Distilling Essential Oil

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Foundation course

This course is perfect for those who want to make essential oils for themselves, their practice, or small-business. It is designed to suit both beginners and those already familiar with other distillation techniques.

Video course: 1hr of pre-recorded, on demand video (in 11 modules).

Printable course materials: Downloadable PDFs of our detailed course notes, as well as recipes, tables, formulations and further resources.

Lifetime access: You’ll have access to your courses to watch and review whenever you want.

Support and membership: When you buy this course, you gain automatic membership to The Alembics Lab course forums. This is an interactive space for questions, further learning and scheduled live events.

This course features a walk-through of two different distillation techniques for producing essential oil—a rosemary steam-distillation (modules 1-6), followed by a cardamom combo-distillation (modules 7-11). We’ll discuss the appropriate approach to take depending on what type of plant material you choose and what you hope to achieve.

Course Content

Before you begin

Introduction

Module 1: Cleaning and sanitising your still

Module 2: Packing the column

Module 3: Sustainability and understanding your botanicals

Module 4: What is an essential oil? A distiller’s perspective…

Module 5: The steam distillation

Module 6: Collecting your essential oil

Module 7: Setting up a combo distillation

Module 8: A note on reflux

Module 9: Collecting distillate and recording information

Module 10: The products of our combo distillation

Module 11: Comparing our hydrosol and essential oil

Just a device and internet connection, as our courses are totally online. You don’t need a still in order to learn with us, but chances are after taking these courses, you’ll want one!

Each course comes with printable course materials, which will have a list of equipment and supplies used in the distillation, so you can outfit yourself beforehand should you want to distil along with us. As a guide, our basic set-up will include:

A still
Heat source (such as an electric hotplate or gas burner)
Submersible in-line pump and water reservoir (bucket, container or sink)
Accessories and tools (plastic tubing, scissors, electrical tape, beakers or jars)

Course Content

Before you begin

Introduction

Module 1: Cleaning and sanitising your still

Module 2: Packing the column

Module 3: Sustainability and understanding your botanicals

Module 4: What is an essential oil? A distiller’s perspective…

Module 5: The steam distillation

Module 6: Collecting your essential oil

Module 7: Setting up a combo distillation

Module 8: A note on reflux

Module 9: Collecting distillate and recording information

Module 10: The products of our combo distillation

Module 11: Comparing our hydrosol and essential oil

Video course: 1hr of pre-recorded, on demand video (in 11 modules).

Printable course materials: Downloadable PDFs of our detailed course notes, as well as recipes, tables, formulations and further resources.

Lifetime access: You’ll have access to your courses to watch and review whenever you want.

Support and membership: When you buy this course, you gain automatic membership to The Alembics Lab student forums. This is an interactive space for questions, further learning and scheduled live events.

Just a device and internet connection, as our courses are totally online. You don’t need a still in order to learn with us, but chances are after taking these courses, you’ll want one!

A still
Heat source (such as an electric hotplate or gas burner)
Submersible in-line pump and water reservoir (bucket, container or sink)
Accessories and tools (plastic tubing, scissors, electrical tape, beakers or jars)

Course Overview

Our foundation course will introduce you to the technique of steam-distillation, and show you how to produce top-quality, natural essential oils for yourself, your practice or small business. We will guide you through the process, from selecting and preparing plant material, to packing and assembling the still through to collecting and bottling your oils. After the course, you will be equipped with a more precise knowledge of what you want to achieve at home, and clear instructions to follow. You will also gain an appreciation of how much plant material is necessary to create essential oils, and be encouraged to develop a sustainable relationship with the plants you are using.

What you’ll learn

The two techniques of steam and combo distillation.
Set up, packing your still, collecting your distillate and when to stop.
What is an essential oil, and what are VOCs?
About the plants, their properties and uses.
A comparison of the properties and uses of hydrosols and essential oils.

$107.49USD

Bundle all 3 Foundation Courses for $276.41USD!

Purchase our 3 Foundation Courses and save, normally $322.48USD.

You are enrolled in this course

‘I was given a beautiful 10L copper still by my husband several years ago. I was delighted, but slightly intimidated by its seeming mystery, until I took one of Jill’s courses. She brought the whole distillation process to life, and demystified it for me. Since then I have distilled all kinds of plants from my garden, and it’s incredibly rewarding. I am very grateful to Jill for bringing the wonder of distillation into my life.’

– Anna Devcich, Gisborne NZ

Meet your Instructor

Jill Mulvaney

Jill Mulvaney is one of New Zealand’s leading distillation experts. She consults and teaches on all aspects of plant extraction for natural aroma and flavour. She teaches distillation workshops throughout NZ and internationally, enjoying teaching partnerships with internationally renowned phytochemists and aromatic distillers in Europe and America. Jill’s practice is informed by decades of experience with plants, and a deep respect for the natural world.

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Getting Started

To get you started we offer two free introductory courses. We’ll explain what you need, how to prepare your equipment and ingredients, as well as cleaning your still after use.

INTRODUCTION COURSES