steam distillation
binomial name: steam distillation
more an art form than a chemical process, it is the most common of distillation methods for essential oils. it uses pressurized steam to separate plant essences that are temperature-sensitive. fresh or dried plant extracts are placed into a still, the heat of the steam causes the small sacs within the plant that contain the oil to burst. then this mixture of tiny droplets of oil and steam is circulated into a chilled condenser where the steam becomes water again. the essential oil forms a film on the surface, and the mixture is then separated into an essential oil and the remaining water, a hydrosol, that also contains some of the plant’s original essence.
benefit: is the most common form of distillation used to coax out precious oils and improve the quality.
