RE: Re:Distillation/Tincturing

[Guest guest]

Sorry, Jess, I got waylaid . . . (Andrine is another PNW'r and hopefully

will be in on our gathering in Jan.) I have stainless, copper and glass

stills . . . I use my copper mostly for hydrosols and have beautiful mock

orange and elderflower distillations, as well as the most vibrant, delicious

fir from our last christmas tree. Tincturing is another craft talked about

a lot here because of the impossibility of getting oils by distilling

certain flowers. My favorites are lilac (takes about 5 years cohobation to

get strength of scent) and butterfly bush (also will take several years)

which are exquisite. Also, I've done myrrh, hyrax, frankincense tears,

vanilla beans.

Be well,

Marcia Elston

Samara Botane/Nature Intelligence, est. 1988

http://www.wingedseed.com Online 3/95

http://www.aromaconnection.org Group Blog 2/07

" Historically, the most terrible things - war, genocide and slavery - have

resulted from obedience, not disobedience. "

Zinn

[Guest guest]

Marcia Elston <samara@...> wrote: I have stainless, copper and

glass

stills . . . I use my copper mostly for hydrosols and have beautiful mock

orange and elderflower distillations, as well as the most vibrant, delicious

..

Be well,

Marcia Elston

Hi Marcia

You mention that you use the copper for hydrosols.... do you find that the

glass still offers a better distillation for oil?

every good wish, Janita

Janita Haan Natural Perfume

http://www.hayspace.co.uk

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

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[Guest guest]

> Marcia Elston <samara@...> wrote: I have

> stainless, copper and glass

> stills . . . I use my copper mostly for hydrosols and have

> beautiful mock orange and elderflower distillations, as well

> as the most vibrant, delicious .

>

> Be well,

> Marcia Elston

>

> Hi Marcia

>

> You mention that you use the copper for hydrosols.... do

> you find that the glass still offers a better distillation for oil?

>

> every good wish, Janita

>

> Janita Haan Natural Perfume

> http://www.hayspace.co.uk

Hi Janita . . . The glass still is smaller and would be preferable for small

amounts of oil - it operates pretty much the same as the stainless with the

same Clevenger. I've only used the copper specifically for hydrosols as the

amount of essential oil you can retrieve is miniscule. I'm working on a web

page (in my copious spare time :-)) and hope to have it up by the time we

all start gathering botanicals again.

You can see the glass still we use here

http://www.wingedseed.com/Agora/distillation.htm This setup is true steam

distillation with the plant material housed in a separate chamber, not

placed above the water/steam.

I'm working on a new web page with some of the copper still distillations

and pics; hopefully I'll get it finished before we all start foraging in the

upcoming year to give folks more info.

Be well,

Marcia Elston

Samara Botane/Nature Intelligence, est. 1988

http://www.wingedseed.com Online 3/95

http://www.aromaconnection.org Group Blog 2/07

" Historically, the most terrible things - war, genocide and slavery - have

resulted from obedience, not disobedience. "

Zinn

[Guest guest]

> Re:Distillation/Tincturing

>

> Hi Marcia,

> It sounds like you have captured some lovely fragrances! I

> will have to get started on my lilac tincturing...I hadn't

> even though of Butterfly Bush. I have been pondering mock

> orange for quite some time, but I just assumed it was too

> delicate a flower/fragrance to distill. It is a fragrance I

> associate with some awesome river trips and hikes. I'll have

> to look back through the archives for info on this. I did not

> realize the huge breadth of plants and other natural material

> that you can tincture...so you know I'm headin' tot he liquor

> store to buy some Everclear! My sister went to Yemen last

> year and brought back some raw resins and perfume materials.

> I'll have to tincture some of them and see how they turn out.

> Thanks for the info.

>

> Take Care,

> Jess

Hi again, Jess,

Hydrosols sometimes do not always smell like the oil itself, and the mock

orange was distilled mainly for the hydrosol and its rejuvenating properties

in skin care products. It's a pleasant odor, just not the exquisiteness of

the flower itself. I didn't try to tincture some of the blossoms last year,

which I'm going to start this year. Capturing those elusive fragrances

sometimes takes years of cohobation . . . And sometimes if you don't filter

good between additions of plant material, you can get a little greener

fragrance than you want. It's all an experiment and will take patience to

come up with fool-proof methods. If you are looking for organic perfumer's

alcohol, you can purchase it in OR in gallon or larger sizes from the

wonderful family at Alchemical Solutions www.alcsol.com/, grape or grain.

Are you faring well with our storms? Hope so. Other PNWrs, give us a heads

up how you are doing.

Be well,

Marcia Elston

Samara Botane/Nature Intelligence, est. 1988

http://www.wingedseed.com Online 3/95

http://www.aromaconnection.org Group Blog 2/07

" Historically, the most terrible things - war, genocide and slavery - have

resulted from obedience, not disobedience. "

Zinn

[Guest guest]

do

> you find that the glass still offers a better distillation for oil?

>

> every good wish, Janita

>

> Janita Haan Natural Perfume

> http://www.hayspace.co.uk

Hi Janita . . . The glass still is smaller and would be preferable for small

amounts of oil - it operates pretty much the same as the stainless with the

same Clevenger. I've only used the copper specifically for hydrosols as the

amount of essential oil you can retrieve is miniscule. I'm working on a web

page (in my copious spare time :-)) and hope to have it up by the time we

all start gathering botanicals again.

Be well,

Marcia Elston

Hi Marcia

Thanks for the informative answer.... and the pictures I am going to enjoy a

quiet moment looking at them again..... I think there will be a lot of us very

interested in your new website when you are comfortably finished.... and stuff

like that takes time and thought and is worth the wait & :-)

every good wish

Janita

Janita Haan Natural Perfume

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

Answers - Get better answers from someone who knows. Tryit now.

[Guest guest]

Hi again, Jess,

. . And sometimes if you don't filter

good between additions of plant material, you can get a little greener

fragrance than you want.

Be well,

Marcia Elston

Hi Marcia and Jess et All

Valuable observation Marcia about the filtering ..... indeed I noticed that

when I started tincturing the bluebells for the first time last year...... It

was a maiden forage and I am looking forward to a more earnest endeavor in 2008

and I agree filtration can help enormously..... and time duration too... I also

noticed that it changes with the botanical species.... some species of roses

lend themself just beautifully to tincture ie the albas and also the mock

orange...without too much filtration if at all..

every good wish, Janita

Janita Haan Natural Perfume

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

Answers - Get better answers from someone who knows. Tryit now.

[Guest guest]

> > Marcia Elston <samara@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Janita . . . The glass still is smaller and would be

> preferable for small amounts of oil - it operates pretty much

> the same as the stainless with the same Clevenger. I've only

> used the copper specifically for hydrosols as the amount of

> essential oil you can retrieve is miniscule. I'm working on

> a web page (in my copious spare time :-)) and hope to have it

> up by the time we

> all start gathering botanicals again.

>

> You can see the glass still we use here

> http://www.wingedseed.com/Agora/distillation.htm This setup

> is true steam distillation with the plant material housed in

> a separate chamber, not placed above the water/steam.

>

> I'm working on a new web page with some of the copper still

> distillations and pics; hopefully I'll get it finished before

> we all start foraging in the upcoming year to give folks more info.

>

> Be well,

> Marcia Elston

Oooops, I mispoke . . . The glass still isn't like the stainless w/ a

clevenger. The oil/water distills into the receiving flask and then is

separated by a separatory funnel (as you see in the pics). There will be

pics of the stainless w/clevenger on the website when it comes together.

I had a great time with the 3-year old at the creek. This is his first time

watching the salmon and they are quick so it took him a few minutes before

he actually focused on what we were watching - all the rushing water was a

distraction at first. Then, it was a delight to see his wonder and

revelation unfold, big whoops, clapping and cheering them on. The creek is

so high and fast and this beaver dam is new so it's a challenge for the

salmon - taking them several times to make it over. I was amazed at how big

some of them were - over 3 ft. long!!! Absolutely beautiful. And, ladies,

a reminder of feminine strength and tenaciousness. We had to walk through

some really big puddles, so we're now changed into warm, dry clothes for the

remainder of the day. What a treasure; I count my blessings every day for

both grandchildren and wonderful sense of place.

Alright, this has to be my last chitchat of the day . . .

Be well,

Marcia Elston

Samara Botane/Nature Intelligence, est. 1988

http://www.wingedseed.com Online 3/95

http://www.aromaconnection.org Group Blog 2/07

" Historically, the most terrible things - war, genocide and slavery - have

resulted from obedience, not disobedience. "

Zinn

[Guest guest]

:

>

Oooops, I mispoke . . . The glass still isn't like the stainless w/ a

clevenger. The oil/water distills into the receiving flask and then is

separated by a separatory funnel (as you see in the pics). There will be

pics of the stainless w/clevenger on the website when it comes together.

.. . . Be well,

Marcia Elston

Hi Marcia.....

Been reading and looking and wow for 4oz of flowers that is quite a good

harvest to receive 2ml of oil plus the hydrosol..... very manageable for one...

Thanks looking forward to your website eventually when it opens and really

enjoyed the word picture ... was right there... that's big salmon!

every good wish, Janita

Janita Haan Natural Perfume

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

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