice

> >though). That's desperate.

>

> That's hysterically funnyh!

>

>

> Anya McCoy

> Anya's Garden of Natural Perfume http://anyasgarden.com

> Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild http://artisannaturalperfumers.org

> Natural Perfumers Community Group

> /

>

LOL glad you got a laugh out of it. In hind sight it seems

rediculous-even though I'm sure I would do it again, in the same

situation. It is funny, but a perfect example of how crazy a new

still can make you.

On the amount of biomass needed- it really depends what kind of

still you get (size). That's why I have several. For experiments,

smaller amounts and fragile plant material I use the small 2 liter.

If I have more, the 5 liter. Neither requires all that much biomass.

The resulting oil is less of course, but there is no way I would put

fragile scents in the 33liter. That one is priceless when a whole

lot comes in all at the same time. The Rosemary, Lavender, Sage etc,

and of course the cucumbers. Never mind the oil on those, but they

make incredible hydrosol. Doing this with the small ones would just

not even be possible.

I was more referring to having various things you can play with.

Like Andrine describes so very well, and what lead me to the

shavings,is the initial drive to experiment, which is so incredible

strong, that nothing is safe.

But you will see for yourself I hope you tell us all about it

when the time comes.

ne

[Guest guest]

>

> You sound like a cat hypnotized by watching a drop of rain run

down

> a windowpane.

> Was it you or someone else who warned about the amount of biomass

> needed? Yes, I realize that, I compare it to the amount needed

with a

> juicer -- buy 25lb bags of carrots, apples, etc. Be prepared to

need a lot!

>

>

> Anya McCoy

> Anya's Garden of Natural Perfume http://anyasgarden.com

> Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild http://artisannaturalperfumers.org

> Natural Perfumers Community Group

> /

>

LOL!!!!! Yes Anya, that is a very good description. It IS

hypnotizing. When I have the still running, DS can't do schoolwork

in the same room. He gets lost in watching. I do, too. It just

happens. The smell, the sound, the warmth radiating, gentle even

bubbles in the glass, the light reflecting off the glass and

bubbles, and the even drip, while the cooling water pumping splashes

like a gentle brook (yeah, I could put it in the water to omitt that

sound, but why?) Breaking off this on occation, only to be drawn to

watch the oil level rising, or anxiously watching the lack off,

staring at the condenser for signs of more to come. If the oil is

with color, it's even more exciting.

Once I had a friend over while distilling, and in mid conversation

she asked " How do you do it? " -do what? I asked - " make time stand

still " was her reply. It wasn't me, it was the still.

ne

[Guest guest]

>

On the amount of biomass needed- it really depends what kind of

still you get (size). That's why I have several. For experiments,

smaller amounts and fragile plant material I use the small 2 liter.

If I have more, the 5 liter. Neither requires all that much biomass.

The resulting oil is less of course, but there is no way I would put

fragile scents in the 33liter. That one is priceless when a whole

lot comes in all at the same time. The Rosemary, Lavender, Sage etc,

and of course the cucumbers. Never mind the oil on those, but they

make incredible hydrosol. Doing this with the small ones would just

not even be possible.

I was more referring to having various things you can play with.

Like Andrine describes so very well, and what lead me to the

shavings,is the initial drive to experiment, which is so incredible

strong, that nothing is safe.

But you will see for yourself I hope you tell us all about it

when the time comes.

ne

Hi ne

I am definately going to invest on some of that...... The 2 litre is very

appealing.

I am very interested about your cucmber floriat when the time comes......

This is so very exciting........ independence......................yay!

(as an afta thought with right knowledge and safety)

Janita

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

[Guest guest]

:

>

> You sound like a cat hypnotized by watching a drop of rain run

down

Once I had a friend over while distilling, and in mid conversation

she asked " How do you do it? " -do what? I asked - " make time stand

still " was her reply. It wasn't me, it was the still.

ne

Hey ne

In reading these wonderful threads I may have got it wrong with my question

and inadvertantly asked Andrine when I should have asked yerself...... apologies

to you and Andrine for the confusion. What I am still enquiring....persistant

soul that I am , is when you are making the eo how much eo can it make? just

conservatively of course...

best

Janita

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

[Guest guest]

janita morris <heartinmymouth@...> wrote:

:

>

> You sound like a cat hypnotized by watching a drop of rain run

down

Once I had a friend over while distilling, and in mid conversation

she asked " How do you do it? " -do what? I asked - " make time stand

still " was her reply. It wasn't me, it was the still.

ne

Hey ne

In reading these wonderful threads I may have got it wrong with my question and

inadvertantly asked Andrine when I should have asked yerself...... apologies to

you and Andrine for the confusion. What I am still enquiring....persistant soul

that I am , is when you are making the eo how much eo can it make? just

conservatively of course...

best

Janita

hi again

Of course I realise it totally depends on the plant material...... so I will

say,,,,, use something you have just done with a particular plant and the yield

it gives. that will be enough information for me to work out....... floral

would be totally different and the yield much lower for volume...... If you have

yields for both types of still with data on material used and weights used that

would be great.....

many thanks

Janita

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

[Guest guest]

ne

Just want to again remind people of the video at

<www.scentsofknowledge.com>

Great to see large stills in action.

(famous person in Herb world in this, Mindy Green)

Enjoy

standing still

bb

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

At 12:55 PM 12/16/2006, you wrote:

> ne

>

>Just want to again remind people of the video at\

The link that works is http://scentsofknowing.com

Anya McCoy

Anya's Garden of Natural Perfume http://anyasgarden.com

Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild http://artisannaturalperfumers.org

Natural Perfumers Community Group

/

[Guest guest]

Anya <mccoy@...> wrote: At 12:55 PM 12/16/2006, you wrote:

> ne

>

>Just want to again remind people of the video at\

The link that works is http://scentsofknowing.com

Anya McCoy

Hey Guys..

Just want to say I never tire of seeng this most beautiful and esoteric work

available to you.

This love..............this love of plant of aroma is so

...........................

Seeing people I grew up with so full of knowledge and love for what they are

doing is very emotional.....................

surely this.... this is what it is all about....

Janita

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

[Guest guest]

I'm eagerly awaiting the growing season next year. Now, if we can

make it through the big wind-storm tonight relatively unscathed...

Hang on Vykky -- I know you're slated to get the most of it up there.

I'm anticipating a bumper-crop of Fir boughs by tomorrow

afternoon. Now if I can whack up the ginger to harvest the needles

from a bunch of those and make a big non-stop run, refilling the

bioflask many times... I never see a fir bough on the ground now

without wondering how much EO's in it and how long it would take me to

strip it down and get it distilling... (Kinda like, road kill, huh?)

Warm regards,

Andrine

This is got to be Andrine.................totally totally wondrous.......

independant from all the crap...........beautiful.......................it

doesn't matter how much one gets ie amounts of oil......... if one is using for

their own perfume.................finis.complete.........perfect....

yours

Janita

---------------------------------

Try the all-new . " The New Version is radically easier to use " –

The Wall Street Journal

[Guest guest]

> Hey ne

>

> In reading these wonderful threads I may have got it wrong with my

question and inadvertantly asked Andrine when I should have asked

yerself...... apologies to you and Andrine for the confusion. What I am

still enquiring....persistant soul that I am , is when you are making

the eo how much eo can it make? just conservatively of course...

> best

> Janita

>

> hi again

>

> Of course I realise it totally depends on the plant material...... so

I will say,,,,, use something you have just done with a particular plant

and the yield it gives. that will be enough information for me to work

out....... floral would be totally different and the yield much lower

for volume...... If you have yields for both types of still with data on

material used and weights used that would be great.....

>

> many thanks

> Janita

>

>

>

Hi Janita,

You sound so excited, it makes me smile. I know just how you feel. No

appologies necessary. Andriene did a wonderful job describing what she

did, and how much she got from each run.

When I first started, I used to keep total account of each drop, I even

took plant material under the microscope before and after, and much more

nonsense like that. Needless to say, that is long gone. I never did

weigh the plant material though. Basically you stuff the flask until

full, and on smaller the flask amounts, just put that in.

The ratio of plant material to EO really varies so greatly, and depends

on so much. Roughly you can expect a whole lot more from plants like

Rosemary, Sage, Lavender, Bay etc, then the tender leavy ones. The

plants that grow in rich soil give less EO, then the ones in poor soil.

The weather makes a huge difference, too. Plants have to suffer to be

valuable. Much like people I guess, but that's a different subject.

The general region is in iteslf a factor, and the age of the plants. I'm

in the Northeast, and have not been able to overwinter any of my herbs

yet. Even Roses have a hard time, and each year I loose some.

(www.heartmagic.com <http://www.heartmagic.com> ) where I got my stills

from, is in CA, working with established plants that have been there for

years. He has some pictures of various oils (amounts) from his

distillation on his website to give a good idea of performance.

Sometimes I get close, often not. My plants need almost the whole

growing season to establish themselves, mature, and suffer a little

before I can do anything with them.

Recent runs, were in the fall for the 33l still Rosemary and Sage, I got

almost 25ml EO/run and 2 1/2 gallons of Hydrosol ea. I had 2 runs of

each. Rose Geranium I had 3 runs in the 5l glass set up, which yielded 3

ml EO and ca 1liter hydrosol/run. and Mint, are also fun to do,

just for the 3-10 drops of oil, which really has to be considered a

precious by-product of producing hydrosol, to not be too dissapointing.

Mint is much better then in that aspect, but not overwhelmingly

so. I never figure out how real Mint EO can possibly be sold cheap. I'm

suspicious. This leads to a fairly accurate pre-check option on what to

expect from what. Find a trustworthy supplier and check prices. Chances

are, if it's really expensive, it's not going to produce a lot of EO, if

any. But, distill away anyway. The hydrosol alone is such a treat. I

often distill a couple of handful of roses, which I collected over maybe

a week, knowing full well, that there's not going to be enough oil to

even see sometimes. But the water is lovely.

Hope this answers your questions a little. I wish it was as easy as X

lb=Y EO + Z hydrosol. But it's not.

Best Wishes, ne

[Guest guest]

>

>

Hi Janita,

You sound so excited, it makes me smile. I know just how you feel. No

appologies necessary. Andriene did a wonderful job describing what she

did, and how much she got from each run.

not going to produce a lot of EO, if

any. But, distill away anyway. The hydrosol alone is such a treat. I

often distill a couple of handful of roses, which I collected over maybe

a week, knowing full well, that there's not going to be enough oil to

even see sometimes. But the water is lovely.

Hope this answers your questions a little. I wish it was as easy as X

lb=Y EO + Z hydrosol. But it's not.

Best Wishes, ne

ne thank you so much for all that wonderful detailed information..... Yes

it does......I already thought that and knew about different ratios that plant

give but your information about your efforts and the yield is

perfect.......going to print that out so thank you again.

When you collected the roses for a week...... what did you do with the petals

that were already collected waiting? Glass Jar.... ceramic Jar....... open air

in unlit spot ? ....... dark place? ...... curious..... what type of rose was

it or was it a combination of various types.... Bourban? Albas? Damasks?

Centifolias? Modern? How was the hydrosol different to others.that perhaps you

had bought from somewhere else..? The water distilled or spring......?

Janita

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[Guest guest]

At 04:46 PM 12/16/2006, you wrote:

>Mint is much better then in that aspect, but not overwhelmingly

>so. I never figure out how real Mint EO can possibly be sold cheap. I'm

>suspicious.

Hi ne:

Actually, mint is such a vigorous, sustainable crop it is easy to

keep the price down. I worked in Oregon propagating mint cuttings for

the industry. Most of the mint in the US is grown there. It's grown

in fields that are *mowed* a couple of times a year, three times if I

remember correctly. It gets mowed down to about a half inch, and then

quickly grows back, like grass. Doesn't take much fertilizer or

pesticide, so that keeps down costs. Does take a lot of water, but

Oregon has a lot of that, being in the Pacific NorthWET.

Anya McCoy

Anya's Garden of Natural Perfume http://anyasgarden.com

Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild http://artisannaturalperfumers.org

Natural Perfumers Community Group

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