Cypress – a three stage distillation process
Cypress oil is distilled from the twigs and cones of Cupressus sempervirens. The best quality Cypress oil is distilled using a three stage process over the course of two days.
Preparation
Before the distillation process starts, the twigs and cones are shredded and macerated.
Distillation
1st distillation: The first stage is carried out before noon on the first day and lasts for around one hour. No oil is produced – at this stage the plant matter is imbued with steam and the initial enzymatic processes are triggered.
2nd (main) distillation: The main part of the distillation process takes place in the afternoon and again lasts for around an hour. At this stage the best quality oil is produced.
3rd distillation: The last stage is carried out the following morning for around an hour using the same plant matter. The oil is of lower quality but adds 12-20% after mixing the oil from both distillations.
Yield
The total yield is around 400ml – 1 litre of oil per 100kg of shredded twigs and cones.
Learn more
Click to read our full article and find out all about cypress essential oils and how to use them.
