

Essential oils are obtained by steam distillation. The stems and flowers are carefully packed in a vase so that the steam that will cross them, can not take preferential paths. The water vapor entrains the essential oil and this gaseous mixture is recovered and then condensed. It is then dumped in a gasoline or it is decanted. The essential oil, the lighter one, rises. The distilled water flavored by traces of this oil is hydrosol.