Distilling Lavender in Oregon

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

So I have been here in Oregon Distilling various types of lavender and wanted to

share some of what I have learned this year. So far I have been focused on

distilling two pink varieties of lavender bred for our rainy Oregon climate -

" Hidcote Pink " and " " - both augustifolias with compact growth habit and

unique resistance to rain. These are delicate lavenders with a fruity boquet

and some very unique floral notes - when I say delicate I mean that they must be

distilled within two days of harvest and stored indoors to prevent decomposition

due to condensation forming on the flowers. The " Hidcote Pink " has a distinct

fruity jasmin-sambac like note - truly hypnotizing since folks dont want to give

me back the bottle once they smell it. The " " is also exquisite and

still rivals the high altitude varietals from france as far as I am concerned.

I say this knowing what we all hear and read about lavender - hot dry climates

and high altitude distillations produce the very best lavender. I no longer

beleive this - those environs may produce MORE oil, but I'd say this oil which

resulted from the rainiest grow season in 150 years, is absolutely exquisite. I

am relatively close to sea level here in Portland, but I feel I have been able

to replicate a high altitude distillation by changing some key parameters within

my distillation process.

My distiller is copper and has a roughly 10 gallon capacity. I chose copper

because lavender and western red cedar (Thuja plicata) are two of my best money

makers, and copper pulls the sulfuric compounds fromt hese oils resulting in a

sweet oil from the first that lacks any still off-notes observed in stainless

steel distillations. I am very very careful harvesting my lavender - which is

fully opened and starting to brown along the basal flowers, and is harvested

during the high afternoon, when the bees are the thickest. I keep my

distillation/steam temps around 196-198 degrees by distilling at the lowest

simmering boil possible. I keep my condensor cool to warm but not icy, and I

never let it heat to steaming temps. I distill into a reciver that is a 1.5

liter jug with a basal spout from which I drain the hydrosol. I use this glass

jug because it is what I had when I started distilling and I wanted to see what

was happening tot he oil as it came out of the condensor, and how it behaved

with the hydrosol floating beneath (various essential oils behave very

differently in H2o.) Initially this jug irritated me as it requires constant

attention or it overflows and you lose all of your oil, aka you waste an entire

field of lavender, which I did and learned painfully from. Last year I started

distilling into a copper essencier oil separator and noticed that the oils I

produced were inferior to my prior method. this year I went back to the glass

jug and realized that the reason it works so well is that when I pause to drain

it I lower the burner temp under the distiller to halt the distillation for just

a few seconds as I drain the separatory jug. This pause in distillation allows

the stream to cool slightly, and so my distillation temps dont ramp up like they

do during a continuous draw into the copper separator.

I also distilled a batch of 1/3 Munstead Lavender (grown from seed for fragrance

variation, 1/3 purple elegance, and 1/3 Lemon Balm. The lemon balm oil comes

out in the first few minutes of the distillation so you have to really heat the

still gently and make sure the condensor is cold as melissa oil is incredibly

delicate. I liked the first draw of this oil alot - woody lavender with lemony

notes on top and that certain airy melissa quality - but as the distillation

progressed the melissa notes that came through were waxy, overcooked and sour,

lingering in the back notes, and not very likeable by my taste. I liked te

codistillate that I did last year with clary sage, rose and melissa better -

short but sweet.

So in essence, I thing the quality of my lavender oil has improved as a result

of properly storing the cut lavender so as to avoid decomposition due to

condensation and heat, as a result of running a slow simmering distillation for

1.5-2 hours (tops) with periodic pauses in distillation to cool the

steam/chamber, by storing the resultant oils in Violet Miron glass (good stuff

check it out), and by harvesting the plants at the right time for our climate.

I have come to believe that one can distill amazing oils anywhere, you just have

to experiment a lot, and maybe fail a lot, like I have, hehehe. By adjusting my

disitllation temps to the lowest possible, I take a cut in hydrosol yield from

1gallon to 1/2 gallon, but this hydrosol is much more delicate.

I end my distillations by continuously smelling the hydrosol coming out on my

hands. Initially it always smells good, but as the hydrosol evaporates you will

smell organic waxy, slightly sour or metalic off notes when the charge is

exhausted. Always better to end a distillation sooner than later.

Despite the incredibly rainy season our Oregon lavenders have preformed like

rock stars - the Hidcote Pink yielded 2 ounces per batch, which is twice what my

Maillette gave last year. Still need to distill the Buena vista (another fruity

oregon varietal) and the Maillete. Maillete has always been my gold standard,

but now I am all about the Hidcote Pink because it has certain indescribably

good floral notes that even the best purple lavenders lack.

None for sale this year - all of this years pink oil will go to new perfumes,

and of course a good deal of it will go on my face.

I'll post more when the lavender harvest is over. Hope you are all doing

fabulous! Feel free to email me with questions...I am not one of those

secretive distiller types and I dearly love to connect with toher distillers and

exchange stories!

[Guest guest]

None for sale this year - all of this years pink oil will go to new perfumes,

and of course a good deal of it will go on my face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

none for sale?! you tease! *LAUGH* much light, einsof

[Guest guest]

Thank you for sharing this Jess. How much lavender are you growing? I've yet to

get enough to separate the different types. I end up putting all varieties in

the still together - I'm never disappointed, but it would be nice to compare the

differences.

http://www.sagescript.com

microbiology, distillates, botanicals

-

[Guest guest]

Hello Mother-ring and everyone,

Haven't posted lately 'cause I'm deep into distallation, too.

I agree wholeheartedly with Mother-ing about the cooler, damper climate

producing sweeter oils. We are just 4 miles from the ocean, in a sunny warm

area where we get the ocean breezes and our oils are decidedly sweeter than our

compatriots inland. My 'Grosso' is even sweet! and the lavenders from the hot

inland farms around here are much more camphorous.

We're distilling Helichrysum italicum right now and I can smell that maple syrup

scent even here in the house. People tell me that they can smell this essence

when they are driving by our place on Highway 150 near Carpinteria, CA.

I just had a White Sage Flower event...our Salvia apiana had such huge juicy

flowers that, for the first time, we harvested just flowers for a distillaiton

and the resulting oil is really quite glorious, sweeter and gentler somehow.

We distilled some beautiful Mugwort (Atremisia vulgaris) recently, too, so

exotic, almost hypnotic.

We finished up our various Fine Lavender distillations early, and next after the

Helichrysum is the Lavender 'Grosso'. I'm almost sold out of last year's

stash...first time I have sold out before the next year's distillation.

Havin' fun here at Rivendell Aromatics

Sandy

www.rivendellaromatics.com

[Guest guest]

> Lavender 'Grosso'

Are you sure it's Lavender? What does Grosso mean?

[Guest guest]

> Lavender 'Grosso'

Are you sure it's Lavender? What does Grosso mean?

[Guest guest]

>> Lavender 'Grosso'

> Are you sure it's Lavender? What does Grosso mean?

More used in aromatherapy for its camphorous notes - a real

breathing aid.

http://everything-lavender.com/grosso-lavender.html

Anya McCoy

http://AnyasGarden.com

http://PerfumeClasses.com

http://NaturalPerfumers.com

[Guest guest]

>> Lavender 'Grosso'

> Are you sure it's Lavender? What does Grosso mean?

More used in aromatherapy for its camphorous notes - a real

breathing aid.

http://everything-lavender.com/grosso-lavender.html

Anya McCoy

http://AnyasGarden.com

http://PerfumeClasses.com

http://NaturalPerfumers.com

[Guest guest]

> I'll post more when the lavender harvest is over. Hope you are all doing

fabulous! Feel free to email me with questions...I am not one of those

secretive distiller types and I dearly love to connect with toher distillers and

exchange stories!

>

Your extractions sound heavenly. I really enjoyed reading your post and learned

a lot. You should consider maintaining a blog where you can chronicle your

distillation experiments and successes. I would be the first to follow you!

Maggie

[Guest guest]

I love hearing about distilling experiences! I only distill wee amounts for

hydrosols, mostly rose geranium. Rose geranium seems to love being potted and

thrives with a little Epsom salt occasionally in the water. I'm itching to

plant witch hazel this fall in a shady area.

Is there a list just for distilling?

Lori Curry - McGaheysville, VA

www.magellansgift.wordpress.com

[Guest guest]

I love hearing about distilling experiences! I only distill wee amounts for

hydrosols, mostly rose geranium. Rose geranium seems to love being potted and

thrives with a little Epsom salt occasionally in the water. I'm itching to

plant witch hazel this fall in a shady area.

Is there a list just for distilling?

Lori Curry - McGaheysville, VA

www.magellansgift.wordpress.com

[Guest guest]

Quoting Steffan Arctander: " Lavandin is a hybrid plant, developed by crossing

the true Lavender plant Lavandula officinalis with the aspic or " spike " lavender

Lavandula latifolia. The resulting plant is called Lavandula hybrida, and exists

in a great number of forms (varieties), ... " This where you get the varieties of

Lavandin grosso and Lavandin super, to name a couple. No offense, but

technically, Lavender grosso is a misnomer. I do not know what 'grosso' means.

Anyone out there to answer this?

[Guest guest]

Maybe Lavandin Grosso?

So, we have Grosso, Sumian, Super, Abrialis .....

[Guest guest]

Maybe Lavandin Grosso?

So, we have Grosso, Sumian, Super, Abrialis .....

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone

Grosso is an italian word meaning big, swollen.

It is used in a french expression " grosso modo " which means about, close enough.

Lavandin var Grosso is found easily in France, much cheaper than the lavenders,

probably for industrial soaps and so.

Lavandin var super is closer to lavender and has a very fine scent.

[Guest guest]

>

>>> Lavender 'Grosso'

>> Are you sure it's Lavender? What does Grosso mean?

>

> More used in aromatherapy for its camphorous notes - a real

> breathing aid.

>

> http://everything-lavender.com/grosso-lavender.html

>

Hi Folks....

Think is correct on this one....S/B Lavandin Grosso

I saw that too, so did a web check...seems the stuff mentioned as

Lavender Grosso is species name Lavandula X intermedia....Which is

Lavandin, by definition...

Lavandin is a hybrid of true Lavender and Spike Lavender...

Nice stuff by the way....But then again, I am a Lavender group fan...

Either is a marketing misnomer, or the biologists have been fooling with

the binomial nomenclature again..

Not sure of the why/what about " Grosso " ........

--

W. Bourbonais

L'Hermite Aromatique

A.J.P. (GIA)

[Guest guest]

Mr. Grosso's farm ??

[Guest guest]

Mr. Grosso's farm ??

[Guest guest]

> http://everything-lavender.com/grosso-lavender.html

>

> Hi Folks....

>

> Think is correct on this one....S/B Lavandin Grosso

>

> I saw that too, so did a web check...seems the stuff mentioned as

> Lavender Grosso is species name Lavandula X intermedia....Which is

> Lavandin, by definition...

>

> Lavandin is a hybrid of true Lavender and Spike Lavender...

>

> Nice stuff by the way....But then again, I am a Lavender group fan...

>

> Either is a marketing misnomer, or the biologists have been fooling with

> the binomial nomenclature again..

>

> Not sure of the why/what about " Grosso " ........

It's still technically a lavender, . Lavandin is a common

name, not a binomial nomenclature.

Grosso means " big " and it's a very big plant, used as a hedge.

Those Latin names are quite descriptive and usually correct. For

instance, I have a Jasminium sambac var. longipetalum blooming

like crazy right now. And yes, those petals are quite long and

lanky!

Anya McCoy

http://AnyasGarden.com

http://PerfumeClasses.com

http://NaturalPerfumers.com

[Guest guest]

>

>>> Lavender 'Grosso'

>> Are you sure it's Lavender? What does Grosso mean?

>

> More used in aromatherapy for its camphorous notes - a real

> breathing aid.

>

> http://everything-lavender.com/grosso-lavender.html

>

Folks.....

Check the hedge in the ListMom's link....!

WOW!....<G>...!

--

W. Bourbonais

L'Hermite Aromatique

A.J.P. (GIA)

[Guest guest]

>

>>> Lavender 'Grosso'

>> Are you sure it's Lavender? What does Grosso mean?

>

> More used in aromatherapy for its camphorous notes - a real

> breathing aid.

>

> http://everything-lavender.com/grosso-lavender.html

>

Folks.....

Check the hedge in the ListMom's link....!

WOW!....<G>...!

--

W. Bourbonais

L'Hermite Aromatique

A.J.P. (GIA)

[Guest guest]

" Grosso means " big " and it's a very big plant, "

Love it. I knew someone that believed Orange oil Guinea, was Italian Orange

oil.

The Riviera was Italian.... sure sounds like an Italian name to me .. <g>

Close but no " fill in your gift " .

[Guest guest]

----- " Bensoussan " wrote:

> Hi everyone

> Grosso is an italian word meaning big, swollen.

Nope.... Mr. Grosso would be upset!

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Thank you for sharing this Jess. How much lavender are you growing? I've yet

to get enough to separate the different types.

>

>

> http://www.sagescript.com

> microbiology, distillates, botanicals

Hi cindy,

always good to hear from you sister distiller! WE are growing about 1.5 acres

of lavender - mostly Buena Vista and Maillette - this was the first year I had

enough to separate out the pinks and really note the differences...fascinating

stuff. I love the mixed batches too though because you always end up surprised!

Planning on replacing some of my older lavenders - we have some true " grosso "

which is a high yielder, but still has that soapy note, that pushy " I am

lavender! " smell...I love the lavenders with the fruity tangy bouquet on top.

finally realized that the " Hidcote pink " smells like red licorice...mmmmmmm, red

licorice.

kindly,

Jess Ring

[Guest guest]

----- " Anya's Garden Perfumes " wrote:

> It's still technically a lavender, . Lavandin is a common

> name, not a binomial nomenclature.

>

> Grosso means " big " and it's a very big plant

So now I'm totally confused. Do we have:

Lavender: Lavandula angustifolia

Lavender: Lavendula super

Lavender: Lavandula officinalis

Lavender: Lavendula sumian

Lavender: Lavendula abrialis

Lavender: Lavandula stoechas

Lavender: Lavandula latifolia

Lavender: Lavendula grosso

Lavender: Lavendula maillette

Lavender " Lavendula munstead

..... and many more.

How can I diferentiate the hybrids?

Can I buy seeds of all the above?

I have seen angustifolia seeds, and officinalis seeds.

I think we also have stoechas seeds.

Any vendor of L. grosso seeds?