Extraction Methods of Essential Oils

There are several different extraction methods of essential oils. The reason for this is because of the various types of plant material used to make essential oils. The type of extraction method used depends upon the plant material being used.

If you use essential oils, you should be familiar with the different extraction methods. This knowledge will help you determine the quality of the oils you purchase. If an essential oil is made with the incorrect extraction method for that particular plant material, it can directly affect the quality of the oil.

Extraction Methods of Essential Oils - Distillation

Distillation is a method of extracting essential oils using vapors. This is one of the most popular of the extraction methods because of its low production costs. During the process of distillation, the essential oils are turned into vapor and then condensed back into a liquid.

There are a few different types of distillation also; water distillation, steam distillation and hydro diffusion. When water distillation is used as the extraction method of essential oils, the plant material is submerged in water and brought to a boil. When the material is cooled, the water is separated from the essential oil and the oils are decanted. Any oils that are heat sensitive, such as Neroli essential oil, are best suited to this extraction method.

When steam distillation is used as the extraction method of essential oils, the plant material is covered with steam. The steam helps the plant material release the essential oils and they evaporate into the steam. The steam is then cooled, turned to a liquid and the water and essential oils are separated. Even heat sensitive oils can be extracted using this method.

When hydro diffusion is used as the extraction method of essential oils, it's done almost exactly the same way as the steam distillation extraction method. The only difference between the two is the way the steam is delivered to the plant material. In steam distillation, the steam is introduced from the bottom while it's fed from the top during the hydro diffusion extraction method.

Extraction Methods of Essential Oils - Expression

Expression is a cold-pressed method of extraction of essential oils. It is mostly used in the extraction of citrus essential oils such as orange, grapefruit, lime and lemon essential oils. Anytime a cold-pressed method of extraction of essential oils is mentioned, it almost always refers to expression.

The citrus fruit is first placed in a device and rotated. There are spikes on the side of the device, puncturing the skin of the fruit and thus, the oil cells. When the oil cells rupture, essential oils is drained and collected for use.

Extraction Methods of Essential Oils - Solvent Extraction

The final extraction method of essential oils is solvent extraction. With this method, the essential oils are removed using solvents. This method is best used to extract essential oils with a very low oil yield. There are several ways the solvent extraction method is used to extract essential oils, including maceration and enfleurage.

During the maceration extraction method of essential oils, flowers are soaked in hot oil until the cell membranes rupture. Then, the oil is drained and decanted, effectively collecting the essential oils.

Enfleurage is a very expensive and labor intensive way of extracting essential oils and as such it is seldom used. During this extraction method, flower petals are covered in vegetable oil and pressed in glass frames. After all the essence has been depleted from the petals they are discarded and a new batch added to the oil. This is done several times before the fragrant oil is removed and the essential oil is extracted.