Eucalyptus essential oil Distilling Eucalyptus leaves for essential oils

April 7, 2016

Distilling Eucalyptus Citriodora

Eucalyptus Citriodora

Eucalyptus Citriodora (E. citriodora) oil is distilled from the leaves and branches of the tree. Eucalyptus citriodora trees are cultivated on plantations.

Eucalyptus being cloned in the laboratory

Test plots have been established on this Eucalyptus citriodora plantation in Brazil, to determine which trees exhibit the fastest growth, highest essential oil yield and the most favorable chemical composition.

Eucalyptus clowns are grown to be planted in the field

Promising individuals are identified and cloned to be planted in the field.

The trees are grown until they are approximately 6" DBH (diameter breast height), and then harvested for the branches and wood.

Branches are cut from the trees, loaded on trucks, destined for the distillery.

Loading Eucalyptus branches on to trucks

Eucalyptus branches are loaded onto trucks

The trucks are stacked high destined for the distillery

Machestes are used to cut Eurcalyptus branches from the tree

Sharp machetes are used to cut the branches from the trees

The leaves and branches are brought to the distillery, and loaded into the stills, for making the Eucalyptus citriodora essential oil.

Eucalyptus Citriodora branches are piled at the distillery

A man inside the retort of the distiller to make certain the leaves and branches are packed tightly

A man inside the retort of the still makes certain the branches and leaves are packed tightly

This old boiler is a workhorse, producing lots of steam which is required for distillation

Eucalyptus leaves and branches when the still is opened after distillation.

Spent Eucalyptus branches when the still is opened after distillation.

The essencier is uised to separate the essential oil from the hydrosol

The Essencier receives the distillate water from the condenser, where it is then separated to become essential oil and hydrosols.

What about the lumber left over?

The logs that are cut from the trees are cut to size, and are brought to the area where they are turned into charcoal. The charcoal is then sold on the market for home cooking use.

Eucalyptus logs waiting to be loaded onto trucks

Eucalyptus logs are stacked waiting to be loaded onto trucks

Special ovens have been built of clay brick for making charcoal

Eucalyptus wood is stacked and waiting to be loaded into the charcoal ovens

The charcoal ovens are packed tightly for making charcoal

A sealed charcoal oven with wood inside, burning to become charcoal

A sealed charcoal oven. The flames on the inside have just started to burn, for the slow process of making charcoal from Eucalyptus Citriodora wood

The finished charcoal is bagged to be sold at the market place.

The finished product, headed for the shelf in the local market. The Eucalyptus citriodora charcoal is used in homes for cooking

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