Hey lovely community, I've been crazy buys with work these days, holding two major positions. Finally got some time off. Work or not, my mind is always churning and that's what makes a great scientist I suppose. I've had an intense experience with some torch tea last week, and perhaps I'll share that at a later point.

I'm at the threshold of distilling oils. It's been a long time coming. What would be the efficacy of distilling from dry plant material?

I've the following in mind:

Sassafras (I want this for my cosmetics)
Nymphaea Caerulea (unavailable commercially; I'm untrusting of all sources)
E. coca (respectful and reverent topical use only)

I've not yet distilled any oils, but I imagine mixing dry plant material with water would still yeild a quasi hydrosol and the beautiful oil trapped inside. Am I correct in this hypothesis?

Just to share my thoughts and feelings, I'd love if I could one day have essential oil from freesia flowers and peperomia plants; unheard of at this date. The former is likely no longer distilled commercially and the later has probably never been available commercially.

I love the power of earth medicine, and I'm looking forward to preparing my own healing oils.

you're correct in that hypothesis, and it would behoove you to consider purchasing some methylene choride to resolve said hydrosols.

I just did that with cinnamon oil.

essential oils are one thing, but topical alkaloidal products are best isolated through acid/base chemistry, not steam distillation.

Have you thought of making other essential oils?

Here is a good list of common ones:

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-essential-oils-always-have-home.html

A lot of them are fairly straight forward and it is good old chemistry fun.

I've done three on that list, and four others (lime, sassafrass, cinnamon, and nutmeg).
I'd like to try dill, cumin, and thai basil.

i started doing EO extractions when I joined the nexus, just before the limo craze.