Essential Oil and Hydrosol Distillation 101

Have you always dreamt of making your own hydrosols and essential oils? In this full day demonstration/ workshop you will be discovering the very special and unique experience of steam and hydro distillation in a traditional copper still. You will learn the A to Z of how to distill plant material, how to collect plants and prepare them, how to separate essential oils from water, and also how to sterilize your environment and material for optimal shelf life and preservation. Participants will create their own aromatherapy inhaler and pulse point roll-ons. These products will be taken home in addition to an 8 oz. bottle of freshly made hydrosol and a 2 oz. atomizer to use your botanical water in. You will also take home an informational hand-out packed with useful information for your own distilling adventures!

Alice Duvernell is a French Ethnobotanist who first started distillation and botanical extractions in Brazil studying rare plants from natural protected reserves. There she created an "open house" laboratory where she started teaching the processing and extracting of botanicals. Alice is a cosmetic designer and consultant who helps people from all over the world to develop eco-friendly product lines. She has been teaching in the Bay area for ten years and has developed curricula in the domains of botanicals extractions and distillation, bee products, & natural cosmetics.