Extracting, Distilling, and Enjoying Plant Essences & Hydrosols: With their pleasing scents and uses in natural remedies, essential oils are more in demand now than ever. Unfortunately, modern production methods and unscrupulous labeling practices make it extremely difficult for consumers to know whether an oil is genuine or artificial, and increasingly the only way to be certain that your essential oils are free from chemical additives is to make them yourself.

Producing your own essential oils and hydrosols in small quantities is easier than you might think, especially with the guidance of Austrian master distillers Helge Schmickl and Bettina Malle. Translated from its original German, The Essential Oil Maker’s Handbook has been revised and updated to include information on hydrosols, the aromatic water once considered a mere by-product but now recognized as a valuable substance in itself. Learn how to make your own shower gels and creams using essential oils that you created yourself out of materials from your garden and pantry, without chemical additives.

The authors provide guidance, based on data from their own experiences, on the harvesting, processing, and use of 130 indigenous and exotic plants as well as the necessary equipment for oil extraction. This guide covers in detail:

• Effective procedures
• Necessary equipment
• Suitable plants
• Practical uses for your oils
• Tips and tricks

Including about 40 base recipes for personal care products—from bathing additives to facial and body care to perfume—this book provides a solid foundation for both beginners and professionals. This detailed and authoritative reference is indispensable in appreciating the production and wide range of applications of essential oils.

Preface to the English-Language Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Introduction
1. Historical Overview
2. Basics
   • What are essential oils and hydrosols?
     Essential oils, Hydrosols, Extracts, Aqueous extracts, Alcoholic or oily extracts
   • Uses
     Aroma baths, Flavoring, Skin care, Fragrant oil burners, Hair care, Internal uses, Body and massage oils, Liqueurs, Perfumes
   • Extraction methods
     Steam distillation, Fractional distillation, Co-distillation, Cold pressing, Solvent extraction, Enfleurage, Maceration/Infusion, Resinoid process, Carbon dioxide extraction
   • Checking the quality
3. Making Your Own Oil, Step by Step
   • Steam distillation
     The principle, Stills, Building your own still, Tea kettle, Pressure cooker, Wok still, Classic still with a lyne arm, Classic still with a vertical condenser, Glass still, Buying a still, Small stills, Large stills
     Preparing the plants
     Harvest: Roses and jasmine, Lavender, Herbs, Citrus fruits, Seeds, Branches
     Cutting up the plants: Citrus fruits, Spice seeds, Dried herbs, Fresh herbs, Juniper berries, Bark, Petals, Conifers
     The distillation process
     Filling
     Distilling
     Double distillation: First distillation, Second distillation
   • Separating the hydrosol and the oil
     Syringe: Oils lighter than water, Oils heavier than water
     Pipette
     Separatory funnel: Oils lighter than water, Oils heavier than water
     Automatic oil separator
     Florentine flask or essencier
     Cleanliness
     
   • Calculating the yield
   • Cold pressing
   • Maceration
   • Enfleurage
   • Storing oils
     Excessively high and low temperatures
4. Distillable Materials
   • Types of plants, specific instructions for distillation
     Allspice / pimento, Angelica, Anise, star anise, Balm, lemon balm, bee balm, Balsam poplar, Basil, Bay laurel, Bay rum tree / West Indian bay tree, Benzoin, Bergamot, Birch Bitter orange / neroli, Bitter orange / petitgrain, Broom, Cajuput, Camphor, Caraway, Cumin, Cardamom, Cedar, Celery, Chamomile, Cilantro, Cinnamon, Citronella, Clary sage, Clementine, Clove, Cotton lavender, Cypress, Damiana, Davana, Dill, Elecampane, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Fir, Douglas, Frankincense, Garlic, Geranium, storksbill, pelargonium, Ginger, Grapefruit, Ground ivy, Hemp, Hogweed, Hops, Hyssop, Iris, Jasmine, Juniper, Larch, Lavender and lavandin, Lemon, Lemon verbena, Lemongrass, Lime, Lovage, Marigold, Marjoram, Mint: spearmint, pennyroyal, field mint, peppermint, Mountain pine, Mugwort, Myrrh, Myrtle, Narcissus, Nutmeg, Oakmoss, Orange, Oregano, Palmarosa, Palo santo, Parsley, Patchouli, Pepper, Peppermint, Queen Anne’s Lace (Wild Carrot), Ramson, Rockrose, Rose, Rosemary, Rosewood, Rue, Sage, Sandalwood, amyris, Savory, Scotch pine, Spike lavender, Spikenard, Spruce, Norway spruce, St. John’s wort, Strawflower, immortelle, everlasting, Swiss pine, Tangerine, Tansy, Tarragon, Tea tree, Thuja, Thyme, wild thyme / creeping thyme, Tuberose, night hyacinth, Turmeric, Valerian, Alpine valerian, spikenard, Vetiver, Violet, Wattle, mimosa, Wormwood, mugwort, Yarrow, Yellow jade orchid blossoms, champaca, Joy, Ylang-ylang / cananga
   • Overview: Plants and their effects
5. Using Your Oils
   • Base substances and materials
     Neutral carrier oils: Almond oil, Avocado oil, Corn oil, Jojoba oil, Macadamia oil, Olive oil, Sesame oil, Soy oil, Sunflower oil, Walnut oil
     Additives: Alcohol, Beeswax, Hydrosol, Lanolin (wool fat), Soap flakes, Soft soap
     Shaking the hydrosol
     Equipment
   • Safety precautions
   • Bath additives
     Full bath additive, Bath salts, Shower gel, Footbath additive
   • Facial and body care
     Milky cleanser, Cleansing oil, Makeup remover, Exfoliant (face scrub), Face packs, Facial cleanser, Facial cream, Night cream, Massage oil, Facial oil, Sunscreen oil, Deodorant, Mouthwash
   • Shaving
     Shaving soap, Aftershave
   • Hair care
     Shampoo, Hair tonic (conditioner)
   • Soap
   • Perfume
   • Liqueurs
     Absinthe flavor (Swiss style I), Absinthe flavor (Swiss style II), Anise I, Anise II, Caraway, Caraway, Breslau style, Caraway, Danzig style, Carmelite style, Cherry, Jenever style, Krambambula, Lemon, Peppermint
     Crèmes: Anise, Anisette, Bitter liqueur, Caraway liqueur (Magdeburg style), Danziger Goldwasser style, Eisenbahn (railroad) liqueur, Peppermint liqueur I, Peppermint liqueur II, Raspberry, Rose liqueur
     
   • Miscellaneous
     Black tea, Sauna infusions, Fragrant oil burners, Potpourri, Air freshener sprays, Gauze pads, Inhalant, Ironing water, Laundry
6. Frequently Asked Questions
7. Afterword
8. Harvest Calendar
Index
About the Authors

Der Trend zum bewussten Umgang mit Körper und Geist lässt immer mehr Menschen zu natürlichen Heil- und Duftstoffen greifen. Eine bedeutende Rolle kommt dabei den ätherischen Ölen zu. So mancher möchte sein Öl selbst herstellen mit selbst ausgesuchten Rohstoffen, ohne chemische Zusätze und mit individueller Duftnote. Allerdings gab es bislang keinen Ratgeber, der den Herstellungsprozess für Laien detailliert beschreibt. Das vorliegende Buch schließt diese Lücke. Fachkundig informieren die Autoren über die Verwendung heimischer und exotischer Pflanzen und die notwendigen Gerätschaften zur Ölgewinnung. Anschaulich werden die entsprechenden Verfahren erläutert und die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten als Parfüm, Creme oder Shampoo vorgestellt.

• Notwendige Gerätschaften
• Vorbereitung der Pflanzen
• Durchführung der Wasserdampfdestillation
• Durchführung der Enfleurage
• Durchführung der Kaltpressung
• Pflanzenkatalog
• Rezepte für Cremes, Seifen, Parfum...

Das vorliegende Buch ist nicht nur für Anfänger interessant, auch passionierte Hersteller von ätherischen Ölen werden hier viele Neuheiten und Tipps finden.

Vorwort
Einleitung
1. Kleiner Ausflug in die Geschichte
2. Grundlagen
   Was sind ätherische Öle?; Anwendungsmöglichkeiten; Arten der Gewinnung; Wasserdampfdestillation; Fraktionierte Destillation; Kaltpressung; Extraktionsverfahren; Lösemittelextraktion; Enfleurage; Mazeration; Resinoid-Herstellung; Kohlendioxidextraktion; Qualitätsprüfung
3. Schritt für Schritt zum eigenen Öl
   Wasserdampfdestillation; Das Prinzip; Die Destillen; Konstruktion einer eigenen Destille; Teekessel; Druckkochtopf; Wok-Destille; Klassische Destille mit Geistrohr; Klassische Destille mit senkrechter Kühlung; Destille aus Glas; Kauf einer Anlage; Großanlagen; Vorbereitung der Pflanzen; Ernte; Zerkleinern der Pflanzen; Der Destillationsvorgang; Befüllen; Destillieren; Zweifache Destillation; Kaltpressung; Enfleurage; Trennung Hydrolat-Öl und Ausbeutenberechnung; Spritze; Pipette; Scheidetrichter; Automatischer Ölabscheider; Florentinervase; Sauberkeit; Ausbeuteberechnung; Aufbewahrung der Öle
4. Rohstoffe zum Destillieren
   Beschreibung inkl. Ausbeute, Erntezeitpunkt, welche Pflanzenteile Öl enthalten und deren optimale Behandlung: Alant, Angelika, Anis, Baldrian, Bärlauch, Basilikum, Bay, Beifuß, Benzoe Siam, Bergamotte, Birke, Bohnenkraut, Cajeput, Cistrose, Clementine, Davana, Dill, Dost, Eichenmoos, Estragon, Eukalyptus, Fenchel, Fichte, Föhre, Geranie, Gewürznelke, Ginster, Grapefruit, Gundelrebe, Hanf, Heiligenkraut, Hopfen, Ingwer, Iris, Jasmin, Johanniskraut, Kamille, Kampfer, Kardamom, Karotte, Kiefer, Knoblauch, Koriander, Kümmel, Kurkuma, Lärche, Latschenkiefer, Lavadin, Lavendel, Liebstöckel, Limette, Lorbeer, Magnolie, Majoran, Mandarine, Melisse, Mimose, Minze, Muskatellersalbei, Muskatnuß, Myrre, Myrte, Narde, Narzisse, Neroli, Orange, Oregano, Palmarosa, Palo Santo, Patschuli, Petersilie, Petitgrain, Pfeffer, Piment, Rainfarn, Ringelblume, Rose, Rosenholz, Rosmarin, Salbei, Sandelholz, Schafgarbe, Sellerie, Speik, Speiklavendel, Strohblume, Tagetes, Tanne, Teebaum, Thuja, Thymian, Tuberose, Veilchen, Vetiver, Wacholder, Weihrauch, Wermut, Wiesenbärenklau, Ylang-Ylang, Ysop, Zeder, Zimt, Zitrone, Zitronengras, Zitronenverbene, Zypresse; Überblick
5. Anwendung der Öle
   Grundsubstanzen und Materialien; Sicherheitshinweise; Badezusätze; Gesichts- und Körperpflege; Haarpflege; Rasur; Seife; Parfum; Verschiedenes
6. Nachgefragt
7. Epilog
8. Erntekalender
Stichwortverzeichnis