What are the extraction methods of agarwood pure oil?
There are several methods used to extract pure agarwood oil, each with its own advantages and resulting in different qualities of oil. The main methods include:
1.Steam Distillation: This is the most common method for extracting agarwood oil. It involves steaming the agarwood chips or powder to release the oil, which is then condensed and collected.
2.Water Distillation: Similar to steam distillation, water distillation involves boiling the agarwood with water to extract the oil. This method is often used for distilling agarwood oil in traditional settings.
3.Hydro Distillation: This method involves boiling the agarwood with water, but the process is conducted under pressure. Hydro distillation can yield a higher quality of oil compared to water distillation.
4.Super Critical Fluid Extraction (SCFE): SCFE uses carbon dioxide as a solvent to extract the oil from agarwood. This method is more complex and requires specialized equipment, but it can yield a very pure and high-quality oil.
5.Enfleurage: This traditional method involves placing agarwood chips or powder in a fatty substance, such as animal fat or vegetable oil, to absorb the fragrance. The fat is then extracted with alcohol to obtain the oil.
All our Oud Pure Oil is extracted using Hydro distillation.
Hydro distillation is a traditional method used to extract essential oils from plant materials, including agarwood. It is a variation of steam distillation that involves boiling the plant material with water under pressure to release the essential oil. Here's a detailed introduction to the hydro distillation process:
1.Preparation of Plant Material: The agarwood chips or powder are placed in a distillation vessel called a still. The still is typically made of stainless steel or copper and has a heating element at the bottom.
2.Addition of Water: Sufficient water is added to the still to cover the agarwood material. The ratio of water to plant material can vary depending on the specific requirements of the extraction process.
3.Heating and Boiling: The still is heated, causing the water to boil. As the water boils, steam is generated, which passes through the agarwood material, carrying the essential oil with it.
4.Condensation: The steam, along with the essential oil, rises through a coiled tube called a condenser, where it is cooled and condensed back into a liquid state. The condensed liquid is collected in a separate container.
5.Separation: Since essential oils are lighter than water, they float on the surface of the collected liquid. The essential oil is separated from the water and collected.
6.Storage: The collected essential oil is stored in dark, airtight containers to protect it from light and oxidation, which can degrade its quality.
Hydro distillation is favored for extracting essential oils from plant materials that are sensitive to high temperatures, as the process is conducted at lower temperatures compared to other distillation methods. This helps preserve the delicate aromatic compounds present in the oil. Additionally, hydro distillation can yield oils with a more complex and nuanced fragrance profile compared to other extraction methods.
