How to Distill Honeysuckle

Distilling honeysuckle separates the essential oil which can then be used for perfume. It is a little more complicated than distilling rose petals, but the results are no less satisfying.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Harvest honeysuckle blossoms, and gather enough to fill several large containers.
2. Construct a square frame, or use screen window frames with the screens removed. Cover the screens with fine, cotton cloth. Create as many frames as you would like. IYou should have enough so that the very weight of them will forcefully press down anything in between them. Set the frames in a cool, dry place out of the sun.
3. Lay the first frame over a large container or a tub. Lay a thin layer of freshly-picked honeysuckle blossoms on the cotton-covered frame. Moisten the flowers with olive oil or almond oil. Place another tray upon it, and repeat the process until every frame except the top has a layer of blossoms upon it.
4. Replace the honeysuckle blossoms with fresh ones after 24 to 30 hours,. Moisten the layer of blossoms with oil.
5. Wring out the cotton clothes, collecting the oil in glass bottles. Allow the contents to settle. When the oil is clear, prepare to distill it.
6. Distill the honeysuckle oil from the glass bottles by heating it, and allowing the steam to pass into a water-filled container. Ladle and preserve the oil that rises to the top.