What is the best method to extract essential oils?

Distillation is considered the best method to extract essential oils due to its ability to separate the aromatic compounds from plant material effectively while preserving the quality and integrity of the oils. This process typically involves heating plant materials and capturing the steam, which contains the volatile oils. As the steam cools, it condenses back into liquid, allowing the essential oils to be collected. Distillation is favored for many types of plant materials, as it is efficient and can yield a high purity of essential oil.

While other methods like infusion, crushing, and cold pressing have their uses, they may not produce oils that are as concentrated or fragrant. Infusion involves soaking plant matter in a carrier oil, which may not extract the full range of volatile compounds. Crushing can release some oils but typically does not capture them effectively in a usable form. Cold pressing is primarily used for citrus fruits, yielding good quality oils but is limited to specific types of plants. In contrast, distillation is versatile and applicable to a wide range of botanical sources, making it the superior method for essential oil extraction.