Distillation takes a long time. Even with a home distillation unit where one is using small amounts. In this case from set up to the end it took a total of 5 hours aprx.
So while we were waiting for the process to start producing the end product, Danilla brought out Tea and Biscuits and those of us who were there had a pleasant time of chatting about everything from Gary Young and his company to husbands to aromatherapy.
In the meantime the fragrance of the Lavender is starting to pick up and get stronger and at it's height it's very heady. Then came the moment we were waiting for the first drops of steam and Essential oil into the cooling flask.
After distilling for quite a while, one could clearing see the Essential Oil floating on the top of the water or hydrosol.
The water is then carefully poured into this flask with the narrow draining neck in the bottom. After letting the water sit for awhile to allow the oil to separate out, the narrow tube is opened where the hydrosol is allowed to drain. When the Essential Oil enters the narrow tube, it is then shut off so the Essential oil can be drawn off.
The Lavender oil is drawn out by using a long dropper with a very narrow nose. It is then deposited into it's own container, where it will be poured into it's own little Essential oil bottle.