How are essential oils produced ?
Steam distillation
How are essential oils produced ?
Now you know that essential oils are derived from plants , but you may be wondering , “ How does it work ?” While there are several methods for producing essential oils , dōTERRA ® focuses on steam distillation and expression in order to produce high quality oils . Both of these processes are organic , and allow the aromatic compounds to retain their potent , powerful aroma .
It is important to remember that not all essential oils are created equal . The purity of an oil can change depending on geographic location , distillation methods , weather , and other factors . Additionally , no matter how well a plant is selected , cared for , and harvested , the quality of an essential oil can either be preserved or destroyed during the distillation process . Because of the attention to detail and precision necessary in distillation , it is often less of a process and more of an art form . Distillers must be precise and pay careful attention to harvesting , temperatures , time of distillation , the amount of pressure used , etc . To learn more about how a plant part becomes an essential oil , read about steam distillation and expression below .
Steam distillation
As you may have guessed , the process of steam distillation uses heated steam ( as well as pressure ) to extract essential oils from their plant parts . Because this method produces clean , pure essential oils , it is the most commonly used process for producing essential oils . The pressurization used during steam distillation protects the complex chemical compounds of essential oils , because it allows the oil to be distilled at temperatures well below the normal boiling point .
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Steam Distillation
( 1 ) Water is heated creating steam . ( 2 ) The steam passes through the plant material pulling out the oil . ( 3 ) The oil rises with the steam . ( 4 ) The steam is cooled in a condenser . ( 5 ) The oil rises to the top of the water and is extracted . ( 6 ) The floral water is collected for use in home and beauty products .