How to Make an Essential Oil Distiller

Essential oils have been used for centuries to aid in everything from stress to skin conditions. Of course, buying essential oils on a regular basis can get quite pricey. With a little bit of work and some easy to find materials, you can make your own essential oil distiller right in your own home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 clean plastic milk jugs
• ¾-inch copper piping
• Metal tea kettle with no opening at the top
• Rubber stopper
• Ice
• Liquid sealant
• A drill and 3/4 (19mm) drill bit
• Plant material
• Tennis ball can
• Meat thermometer
• Glass container

1. Take the first milk jug and drill a hole in the lid large enough to just fit the copper tubing. Drill another hole near the bottom of the jug.

2. Cut the top off the second milk jug and drill a hole in the bottom large enough to fit the copper piping through.

3. Cut the copper tubing. You will need one piece long enough to run from the kettle stopper to the first milk jug. The second piece will run from the first milk jug to the second and coil through it.

4. Coil the one piece of copper piping seven or eight times around the tennis ball can. Leave one end long enough to travel from the first milk jug to the second. The other end should be straight and left just long enough to exit the second milk jug.

5. Put the stopper in the tea kettle and poke the meat thermometer through.

6. Get a 3/4-inch (19 mm) drill bit, to drill a hole in the stopper.

7. Fill your first milk jug with your plant material and screw on the lid.

8. Put one end of the straight copper pipe through the tea kettle and put the other end through the lid of the first milk jug.

9. Take the coiled piece of copper pipe and place the long straight end into the hole at the bottom of the first jug. Place the coiled portion of the copper pipe into the second milk jug. Run the other straight end out the drilled hole. Feed enough pipe through to reach your glass container which will hold the oils produced from your essential oil distiller.

10. Seal all the openings of your essential oil distiller with sealant.

11. Fill the second jug with ice water. This will cause the vapor to condense.

12. Place the glass container under the copper pipe running out of the bottom of the second milk jug. This container will capture the essential oil once the distillation process is complete.

13. Fill the kettle with water and place it on the stove on high heat.

14. The water will begin to boil and cause steam to penetrate the plant material. This steam will, in turn, capture the essential oils. The copper piping through the ice will cool the steam and separate the oils from the water.

Tips & Warnings

• Drying your plants beforehand will increase the yield of each batch as you can fit more dried plants into the milk jug at one time.
• Let plants dry naturally out of the direct sun.
• Do not let the temperature of the water exceed 175 degrees F or your water will evaporate.

Resources

• Information on essential oils and their uses

[yellowstar2000]

on 6/2/2009 nice article, but would be even better with pictures!I found a wonderful place with a large selection of proper essential oil distillers that won't be so difficult to make (as they're already made) and they have great prices too... from the hobbyist to the professional, you'll def. find something here; http://www.crucible.org/distillation.htm

[dragginflyy]

on 2/4/2009 I will try it ...thanks

[boogiethecat]

on 2/1/2009 This will probably work but it will be horribly inefficient and you won't end up with nearly as much oil as the plant contains. If you're serious about distilling your own oils, consider getting a real distiller- I did, they're not even that expensive and they are a joy to use.
Check www.heartmagic.com they make a really nice home sized set...

[pole]

on 11/22/2008 wath sise is the copper piping

[pole]

on 11/22/2008 what sise is the pipe 3/4