What is the process called for collecting essential oils?

The process of collecting essential oils that is often referred to is distillation. This method utilizes steam to extract oils from plant materials. During distillation, steam passes through the plant material, carrying the volatile compounds with it. When the steam cools, it condenses back into liquid form, allowing the essential oils to be separated from the water.

Distillation is widely favored because it can produce purer essential oils while preserving the delicate aromatic properties of the plants. It is a well-established and traditional method used in the perfume and aromatherapy industries to efficiently collect and purify fragrant substances from botanical sources.

While the other choices—absorption, fermentation, and extraction—are methods that may be associated with different types of botanical processes or engaging with plant substances, they do not typically refer specifically to the main process for producing essential oils as accurately as distillation does.