Essential Oil & Steam Distillers

How does an essential oil distiller work?

An essential oil distiller is designed to extract essential oils and aromatic waters from herbs, flowers and other suitable plant materials by means of steam distillation.

Unlike immersion distillation, the botanical material is not placed directly in the water. Water is heated in the boiler and the resulting steam rises through a filter column containing the plant material.

As the steam passes through the botanicals, it carries aromatic components towards the cooling system. The vapours then condense and are collected as a liquid containing both essential oil and hydrosol, which can subsequently be separated.

Essential oil distiller, extractor or still?

These products may also be described as essential oil extractors, essential oil stills or steam distillers. In this category, the common purpose is to process suitable botanical material by passing steam through it and then condensing the resulting vapours.

The most suitable equipment depends on the quantity and type of plant material, the required capacity, the cooling configuration and the intended frequency of use.

Plants suitable for steam distillation

Steam distillers can be used with suitable aromatic herbs, flowers and medicinal plants. Examples include lavender, rosemary, mint, sage, bay leaves, thyme and chamomile.

The amount of essential oil obtained depends on several factors, including the type of plant, the quantity processed, its condition and the quality of the raw material.

Mushroom-head or coil condenser?

Essential oil distillers can use different cooling systems. Mushroom-head models integrate the cooling section into the upper part of the still, resulting in a compact configuration.

Coil condenser models use a separate lateral cooling system in which the vapours pass through a coil surrounded by water.

Both configurations are available in this category. The choice should be based on available space, required capacity, preferred cooling arrangement and intended use rather than on an assumed difference in final product quality.

For traditional copper stills primarily intended for spirits, you can also compare our Mushroom-Head Copper Stills and Coil Condenser Copper Stills.

How to choose the capacity of a steam distiller

Capacity is one of the main factors to consider when choosing a steam distiller. A smaller model may be suitable for initial trials, occasional processing or working with limited quantities of herbs and flowers.

Larger models may be more suitable when greater quantities of plant material are available or when distillation is carried out more frequently.

Capacity should not be considered in isolation. Also take into account the available space, the amount of botanical material to be processed, ease of handling and the water required for the cooling system.

Accessories for essential oil distillation

Collection vessels, graduated containers and tools for separating the essential oil from the hydrosol can be useful during and after the distillation process.

A separating funnel, for example, can help separate the two liquid phases after distillation. Browse our Distillation Accessories for compatible tools, components and spare parts.

Always check that the selected accessory is suitable for the specific distiller and intended application.

Choosing the right essential oil distiller

The right model depends on the botanicals you want to process, the quantity available, the required capacity, the cooling system and how frequently you expect to use the equipment.

For a broader overview of stills, distillers and related equipment, browse our Distillation Equipment.