| Essential oils are generally created through the | | | | Solvent extraction is the most common way to |
| process of distillation. There are three ways to distil | | | | make essential oils. It is also the most expensive way |
| the oils. They include the use of water, direct steam | | | | to do so. However, it provides the best results. |
| and water and steam. The type of distillation that is | | | | Solvent extraction involves taking flower petals and |
| used depends on the plant and what condition it | | | | mixing them with a solvent such as benzene or |
| arrives in. | | | | petroleum. This process continues until all of the |
| Plants or flowers are steamed to create essential oils. | | | | essential oil is taken out of the flower. The extraction |
| The steam suspends the essential oil from the plant. | | | | solution is filtered so that the plant's essential oils are |
| After the steam is allowed to cool, it turns to water | | | | separated from the solution. |
| and the essential oil sits on top of the water, as oil | | | | There are several common ways that are used to |
| and water do not mix. The oil is then taken from the | | | | make essential oils. They include solvent extraction, |
| water. | | | | enfleurage, cold pressing and distillation. All of these |
| Cold pressing is another method used to make | | | | methods are highly effective to extract the essential |
| essential oils. Cold pressing is most often used to | | | | oils from fruit, flowers and plants. The process does |
| extract the essential oils from citrus fruits such as | | | | require some expertise, so if you are planning on |
| tangerine, orange and lemon. The peelings are taken | | | | attempting to create your own essential oils, you will |
| from the fruit and then cold pressed so that the | | | | need to look further into the process. A good book |
| essential oils can be collected. | | | | on the process may be order. You can likely find |
| Enfleurage is also a method used to extract essential | | | | ones at your local bookstore, library or online. If you |
| oils. Flower petals are pressed into wax or warm oils | | | | have a plant near where you live that makes |
| until the essential oils come away from the flower | | | | essential oils, you may call them up and request a |
| petal and into the warm oils or wax. | | | | tour. |