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Extraction of essential oils

Extracted by man

It is now about capturing the plant's substance, its most intimate gift, its olfactory treasure :
the essential oil.
And it is not as easy as it seems.

Naturally, everything starts with cultivation and harvest of the plant.
By the way, Gedane's social and environmental policy is guided by a philosophy of deep respect and love of the world and of what grows in it, of other people and their lifestyle and a desire to put smiles on face at each step from oil production to oil distribution and ... this is your part here: to see smiles on your face when you use them.

Cultivation is more important than one mignt imagine.
Indeed, growing conditions have a decisive impact on the chemical content of the oil, and hence therapeutic quality as well as potential contraindications (let alone the energy of the plant that will be in its essential oil)

The timing of the harvest is also a deciding factor.
Indeed, a plant doesn't have the same smell, or properties if it is harvested in the morning or at night because its internal chemistry changes.
The same thing applies after a dry or humid season, at different stages of maturation etc.
The distiller master's eye and intuition conduct the harvesting team like an orchestra.
His experience make a difference between a nice essential oil with a pleasant smell and an excpetional jewel gushing out of the bottle so powerfully.

Then comes the magical time of distillation.

This is done with a still : it's like a big saucepan, made specifically for this purpose.
Plants are watched during the whole time of the process by the distiller master who knows his plants and his machine.

He believes and follows his own sense of smell, and even his hearing, paying attention to the noises the plants and steam make. Thus, he adjusts flows, pressure and stops the distillation at the right time.
Indeed, each plant requires a different distillation time one has to respect.
Otherwise, it cannot give "all it has to offer" or can burn, or go bad.

Plants are prepared (depending on the plant : dried, crushed, minced, fresh, peeled etc.)
They are put into the still just a few inches above water level thanks to separator, a wire (some plants are distilled soaking, sirectly in the water). Most modern stills have separate stoves, which means water is heated separately.
Water is heated and steam goes through the plant, carrying the essential oils.
The steam, full of essential oils, is collected by the lid of this big saucepan called a still, and directed into a pipe.
The long and spiral-shaped pipe (for more exchange surface), is called serpentine. It is cooled down from the outside with water. Steam condenses and reaches the Florentine vase or censer.
There, oil and water form what is called distillate. It is divided into 2 phases.
- Water phase : floral water or hydrolat or hydrosol. It contains water-soluble molecules and a small amount of liposoluble molecules. Even ecologically, it would be a shame to waste it. Therapeutically and tastefully, it also is wonderful.
- Oil phase: the essential oil. For most oils, it floats on the surface. But for rare ones, it plunges underneath water.
We simply have to collect the oil above and the floral water underneath, filter them and put them into barrels.
Gedane take particular pride to respect the planet in all production aspects and have them shipped by boat rather than by plane. This requires a more intense stock control (deadlines, marine currents...) but it is done with smiles so that our beautiful Earth will be the same gift for our children as the one we ourselves inherited.
All that remains is bottling and labelling, which are two substantial tasks. More than one might imagine it is, to make beautiful stickers and meet highly demanding norms in terms of compulsory information appearing on the bottle. (Plus non-mandatory information Gedane probably is the only company to write : batch chemotype quantified with the main molecules.)

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	Session user: 78d321ef99241dbf05c3005838a4ddb3 Accueil > Essential Oils > Extraction of essential oils Share this page : Extraction of essential oils Extracted by man It is now about capturing the plant's substance, its most intimate gift, its olfactory treasure : the essential oil. And it is not as easy as it seems. Naturally, everything starts with cultivation and harvest of the plant. By the way, Gedane's social and environmental policy is guided by a philosophy of deep respect and love of the world and of what grows in it, of other people and their lifestyle and a desire to put smiles on face at each step from oil production to oil distribution and ... this is your part here: to see smiles on your face when you use them. Cultivation is more important than one mignt imagine. Indeed, growing conditions have a decisive impact on the chemical content of the oil, and hence therapeutic quality as well as potential contraindications (let alone the energy of the plant that will be in its essential oil) The timing of the harvest is also a deciding factor. Indeed, a plant doesn't have the same smell, or properties if it is harvested in the morning or at night because its internal chemistry changes. The same thing applies after a dry or humid season, at different stages of maturation etc. The distiller master's eye and intuition conduct the harvesting team like an orchestra. His experience make a difference between a nice essential oil with a pleasant smell and an excpetional jewel gushing out of the bottle so powerfully. Then comes the magical time of distillation. This is done with a still : it's like a big saucepan, made specifically for this purpose. Plants are watched during the whole time of the process by the distiller master who knows his plants and his machine. He believes and follows his own sense of smell, and even his hearing, paying attention to the noises the plants and steam make. Thus, he adjusts flows, pressure and stops the distillation at the right time. Indeed, each plant requires a different distillation time one has to respect. Otherwise, it cannot give "all it has to offer" or can burn, or go bad. Plants are prepared (depending on the plant : dried, crushed, minced, fresh, peeled etc.) They are put into the still just a few inches above water level thanks to separator, a wire (some plants are distilled soaking, sirectly in the water). Most modern stills have separate stoves, which means water is heated separately. Water is heated and steam goes through the plant, carrying the essential oils. The steam, full of essential oils, is collected by the lid of this big saucepan called a still, and directed into a pipe. The long and spiral-shaped pipe (for more exchange surface), is called serpentine. It is cooled down from the outside with water. Steam condenses and reaches the Florentine vase or censer. There, oil and water form what is called distillate. It is divided into 2 phases. Water phase : floral water or hydrolat or hydrosol. It contains water-soluble molecules and a small amount of liposoluble molecules. Even ecologically, it would be a shame to waste it. Therapeutically and tastefully, it also is wonderful. Oil phase: the essential oil. For most oils, it floats on the surface. But for rare ones, it plunges underneath water. We simply have to collect the oil above and the floral water underneath, filter them and put them into barrels. Gedane take particular pride to respect the planet in all production aspects and have them shipped by boat rather than by plane. This requires a more intense stock control (deadlines, marine currents...) but it is done with smiles so that our beautiful Earth will be the same gift for our children as the one we ourselves inherited. All that remains is bottling and labelling, which are two substantial tasks. More than one might imagine it is, to make beautiful stickers and meet highly demanding norms in terms of compulsory information appearing on the bottle. (Plus non-mandatory information Gedane probably is the only company to write : batch chemotype quantified with the main molecules.)	My account Already registered: login Essential oils --> Complete range <-- Agatophylle Ajowan Ajwain Allspice Angelica Arabian jasmine Archangel Balsam fir Basil Basil (exotic) Bay Laurel Bergamot Black pepper Black spruce Blue ginger Cananga Cane Cardamom Cedar Cedarwood Celery Ceylan citronella Chamomile Chamomile (roman) Cilanthro (leaves) Cinnamon Cinnamon bark Cinnamon leaves Citronella Citronella Clove Clove bud Cochingrass Common sage Coriander Cumin Cupressus Curcuma Curry leaf Curry plant Curry tree Cuscusgras Cypress Davana Deodar Cedar Dill East-indian Lemongrass Essential discoveries Eucalyptus radiata Everlasting Exotic basil Fennel Fir Fir (balsam) Flag Frankincense Frankincense (salai) Galanga Galangal Garden Angelica Garden dill Geranium Ginger Gingergrass Grapefruit Greater galanga Green Mandarin Green cardamom Green pepper Grey eucalyptus Helichrysum angustifolium Helichrysum italicum Himalayan cedar Holy basil Ilang-Ilang Indian Basil Indian Frankincense Indian Wintergreen Jamanatsi Jasmine Jeera safed Juniper berries Khus-khus Lavender Lemon Lemon (yellow) Lemongrass Mace Malabargrass Mandarin Mediterranean sweet lemon Molmol Myrrh Mulilam Muskroot Myrrh Myrrh (molmol) Nard Nardin Narrow leaf eucalyptus Narrow leaved peppermint Nutmeg Officinal lavender Officinal rosemary Orange Orange (sweet) Oregano Palmarosa Parsley Patchouli Pelargonium Pepper Peppermint Pimento Pine Pine (Norway) Pomelo Ravensara Ravensare Ravintsara Roman chamomile Rose geranium Rose pelargonium Rosemary Rosemary borneon Royal jasmine Sacred basil Sage Salai Frankincense Salvia Sambac Scotch Pine Shaddock Spanish jasmine Spearmint Spikenard Spruce Sweet Lime Sweet cane Sweet celery Sweet fennel Sweet flag Sweet lemon Sweet lime Sweet limetta Sweet orange Tea tree m.a. Thai galangal Thai ginger Thyme Tropical Basil True lavender Tulsi Turmeric Valerian Vanilla Vetiver White cumin White pepper Wild marjoram Wintergreen Yellow lemon Ylang-ylang Zanthoxylum Orange peel Aromatherapy accessories Purple range Essential blends Sprays Diffusion blends Perfume Creams Praktiful Boxes Terms and conditions
	Links English version by Bastien Gavoille, thank you for the authors © 2009-2010 Gedane

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