In the Lab: Creating a Simple Still for Home Distillation/Extraction of Essential Oils
By Dennis Klocek 2 min read
In this detailed tutorial, Dennis demonstrates how to convert a standard four-gallon pressure cooker into an effective essential oil distilling apparatus. (For more on its use, see our video In the Lab: Using a Simple Still for Home Extraction of Essential Oils.)
The video covers the conversion process, including creating a custom adapter for the pressure cooker, setting up a Vigreux Column separator and Clevenger device, and the operation of the still. The process involves detailed steps like drilling the cooker lid, assembling the adapter using gas fittings from a hardware store, and ensuring the system’s effectiveness and safety. This step-by-step guide is perfect for anyone interested in harvesting high-quality essential oils from plants at home.
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:56 Operation of the still
- 05:34 Schematic Overview
- 11:46 Drilling the lid
- 18:02 Gas fittings in lid
- 27:04 From gas fittings to glass
- 34:13 Easily taking the still apart to re-charge
Parts List
- Pressure cooker- Sitram stainless steel 13 liter (approx. 4 gal ) (example is 10L
- Glass
- Glass Accessories
- 18mm hole saw (example)
Adapter Parts – Printable Adapter Parts list and Instructions (PDF)
- Vinyl tubing (ID = Inner Diameter; OD = Outer Diameter)
- Hose clamps (x2)
- Gas fittings
Addendum: Sealing the gaps
Dennis Klocek
Dennis Klocek, MFA, is co-founder of the Coros Institute, an internationally renowned lecturer, and teacher. He is the author of nine books, including the newly released Colors of the Soul; Esoteric Physiology and also Sacred Agriculture: The Alchemy of Biodynamics. He regularly shares his alchemical, spiritual, and scientific insights at soilsoulandspirit.com.
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Whoa. Thank you!! I knew there as a soulful connection and why your information chimed in and touched my heart. Thank you Dennis this is so welcomed and am looking forward to exploring a new adventure into the unknown. Much love.
thank you for this info ! Im wondering what the water pump is ? can you give me a link please ? thanks again !
Hi Roisin, Dennis said, “No brand, but 120 GPH capacity keeps a 14 inch capacity condenser cool in a 5 gal bucket for a few hours.”
Greetings! I enjoy learning about this process and have already ordered some of the material & equipment mentioned here. I am curious .. since the video doesn’t show it .. and there was no mention in the parts list .. is there a “Glass Stopper” of some kind that is supposed to fit in the top of the condenser? If so that might want to be added to the parts list.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
~ Merwin.
In thinking about my question about whether there should be a glass closure at the top of the Condenser .. it’s probably unnecessary .. and would keep the distillation process from working properly. There has to be an opening or pressure could build up in the system. I do understand some of the principles involved with the varying levels of purity etc. as the steam moves up through the condenser.
~ Merwin.
Also very grateful to find Denis.
I’ve also got the same question.
On the diagram of pressure cooker Brass adapter diagram, I have noted a valve that sits above the condenser.
I will have order one too. Ordered my glassware. In process of ordering my gas fitting and tubing.
I live in Australia, so we use a different metric system. Gets confusing.
If you figure out which valve will fit, let me know.
Mishi :)
What a gem! You are an AMAZING teacher!!! I really appreciate your patience and wisdom. I pray you the BEST of the best! Much love from my family!
Hi Denis, I have a question, I’m wondering if you can give me some advice/idea. I love your set up and I have most of the glass apparatus, but I’m wondering if you have ever made an adaptor for a larger hole. Id love to make a connection for my Thermomix because I know it does a great job at producing steam and can also be set to particular temperatures as well. The issue I have is the opening in the plastic lid is roughly 500mm. Do you think I could create an adaptor similar to yours?
Hi Renee and Mishi,
I’m guessing you mean 50mm, not 500mm. Am I right? If so, tt’s really a question of being able to taper the larger hole down to the size of the glass. You might need to bring the lid and the glass adapter to the hardware store and just test with different tubing and fittings. 50mm is a big hole. You might need to use something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Aexit-Fittings-Threaded-Straight-Connector/dp/B07HR73NF2 combined with PVC fittings to get it to merge with your glass, rather than using the gas fittings, which are a good deal smaller.
Note: You need to be clear on whether the dimensions indicated on the label are inner diameter (usually ID) and outer diameter (OD).
Ben
Hello Ben and Dennis,
I have already assembled the various parts needed for making essential oils .. and I have collected a few various oils from Perala Mint, Golden Rod, Turmeric, and a few others. I have enjoyed this process of learning. My wife is a naturopath and massage therapist .. and uses essential oils in her work. I have watched many videos from different people demonstrating their tools. It’s been a very interesting journey and I would like to continue. My focus has been entirely on essential oil .. so when discussing this with one of my friends .. a point was raised about the legal element of having a still .. and so I was very surprised by this direction of thought because I did not hear anyone talk about it before. I live in Arkansas .. and it is considered a Class D felony to have an illicit still (according to how the law is written). From what I have been able to learn .. it’s mostly about making alcohol or hard liquor. Federal law says it’s okay to have a still .. and to use it for essential oils etc. but it says State Law may overrule the Federal Law.
The following is an example.
“Distilling in Arkansas is illegal, even if it would be federally legal.
Title 3 – Alcoholic Beverages 3-3-402. Manufacture, possession, and transportation. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person, including any corporation or legal entity: (1) To own, possess, or knowingly transport any illicit still, still worm, or any apparatus or any substantial part of any illicit still designed for the unlawful manufacture of spirituous, vinous, or malt liquor; (2) To manufacture or engage in the manufacture of spirituous, vinous, or malt liquor in the State of Arkansas without obtaining a license to do so from the State of Arkansas and the United States; or (3) To own, possess, or knowingly transport any illicitly distilled spirituous, vinous, or malt liquors. (b) Any person committing an offense defined by this section is guilty of a Class D felony.”
According to https://www.distillate.org/ .. it seems there is a wide variety of legal issues depending upon what state you are living in. It seems that in Arkansas you can own a still but it has to be permitted or licensed .. and you can make essential oil .. but these statements seem to be conflicting and wide ranging .. and seem to be under the control of the TTB to some extent. Here is an example: “Still. Any apparatus capable of being used for separating alcoholic or spirituous vapors, or spiritous solutions, or spirits, from spirituous solutions or mixtures, but shall not include stills used for laboratory purposes or stills used for distilling water or other nonalcoholic materials where the cubic distilling capacity is one gallon or less.”
Are we to understand then that we can only use a distiller for essential oils that has only one gallon capacity!??
https://www.ttb.gov/laws-regulations-and-public-guidance/other/regulations
It seems to me that the TTB is mostly interested in controlling the production of alcohol .. not essential oils or the distillation of water.
I am not wishing to be in violation of the law .. so I have some feelers out to learn how the local prosecutor would view the distilling of essential oils .. especially if there is a capacity of more than one gallon. If I were to collect many stems from Golden Rod .. or Pine Trees .. etc. and wished to do this on a small scale and make it available for sale on Ebay (for instance) .. then we may need to get permitted by the local health department etc. and if there is a large fee for the permits .. it may not be cost effective for very little profit margin.
I hope maybe you have some idea of what I am trying to explain here .. or if there is a source that I can reliably trust to give solid advice .. I would greatly appreciate it. I think maybe it’s something that others who are potentially interested in the production of essential oils .. would also benefit from. Thank you very much! :)
Hi Seafriend,
That’s certainly an interesting and challenging situation. While we haven’t encountered this specific issue, Dennis has always been a bit of a renegade with his research interests.
Your findings seem to point to these main options:
– Keep to 1 gallon capacity
– Get proper permits
– Set it up in your garage/shed discreetly
I wish I could offer more specific regulations or advice, but that’s all I’m aware of. Perhaps others in our community might have more helpful insights.
Cheers,
Ben
Thank you Ben, for your time and reply. If there is any news or development I will try to leave an update for you here. I think the most important point for now .. is that we build a database of thought around this. I would hate to think that someone was innocently immersed in an unexpected lawfare battle. It seems so odd to me that anyone wishing to distill (purify) water or essential oil .. could potentially be in violation of the law .. depending upon which side of a state line you live on. It seems like there would be some safety checks associated with the purchase of equipment .. a disclaimer of sorts .. as a warning to check local laws before embarking on the distillation journey.