www.sausagemaking.org

Posted: **Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:50 pm**

I'm hoping some of you brewers out there might point me in the right direction for the distillation of herbs into essential oils. I saw an interesting copper contraption for doing this a while ago, but can't seem to find one now.

All help gratefully received.

Cheers

Jen

Posted: **Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:55 pm**

Jenny

These may throw some light on it:

http://www.therealessentials.com/Hpage2.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2212208/distillation-of-Herbs

http://www.heartmagic.com/EssentialDistiller.html

Phil

Posted: **Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:11 pm**

Jenn, are you after one of these ornamental stills?

http://www.leylandhomebrew.com/item1464.htm

Dave

Posted: **Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:18 pm**

Thanks guys, a great help as ever!

Good stuff there Wheels

Dave, the copper one is the kind I saw, pricey though if its only for ornament. I assume it is only illegal to distill alcohol with it and not essential oils.

Apart from producing my own sausages bacon cheese etc etc etc I also produce my own skin care. (So this where you all roll over and go to sleep!) Which is why I am interested in distilling essential oils from the all the useful plants I grow. Could be an interesting project.

Posted: **Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:36 pm**

The ornamental is probably meant to be in inverted commas to discourage people from distilling alcohol. I'm fairly sure it's a working still, but it might be worth contacting them to check, stressing that you really do want to make perfumes with it.

Dave

Posted: **Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:41 am**

Jenny

Just a thought - if lavender's anything to go by, you need massive amounts to produce very little oil.

Phil

Posted: **Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:13 am**

In the old days Customs and Excise could issue a permit for a small still to be used in perfumery. But if you're in France who knows?

I have savoured some very good "brandy" made by a young, non-farmer in the Ardeche. Can't remember the details. (Ho,ho)

Posted: **Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:06 pm**

I shall obviously have to do a fair bit of research before I start brewing. I have a good harvest of herbs here and in France, and I do like to make the most of what I grow.

I have some 'interesting' bottles given to me by some of my French neighbours. Notably a seemingly friendly little number called Prune which we have learned to treat with the respect it deserves!

Posted: **Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:50 pm**

Yeah -- a drop of prune respectfully placed behind each ear. Yeah.

Posted: **Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:43 pm**

Jenn, this may clarify the situation regarding the copper stills:

Copper Distiller (3 Litre) "Model"

Strictly speaking, these 'Working Models' are for decorative use only !!!

Order No.: 5950
Our price: ï¿½ 180.00

incl. 15% VAT

http://www.brewingshop.co.uk/sess/utn;j ... shopscript

They also do a 1 litre model at ï¿½160, which I asssume is the same as the one I linked to first.

Dave

Posted: **Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:16 pm**

Thanks Dave.

Posted: **Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:38 pm**

Jemmy, if you are wanting something a bit bigger what about this

http://www.equipnet.com/browse/asset_vi ... 3godQhrV0Q

Or smaller, you could try a school chemistry equipment supplier, I remember doing many school experiments using a fractional distillation column.
http://www.barloworld-scientific.com/in ... TMAY5BQG2H

Of course if you search for this type of equipment you may end up on one of GCHQ's database. Not that I am paranoid you uderstand :wink:

Posted: **Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:45 pm**