In both cases, and all the possible combinations in between, the harvested biomass is transported back to a central collection for distilling i.e. to extract the essential oil and package it for its next stage on the road to you, the consumer or user. The distiller may have a drum sitting over a wood fire, with a bit of copper tubing coiled in a drum of cold water or the unit may be gleaming state of the art stainless steel, computer controlled by a bloke in a white dust coat. There are any number of combinations and permutations in between. Distillation in itself is not difficult - it is after all, merely an adaptation of the pressure cooker - but the skill and experience of the head distiller are paramount in achieving quality and quantity on a commercially viable scale.
The production of essential oils, apart from growing and tending the tree, bush or herb, is heavily dependent on the yield i.e. the amount of essential oil produced per unit of biomass. Yield is being determined right from the time of planting, through the growing phase, the harvesting and the distillation. Some yields may be as low as 0.02% i.e. 0.2 gms of essential oil from 1000 gms of biomass. Makes one wonder why anyone would be crazy enough to contemplate getting involved. My daughter once observed me harvesting and distilling, took a look at the amount of essential oil recovered, and, as she walked away shaking her head at the small amount of oil recovered for the amount of time involved, suggested I should get a life ! So much for education and respect for your elders.
Ok, I hear you say, quit whining and get on with it. Hey, I was a farmer. Part of our job description is to whinge.
I haven�t finished yet - post distillation handling can affect the quality. Dewatering, filtering, nitrogen blankets, storage in the correct containers and under the right conditions, and suitable for shipping to far flung places - all are part of quality production. Assuming all above has gone to plan, we have, at the farm gate, our quality product.
How much do we charge for it ? The consumer is the final arbiter - no point in producing the greatest essential oil in the world if no-one will buy it because it is too expensive. Costs are involved in growing, nurturing, harvesting, distilling, packaging, shipping and marketing. There may or may not be charges from various regulatory bodies. The total of these costs is then divided by the quantity of oil produced. So, if the annual production is low, the cost will be high, and vice versa. A point to be noted - the cost of a small bottle of oil in the shop bears little relationship to the price paid to the grower. The grower may receive as little as 1/10th of the marked price at the store. Once the oil leaves the farm, any number of people may be involved, and all of them want to make a profit.
What is quality ? An hour spent with your children ? A superfine wool suit ? A bottle of wine from a vineyard with 150 year old wines ? A perfume from a famous name ? A Rolls Royce motor car ? Or an essential oil that does the job for which you have purchased it, and has been produced with as much skill and care as the grower and distiller can provide. The oil has been displayed under the right conditions, and the shop owner takes the time to educate themselves and the customers. That to me is quality.
What is price ? You may buy an oil produced by indigenous peoples to benefit their community. You may buy an organic oil because you believe that will help the environment. You may buy the oil produced on the big plantation because neither of the first two produce that particular oil. Supply and demand may move the price up or down. The price you pay �.. that is up to you.
To expect to buy top quality essential oil for the lowest price is treating the grower, and the seller, with disrespect.
At the end of the day, you generally gets (sic) what you pay for. Except for the hour with your children - that�s often priceless. Even cheaper is an hour spent with someone else�s children - you can give them back.