Cold Enfleurage
This method is one of the oldest, easiest, but also the most time consuming way of extracting fragrances. For this method, flowers of all kinds can be used; however, I prefer to use this method for delicate flowers such as jasmines, orchids, magnolia, camellia, etc.
For this you will need:
1. At least 40 flower buds
2. Fat that is solid at room temperature (such as lard, cocoa butter, vegetable shortening, shea butter)
3. A framed piece of glass/lexan that is 12x8
4. An abundance of flowers to cover the piece of glass several times
5. Time
Process:
1. Spread a layer of fat over the glass, then press the flowers into it.
2. Allow them 2-3 days in the fat in a cool, dark place, then gently pull them out. Replace the old flowers with new ones and wait another 2-3 days. Do this process again at least 8 times.
3. Gradually, the fat will take on the strong aroma of the flowers; even now, the very best Jasmine and Tuberose extracts are made via cold enfleurage.
4. If you're going to use the fragrance in body-care products, you can stop here. The product you've produced is called Enfleurage Pomade. For very fragrant flowers, this process takes about two weeks; for more lightly scented ones it can take up to a month.
5. If you are going to make the absolute of the essence (perfumes) you need to soak your extract fat in ethyl alcohol for a few days (even weeks!). Then, remove the fat and allow the alcohol to evaporate. The removed fat can be used as soap while the leftover liquid is the absolute perfume.
6. At the end, you should have a bottle of sweet smelling perfume or a fragrant bar of soap.
WARNINGS!!
Be careful of mould forming on the fat while the flowers sit! To prevent this, try not to form any holes or scores on the fat layer and replace the flowers every 24 hours strictly!
For this you will need:
1. At least 40 flower buds
2. Fat that is solid at room temperature (such as lard, cocoa butter, vegetable shortening, shea butter)
3. A framed piece of glass/lexan that is 12x8
4. An abundance of flowers to cover the piece of glass several times
5. Time
Process:
1. Spread a layer of fat over the glass, then press the flowers into it.
2. Allow them 2-3 days in the fat in a cool, dark place, then gently pull them out. Replace the old flowers with new ones and wait another 2-3 days. Do this process again at least 8 times.
3. Gradually, the fat will take on the strong aroma of the flowers; even now, the very best Jasmine and Tuberose extracts are made via cold enfleurage.
4. If you're going to use the fragrance in body-care products, you can stop here. The product you've produced is called Enfleurage Pomade. For very fragrant flowers, this process takes about two weeks; for more lightly scented ones it can take up to a month.
5. If you are going to make the absolute of the essence (perfumes) you need to soak your extract fat in ethyl alcohol for a few days (even weeks!). Then, remove the fat and allow the alcohol to evaporate. The removed fat can be used as soap while the leftover liquid is the absolute perfume.
6. At the end, you should have a bottle of sweet smelling perfume or a fragrant bar of soap.
WARNINGS!!
Be careful of mould forming on the fat while the flowers sit! To prevent this, try not to form any holes or scores on the fat layer and replace the flowers every 24 hours strictly!