From Harvest to Hydrosol

Distilling fresh-cut lavender is a time-honored process, especially when using a beautifully handcrafted 60-liter Alembic copper distiller from Portugal. The process begins with cutting the lavender early in the morning, when the essential oils are most concentrated in the plant. Lavender harvested at this time offers the richest and most fragrant oils, as the cooler morning air helps preserve the delicate volatile compounds.

Once the lavender is harvested, it is quickly placed into the copper distiller to begin the process of steam distillation. The copper of the Alembic still plays a crucial role in refining the quality of the lavender oil, as copper is known to react with sulfur compounds, enhancing the aromatic purity of the essential oils and hydrosol produced.

The distillation process usually takes around 2 to 4 hours, depending on the heat applied and the amount of plant material loaded into the still. Steam generated by heating water in the lower chamber passes through the lavender flowers, carrying with it the essential oil and water-soluble components. These vapors travel up the neck of the distiller into the condenser, where they cool and return to liquid form.

This liquid is collected as both hydrosol and essential oil. The hydrosol, also known as lavender water, is a byproduct rich in the plant’s water-soluble compounds and has a softer, subtler scent. The essential oil, which separates and floats to the top due to its lighter density, is then carefully siphoned off.

From a 60-liter still, the yield can vary depending on the type of lavender and growing conditions, but on average, one can expect to produce about 300-600 ml of essential oil and several liters of hydrosol. This balance of oil and hydrosol is what makes the copper Alembic still such a perfect tool for small-scale, artisanal distillation, capturing both the potency of the essential oil and the subtlety of the hydrosol in a single, time-honored process.