Steam Distillation is the most popular method used to extract and isolate essential oils from plants for use in natural products. This happens when the steam vaporizes the plant material's volatile compounds, which eventually go through a condensation and collection process.

How is steam distillation used to extract essential oils?

It is a multistage continuous distillation process where steam is used as a stripping gas to extract the oils. Steam is directed through the plant material. The mixture of hot vapours is collected and condensed in order to produce a liquid in which the oil and water form two distinct layers.

How does steam distillation work?

The principle behind the steam distillation process is that when the heating of a mixture of two or more immiscible liquids takes place, the vapour pressure exerted by the system increases. This is because it now becomes the sum of the vapour pressures of all of the components of the mixture combined together.