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Hello and welcome to another episode of Herbs N Weeds. Today is all about choosing good essential oils. In the the show I give a step-by step DIY basic way of distilling oils at home that I will try soon. The two brands of commercially produced oils I prefer currently is Healing Solutions and Plant Therapy, both available on Amazon through these affiliate links. Avoid oil blends unless they are blends of multiple herbs, but I still prefer single 100% essential oils.
Here is the steps that ChatGPT gave for distilling at home.
Tools:
- Large pot with a lid (preferably stainless steel or glass)
- Steamer basket or mesh colander (to suspend plant material above water)
- Heat-safe bowl (to collect oil inside the pot)
- Ice (for condensing steam)
- Tubing (if using a more advanced condenser setup)
- Optional: glass distillation apparatus (for more serious setups)
Materials:
- Fresh or dried plant material
- Distilled water
- Glass containers for collecting and storing the oil
- Dark amber bottles (for storing the finished oil to protect from light)
🔬 Step-by-Step Steam Distillation (Basic DIY Setup):
1. Prepare the Plant Material
- Harvest in the morning (for most plants, this is when oil content is highest).
- Chop or crush to expose oil glands but don’t over-pulverize.
- Use about 2–4 cups of material depending on the potency of the plant.
2. Set Up the Distillation Pot
- Fill the pot with a few inches of water (don’t submerge plant material).
- Place the steamer basket over the water and add the plant material.
- Place the heat-safe bowl on top of the plant material if it fits (to collect oil-water condensation).
3. Invert the Lid and Add Ice
- Turn the pot lid upside-down so it forms a concave shape.
- Place ice on top of the inverted lid – this helps condense the steam back into liquid that drips into your collection bowl.
4. Heat and Monitor
- Bring the water to a gentle boil. Steam rises through the plant material, carrying oil vapors.
- As the steam hits the cold lid, it condenses and drips down into the bowl.
- This collected liquid is a mix of hydrosol (floral water) and essential oil.
5. Separate the Oil
- Once distillation is done (1–2 hours), remove the bowl.
- Let it cool — the oil will float on top of the hydrosol.
- Use a pipette, dropper, or oil separator funnel to skim off the oil.
6. Store Your Essential Oil
- Pour into a dark glass bottle with a tight lid.
- Label with the date and plant name.
- Store in a cool, dark place.
🌱 Tips for Success:
- Use fresh plant material when possible — they contain more oil.
- Distill slowly and steadily. Don’t overheat or burn the material.
- Clean your setup well between batches to avoid cross-contamination.
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