Just the Essentials
An Interview with Robert Seidel
Interview with Robert Seidel, Founder of The Essential Oil Company There are few times in your life that you get to sit down with an Icon. We recently spent time with Robert Seidel, Founder of The Essential Oil Company, and he shared with us what has kept him going in the aromatic industry for over 42 years. This was such an honor for us! We hope you enjoy this candid interview of Robert telling the story of how he followed his passion for trees, distillation and essential oils. Full Transcript I’m Robert Seidel, founder and president of The Essential Oil Company here in Portland, Oregon and we started our business in 1977. My education was in forestry. I went to the New York State Ranger School in upstate New York in the Adirondacks, Paul Smith College in forestry, Syracuse University and the New York State College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry at Syracuse. It’s kind of unusual for a guy in New York City to go into that trade. But I was a boy scout and I spent a lot of time camping in the woods. I love the outdoors. When I discovered the New York State Ranger School I said “Hey! I could do that. That would be really interesting.” And so there I was. I joined for a one-year program in the Adirondacks. What most intrigued me about forestry was plant identification. I found out I had an interest in dendrology, which is the study of trees and shrubs. I spent many long nights studying plants and their origins. The issue I had with school of forestry was that we learned trees were only for making either lumber or paper. There was a tree that interested me. It was called Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea). On the stem of the tree there are blisters or nodules. When you pop one of those nodules a gorgeous resin comes pouring out that is absolutely beautiful. Throughout my years in school, I would ask my professors and teachers “Is there anyway I can extract this material?” But we were in the wood industry. It was wood or paper. For forestry school in those days, there were no non-timber forest products. You either make paper or you make wood. So when I asked my question they said there was no way to extract the material. But I said “there has to be a way.” That’s where I started my studying in extracting aromatics from plants. Being that I've been in the essential oil business for over 40 years doing distillation and putting oils into small bottles, that’s what I know and that’s what I can use to help people who are already working in that direction. I can contribute some of the knowledge that I’ve garnered over the years with other people to help benefit them in the long run. Hopefully at the end of the day they can share that knowledge with somebody else. I’ve been in the essential oil business since 1977 and I’ve been studying them since 1974. I’ve got a long history of studying and production. I’ve been distilling since the late 70s and at this point in my life, I know what a quality essential oil is. Take rose oil for example. You’re never going to be able to distill your own rose oil. It’s just not conceivable that you'll ever have enough roses to make much rose oil. Fortunately for you and us we know the distillers who do the proper distillation. I have visited the distillery. I visit most of the distilleries that I buy our essential oils from so that i can see how the plants are grown. I meet with the growers, farmers, and the distillers and I watch their methods of extraction. Through years of experience and knowledge of essential oils I can tell you that the quality we supply, is the best that you can find. Thank you for listening to the story of The Essential Oil Company and how I got started and progressed in essential oils, distillation, and putting them into small bottles. I offer you my appreciation for being our customers and for knowing that we are providing the best possible essential oils available on the market for you. My hope is that The Essential Oil Company continues to grow and prosper. It will with your help. Thank you for joining us.
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Who is Robert Seidel?
Not many people can say that they’ve turned their dream into a reality. Most that have, can’t tell you that they’ve been doing what they love for more than 40 years. Robert Seidel is a man who is passionate about what he does for a living and has the credentials to prove it. 1969: THE JOURNEY BEGINSIt's 1969 and Mr. Seidel has begun his journey, not in distillation, but with a heart for nature and the love of the outdoors. He attended New York State Ranger School at Wanakena where he received hands on training in the field and a Certificate in Forest Technology and an Associate in Applied Science in Forest Technology. DEGREES IN FORESTRYHis schooling didn’t stop there. Mr. Seidel’s passion for knowledge led him to Paul Smith’s College where he continued his education in forestry and received an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Forestry. Even then, the calling to further himself was still strong. In 1971 Mr. Seidel attended Syracuse University and the SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry simultaneously, in the beautiful state of New York. He continued to study the great outdoors and at the end of his two year stay, Mr. Seidel had received a Bachelors of Science in Forestry from Syracuse University and a Bachelors of Science in Forestry and Resources Management from SUNY at Syracuse. A GREATER CALLINGEven with all his education, Mr. Seidel felt a greater calling. He wondered about the natural fragrances of the forest and how they could be used in his everyday life. Curiosity got the best of him. He wondered if there was a way to capture the natural sent of the forest, to use the organic ingredients to create a product worthwhile. Everyone he turned to for answers told him it couldn’t be done. Even his professors were skeptical. They had never heard of anyone attempting to do what Mr. Seidel was suggesting. Still, that didn’t discourage him. Mr. Seidel found out that there was a whole community around the world that produced the same products he was dreaming about through distillation. 1977: THE ESSENTIAL OIL COMPANY IS FOUNDEDIn August of 1977 Mr. Seidel founded The Essential Oil Company in Portland, Oregon and made his dream a reality. The Essential Oil Company imports and distributes essential oils and other natural products that come from all over the world. They also distill essential oils themselves, and supply the industry with distillation equipment. The Essential Oil Company represents artisans in Portugal who manufacture hand hammered copper alembic distillers for making hydrosols and oils. These stills have been traditionally used for distilling spirits. Mr Seidel has designed several stills for distilling essential oils and hydrosols. Additionally, The Essential Oil Company represents manufacturers of small, medium and large scale distillation equipment. AN UNPARALLELLED STANDARD FOR QUALITYAlthough Mr. Seidel imports some of his products from overseas, he has a very high standard for quality. Regular visits to his suppliers in Asia and Europe, not only helps to keep his relationship with the suppliers current, but lets him make sure the quality of product that is supplied to him is the best the industry can offer. 37 YEARS LATERWhen asked how the distillation process has changed over the last 37 years, Mr. Seidel said, “Not much really. The process is pretty much the same, but the product has come a long way. It’s a lot better quality nowadays.” Both his eye for quality and go getter work ethic have helped him to create a successful business that is unique and innovative across the world. The product that his company sells brings the fragrances of the world home and new products arrive every day. Even Mr. Seidel, the "Guerrilla Distiller," has a hard time picking his favorite.
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