How to Make Tea Tree Oil
Obtain tea tree leaves., Buy or obtain a small distillation set., Set up your still in your home., Wear gloves and safety goggles., Pour water into your boiling container., Add boiling chips or stones to the water., Place as many leaves as you can...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Obtain tea tree leaves.
This can be difficult, depending upon the region in which you live.
Melaleuca alternifolia grows in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11 and it is available for purchase.
Other tropical areas may also be able to find the small tree at gardening centers or through magazines.
For people in cooler climates, it will be much harder to track down the raw materials needed to make this oil yourself.
It is easier and less expensive to buy bottles of pre-made tea tree oil from reputable sources.
If you buy tea tree leaves, make sure they are dried so that the oil remains inside the leaves. -
Step 2: Buy or obtain a small distillation set.
You can buy a small set from suppliers on Amazon.com or you can borrow one from a chemistry lab.
Some home brew operations allow people to rent small stills for a short period of time.
Glass and stainless steel are the best choices for stills; however, these materials can be expensive. , Make sure you have a flat surface, near an outlet, but in a safe area where children and pets cannot reach.
Keep a fire extinguisher and wastebasket nearby., Essential oils are strong and can be dangerous to touch or breathe in.
The concentration of ingredients makes them more potent., It needs to be between 30 and 75 percent full during the entire process.
Reconnect it to the distillation unit., You can buy non-Teflon boiling stones at Internet market places when you are buying your distillation set.
This keeps the water from bursting through the distillation set and ruining the process when it is boiling., Do not cut the leaves, because that will initiate a loss of oil.
The leaves should be packed fairly tightly, but leave enough room for steam to pass through.
You may need to experiment with the amount of leaves you use to find out the right number for your distillation set. , This will allow the oil to flow into the tube.,, They will start to shrink in the container., The majority of the oil should be removed and distributed to the container at the other end in the first 30 minutes.
Turn the hot plate off when you are finished distilling., They should separate fairly easily.,, -
Step 3: Set up your still in your home.
-
Step 4: Wear gloves and safety goggles.
-
Step 5: Pour water into your boiling container.
-
Step 6: Add boiling chips or stones to the water.
-
Step 7: Place as many leaves as you can in the upper container of your distillation set.
-
Step 8: Start a low water flow into your condenser.
-
Step 9: Turn the hot plate on
-
Step 10: in order to start the steam distillation process.
-
Step 11: Allow the plate to heat and the water to flow through the leaves.
-
Step 12: Leave the heat on for 30 minutes to 3 hours.
-
Step 13: Pour the water off the oil in the container that caught the essential oil.
-
Step 14: Pour the tea tree oil into a dark tinted dropper bottle.
-
Step 15: Replace the leaves and repeat the process to obtain more essential oil.
Detailed Guide
This can be difficult, depending upon the region in which you live.
Melaleuca alternifolia grows in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11 and it is available for purchase.
Other tropical areas may also be able to find the small tree at gardening centers or through magazines.
For people in cooler climates, it will be much harder to track down the raw materials needed to make this oil yourself.
It is easier and less expensive to buy bottles of pre-made tea tree oil from reputable sources.
If you buy tea tree leaves, make sure they are dried so that the oil remains inside the leaves.
You can buy a small set from suppliers on Amazon.com or you can borrow one from a chemistry lab.
Some home brew operations allow people to rent small stills for a short period of time.
Glass and stainless steel are the best choices for stills; however, these materials can be expensive. , Make sure you have a flat surface, near an outlet, but in a safe area where children and pets cannot reach.
Keep a fire extinguisher and wastebasket nearby., Essential oils are strong and can be dangerous to touch or breathe in.
The concentration of ingredients makes them more potent., It needs to be between 30 and 75 percent full during the entire process.
Reconnect it to the distillation unit., You can buy non-Teflon boiling stones at Internet market places when you are buying your distillation set.
This keeps the water from bursting through the distillation set and ruining the process when it is boiling., Do not cut the leaves, because that will initiate a loss of oil.
The leaves should be packed fairly tightly, but leave enough room for steam to pass through.
You may need to experiment with the amount of leaves you use to find out the right number for your distillation set. , This will allow the oil to flow into the tube.,, They will start to shrink in the container., The majority of the oil should be removed and distributed to the container at the other end in the first 30 minutes.
Turn the hot plate off when you are finished distilling., They should separate fairly easily.,,
About the Author
Pamela Jackson
Enthusiastic about teaching organization techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: