Hydrodistillation

Hydrodistillation is a method used to extract essential oils from plant materials. It involves immersing or suspending the plant parts in water and then heating the mixture until the water and oil vaporize. These vapors are then cooled in a condenser, causing them to condense back into liquid form. The essential oils, which are lighter and less soluble in water, separate from the water and can be collected. This process is commonly used in perfumery and aromatherapy to obtain pure plant oils without damaging delicate compounds through high heat.