Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Distilling Lavender and other herbs

Tina Sams of The Essential Herbal Magazine has a tabletop size glass still.
Peace Valley Lavender Farm, has a copper still going in the background.
Carousel Lavender Farm is running a stainless still.
Many people ask if we distill our own essential oils. We do not simply because it takes pounds and pounds of material to get even a small amount of oil. However, with a still of some sort, the product you will get is called a "hydrosol" or a floral water which is basically a water with trace amounts of the essential oil left in it. Lavender water can then be used as a perfume, a spray on linens, to cook with, and many other uses. More common is Rose Water and Orange Flower Water, frequently used culinary delights.

3 comments:

Donna and Miss Spenser said...

So interesting! Now, I would have enjoyed chemistry if we had been messing around with flowers (especially lavender) rather than the other things! ha...

Have a great day...I think vacation is just around the corner?!!

Donna

Angela McRae said...

Never knew all the work that went into creating essential oils!

Linda Jennings said...

Very interesting!!