How do you extract the essential oils from flowers easily (at home; without the use of scientific apparatus)?

Question

I'm doing an experiment on which flower would produce the best scented essential oil but I want the process to be easy to prove that you can make your own essential oils instead of buying them at a higher price. So, I don't want to use a still or something like that because not everyone has stils at home. I need a simple, long lasting process that everyone can understand. On the internet, the processes I found were cumbersome (ex: steam distillation) composing of heavy equipment. Can anyone give me an easier process?

Answer 1

The only way to get pure essential oil without any complicated equipment is to press out the plant parts, but you can use this method for plants with high amount like citrus peel only.
If a solution would be sufficient, you may extract the oil with an adequate solvent like hydrocarbon or ethanol: put 1 part hackled herb into a well closable jar, soak with 4 parts of solvent, and wait 3-4 days; shake from time to time. When filtered out you have a solution of all contents solvable in ethanol p.e. incl. the essential oil. Without further equipment it`s not to purify.
Another possibility is enfleurage:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enfleurage.
This method needs a lot of time, but is very gentle.

Here you find more details:
http://www.aromatherapy-at-home.com/homemade-essential-oils.html
http://www.naturesgift.com/extraction.htm
http://www.aworldofaromatherapy.com/aromatherapy-extraction.htm

Answer 2

Enfleurage is the least technical method but it will not be cheap. In enfleurage the flower petals are laid on thin layers of purified fats to extract small quantities of fragrance. The resulting scented fat is a pomade. The same can be done with oil and petals but the petal will degrade quickly so must be strained out and replaced to get a strong scent.
Remember, use only the petals, not the sepals, stamens or pistils. Dark flowers may produce darker water or pomade.

Home distillation method.
Place a clean trivet in a large copper pot. Fill the area around the trivet with fresh picked flower petals or herbs. Cover the herbage with distilled water and place a small heat proof glass dish on top of the trivet. On top of the pot put a stainless bowl that fits very tightly or invert the lid and fill with ice. Simmer but do not boil about three hours depending how many petals or herbs you have. Traditionally the pots are 15 liter size and hold 2kg petals in 8L water. Scale what you do on these ratios.
http://www.events.ir/no006/006m.htm
Replace the ice as needed to ensure rapid condensation. The ice chilled inverted lid will condense the steam. The condensate will drip down the handle into the glass bowl. The water in the glass bowl is your rose water, on top will be a very thin layer of essential oil. There are different aromatics and molecules of interest in the water, the hydrosol, and the oil, the attar. This must be stored in the cold.
If the petals are over heated the aromatics will be partially destroyed in this simple devise. The traditional roses are the strongest scented. Kazanlik or Old Apothecary. New or available damask roses with strong scent
http://www.netlist.co.nz/gardens/RoseGarden/RGJulyDamask.htm
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050220/news_1hs20roseman.html
Thin rose petals release fragrance readily, thus roses with thin petals seem more fragrant. Time of day matters scent is strongest just after the dew is off & temp is 65 -70.
http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/kitchen/2005su_rosewater.html
Another way is to steep the petals in hot water like tea. Use
1 cup rose petals for every 2 cups boiling water. Steep until cool and strain. To use as a facial astringent add 1/4c isopropyl alcohol.

Another way is to set up in a double boiler pot. Again place the petals in distilled water to barley cover in a heat proof bowl over but not in boiling water. If the petals float place saucer on them until they hold just under water. Heat for one hour or longer until you begin to see drops of rose oil floating on the surface of the water. Do not allow the flower water to boil.
When the water has taken on a rosy hue, feels thick and soft, and shows evidence of rose oil on its surface, strain the liquid through a tea strainer, using your fingers to press all the liquid from the petals. Store in refrigerator.
Last just make like sun tea. Place petals & water in a glass container. Place in strong sun for two weeks. Check for scent. When you have reached the desired scent, strain the petals from the water.

To speed extraction the petals can be chopped or crushed.