The main methods for extracting essential oils are distillation, pressing, lipolysis, solvent extraction and supercritical fluid extraction.

1. Distillation

This is one of the earliest methods for extracting aromatic essential oils from the plant world. With the evolution of different eras, the distillation equipment has been significantly improved. This extraction method is very convenient. It is to boil the raw materials with water or use steam to extract them. Today, distillation has become the most commonly used method for extracting essential oils

2. Pressing

This method is mostly used to extract citrus essential oils. It is the most traditional and economical family production method for preserving citrus essence

3. Lipid absorption

Lipid absorption is the oldest method of extracting aromatic essential oils in Grasse, southern France. Because it takes a lot of manpower and time, it is also the most expensive extraction method. The principle is to use the physical property of oil to absorb oil to extract aromatic essential oils1

4. Solvent extraction method

Use alcohol, ether, liquid butane, etc. solvents to repeatedly pour on the plants to be extracted, and then slowly heat them with electric heating to extract the essential oils in the raw materials. Then stir the solvent containing essential oils with alcohol, cool it, separate and analyze it, and distill it at low temperature to get the essential oils1

5. Supercritical fluid extraction method

Supercritical fluid extraction is a new extraction and separation technology. Because it requires expensive equipment, it is not a commonly used method for making essential oils at present

So what are the key steps involved in the essential oil extraction process?

1. Prepare plant materials: Properly treat the plant materials, such as washing, drying, chopping, etc., to facilitate the subsequent extraction process.

2. Extract essential oils: Perform corresponding operations according to the selected extraction method. For example, in the steam distillation method, the plant material is placed in a distillation container, and high-temperature steam is passed through to evaporate the essential oils with the water vapor.

3. Separation of essential oils and water: Essential oils and water have different specific gravities, and they can be separated by static stratification or using a centrifuge.

4. Refining essential oils: In order to improve the quality and purity of essential oils, further refining steps may be required, such as filtering, bleaching, deodorization, etc.

5. Packaging and storage: The extracted essential oils are properly packaged and stored under appropriate conditions to prevent deterioration and loss of their active ingredients.

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