Herbs N Weeds

Choosing The Right Oils

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Hello and welcome to another episode of Herbs N Weeds. Today is all about choosing good essential oils. In the the show I give a step-by step DIY basic way of distilling oils at home that I will try soon. The two brands of commercially produced oils I prefer currently is Healing Solutions and Plant Therapy, both available on Amazon through these affiliate links. Avoid oil blends unless they are blends of multiple herbs, but I still prefer single 100% essential oils.

Here is the steps that ChatGPT gave for distilling at home.

Tools:
  • Large pot with a lid (preferably stainless steel or glass)
  • Steamer basket or mesh colander (to suspend plant material above water)
  • Heat-safe bowl (to collect oil inside the pot)
  • Ice (for condensing steam)
  • Tubing (if using a more advanced condenser setup)
  • Optional: glass distillation apparatus (for more serious setups)
    • Materials:
    • Fresh or dried plant material
    • Distilled water
    • Glass containers for collecting and storing the oil
    • Dark amber bottles (for storing the finished oil to protect from light)
      • Step-by-Step Steam Distillation (Basic DIY Setup):
      1. Prepare the Plant Material
      • Harvest in the morning (for most plants, this is when oil content is highest).
      • Chop or crush to expose oil glands but don’t over-pulverize.
      • Use about 2–4 cups of material depending on the potency of the plant.
        • 2. Set Up the Distillation Pot
        • Fill the pot with a few inches of water (don’t submerge plant material).
        • Place the steamer basket over the water and add the plant material.
        • Place the heat-safe bowl on top of the plant material if it fits (to collect oil-water condensation).
          • 3. Invert the Lid and Add Ice
          • Turn the pot lid upside-down so it forms a concave shape.
          • Place ice on top of the inverted lid – this helps condense the steam back into liquid that drips into your collection bowl.
            • 4. Heat and Monitor
            • Bring the water to a gentle boil. Steam rises through the plant material, carrying oil vapors.
            • As the steam hits the cold lid, it condenses and drips down into the bowl.
            • This collected liquid is a mix of hydrosol (floral water) and essential oil.
              • 5. Separate the Oil
              • Once distillation is done (1–2 hours), remove the bowl.
              • Let it cool — the oil will float on top of the hydrosol.
              • Use a pipette, dropper, or oil separator funnel to skim off the oil.
                • 6. Store Your Essential Oil
                • Pour into a dark glass bottle with a tight lid.
                • Label with the date and plant name.
                • Store in a cool, dark place.
                  • Tips for Success:
                  • Use fresh plant material when possible — they contain more oil.
                  • Distill slowly and steadily. Don’t overheat or burn the material.
                  • Clean your setup well between batches to avoid cross-contamination.

                    • ...more
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                    Herbs N WeedsBy Luke