Distillation

The principle of distillation

Distillation is a technique based on the evaporation of water vapor and its ability to become imbued with essential oils. To achieve this, plants or other materials to be distilled are placed on a perforated tray located in the upper part of a still's vat. This vat is filled with water brought to a boil. Water vapor is thus released and, as it rises, becomes imbued with the odoriferous compounds of the plants placed in the upper basket. The whole is then carried through a coil and then through a cooling system that causes condensation. There, the essence obtained is collected in an essence separator (or a Florentine flask) in which the liquids naturally separate due to their differences in density. The essential oils are then collected on the surface before being used in perfumery.

The ancestral practice of distillation

Distillation has been known since antiquity. Indeed, primitive types of stills have been discovered by archaeologists in northern Iraq. It is estimated that these date back to 3500 BC. Similarly, similar objects have been found in the Indus region, between Pakistan and China, as well as in Crete and in Egypt, in Alexandria. Likewise, a manuscript belonging to an Alexandrian alchemist, dating from the fourth century and depicting an illustration of a still, was found during recent excavations. Westerners, for their part, developed distillation starting in the twelfth century. However, it was intended more for medicine and reserved for physicians and apothecaries. In fact, the commercial rise of this practice did not truly begin until the seventeenth century, eventually extending into the world of perfumery. Nevertheless, distillation proves to be a method that remains highly effective and is still particularly widely used today.

The various components required for distillation

Distillation is a process that requires few components. The essential part of this manufacturing technique lies in the choice of plants from which the aromas will be extracted. These are selected for their odoriferous qualities and can sometimes reach exorbitant prices. Moreover, the production of certain perfumes requires colossal quantities of flowers. In fact, five to six tons of plants are sometimes needed to obtain a single kilo of essential oil. The other tool indispensable to distillation is the still. Two systems stand in contrast. One may consist of a system made up of a pot containing water at the bottom, with the plants arranged on a grid above it. The second system involves an independent boiler with pressurized steam injection entering the pot. Finally, the last necessary ingredient is water, to produce the vapor.

Of course, although widely used in perfumery, distillation is not the only manufacturing process for perfumes. Moreover, it does not apply to all products, and a great many other kinds of expertise are in fact indispensable to manufacture the impressive quantity of fragrances available on our shelves today.