How does the process work?

1.  Plant material setup: The leaves, flowers, or roots are placed into the still.
2. Steam passage: Hot, high-pressure steam passes through the plant material.
3.  Release: The hot steam ruptures the microscopic secretory pockets hidden at the heart of the plant, releasing the aromatic compounds.
4.  Condensation: The oil-laden steam is directed toward a cooling tube, where it condenses and turns back into a liquid.
5.   Separation: Since oil is lighter than water and does not mix with it, the pure essential oil separates at the surface, sitting above the distilled water—often called “rose water” or “orange blossom water” depending on the plant—which is collected at the bottom.

2. Cold expression or mechanical extraction

This method is reserved exclusively for the citrus family, such as lemon, orange, and mandarin. Why citrus in particular? Because the secretory pockets containing the essential oil are visible within the soft outer peel, or “zest,” and require no heat to be extracted. We mechanically grate and press the fresh peels without any heat or steam. This pressure allows us to extract the oils in a 100% natural and pure way, while preserving their original, fresh scent.