How It's Made - Lavender Essential Oil

Summary

The script explores Lavandula angustifolia, commonly known as lavender, highlighting its use in producing essential oil for health and beauty products. It details the plant's cultivation, harvesting in July during peak bloom, and the meticulous process of extracting oil through steam distillation. The video also touches on the secondary product, lavender floral water, and the plant's role in creating natural remedies and self-care products.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Lavandula angustifolia, commonly known as lavender, is a flowering shrub used for its essential oil.
• 🌼 Lavender essential oil is extracted from its leaves and blue flowers and is valued for its health and beauty benefits.
• 💧 The oil possesses antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a popular natural remedy.
• 🧴 It's a common ingredient in lotions, soaps, and bath oils, prized for its floral fragrance and relaxant effects.
• 🌱 Lavender is a perennial plant that starts flowering in its second year and is harvested in July during its peak bloom.
• 🌾 Weeds are managed around lavender plants to prevent them from competing for water and nutrients.
• ⏱ Harvesting lavender is a precise process that involves assessing bloom quantity and color to determine the right time.
• 🔪 A specialized harvester is used to cut lavender stems, similar to how a stylist cuts hair, ensuring a clean and efficient harvest.
• 🔬 The distillation process involves compacting lavender into a still and using steam to extract the oil from the plant material.
• 💧 The extracted oil is separated from water through condensation, resulting in a mixture of lavender oil and floral water.
• 🧪 Both lavender oil and floral water are sent to a laboratory for further filtration and quality assurance.

Q & A

What is the scientific name for the lavender plant?

The scientific name for the lavender plant is Lavandula angustifolia.

What is lavender essential oil used for in health and beauty products?

Lavender essential oil is used in health and beauty products due to its antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

What are the effects of lavender essential oil that make it a common ingredient in lotions, soaps, and bath oils?

Lavender essential oil has a flowery fragrance and relaxant effects, which make it a common ingredient in lotions, soaps, and bath oils.

When does a lavender plant begin flowering?

A lavender plant begins flowering in its second year.

In which month does the lavender harvest take place at the Canadian farm mentioned in the script?

The lavender harvest at the Canadian farm takes place in July during the peak of the first bloom.

Why is weeding important between May and September for lavender plants?

Weeding is important because weeds can grow at the base of lavender plants, siphoning off water and important soil nutrients.

How does the weeding machine help in maintaining lavender plants?

The weeding machine lifts the lavender stems out of the way and then blasts the weeds around the base with hot steam to kill them.

What factors does the producer consider to determine the right time to harvest lavender?

The producer considers the quantity of blooms and the color of the flowers, which should be purple-blue on the verge of turning grayish-brown, and also checks how much oil comes out when a few petals are crushed.

How is the lavender harvested and what is the purpose of the harvesting method?

The lavender is harvested using a specially designed harvester that cuts the stems like a stylist cutting hair, pulling them straight up and snipping near the base to ensure a clean cut and optimal oil yield.

What is the purpose of the still in the lavender oil production process?

The still is used to compact as much lavender as possible to prevent the formation of air pockets, which helps in maximizing the oil yield during the distillation process.

How is lavender oil extracted from the plant material in the still?

Lavender oil is extracted by heating the lavender with steam, which bursts the oil glands in the petals, leaves, and stems, releasing the oil.

What is the secondary product obtained after the lavender oil extraction process?

The secondary product obtained after the lavender oil extraction process is lavender floral water.

What do the producers do with the lavender oil and floral water after extraction?

Producers send both lavender oil and floral water to a laboratory to be filtered and then sell them as ingredients to manufacturers of health and beauty products or use them in their own lines of lavender creations.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Lavender: Nature's Aromatic Gift

Lavandula angustifolia, commonly known as lavender, is a perennial plant prized for its aromatic properties. The plant's leaves and blue petals are used to produce lavender essential oil, which is valued for its antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. This oil is a staple in health and beauty products, from lotions and soaps to bath oils, thanks to its floral fragrance and relaxant effects. The lavender plant begins flowering in its second year, with a peak harvest time in July during the first bloom. Weed control is crucial between May and September to ensure the plant's health. Harvesting is done when the flowers are purple-blue, nearing a grayish-brown color, and the oil yield is maximized by crushing petals to test the oil content. A specialized harvester is used to cut the stems, which are then transported to an on-site distillery.

Keywords

💡Lavandula angustifolia

Lavandula angustifolia is the scientific name for the lavender plant, a species of flowering plant in the mint family known for its aromatic and medicinal properties. In the video, it is highlighted as the source of lavender essential oil, which is used in various health and beauty products. The plant's scientific name is used to emphasize its botanical significance and to differentiate it from other species of lavender.

💡Lavender essential oil

Lavender essential oil is a fragrant oil extracted from the lavender plant, which is noted for its antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties in the video. It is a key ingredient in many health and beauty products, such as lotions, soaps, and bath oils. The oil's extraction process and its various uses are central to the video's theme, showcasing its versatility and importance in natural remedies and skincare.

💡Antiviral

The term 'antiviral' refers to the ability of a substance to inhibit the replication of viruses, thereby preventing or treating viral infections. In the context of the video, lavender essential oil's antiviral properties are one of the reasons it is valued as a natural remedy and included in health and beauty products.

💡Antibacterial

Antibacterial properties refer to the capacity of a substance to inhibit the growth of bacteria, which can be beneficial for maintaining hygiene and preventing infections. The video mentions that lavender essential oil possesses antibacterial properties, making it a useful component in products designed to promote cleanliness and health.

💡Anti-inflammatory

Anti-inflammatory substances help reduce inflammation, which is the body's response to injury or infection. In the video, lavender essential oil's anti-inflammatory properties are highlighted as part of its appeal as a natural remedy, suggesting its use in soothing and healing processes.

💡Harvest Time

Harvest Time refers to the period during which a crop is ready to be collected. In the video, it is specified that the harvest time for lavender at a Canadian farm is in July, during the peak of the first bloom. This timing is crucial for ensuring the quality and quantity of lavender essential oil, as the flowers' condition directly affects the oil's yield and quality.

💡Weeding machine

A weeding machine is a tool used in agriculture to remove unwanted plants, or weeds, that compete with crops for nutrients and water. In the video, the weeding machine is described as a vital daily ritual for maintaining the health of lavender plants by eliminating weeds that grow at their base.

💡Harvester

The harvester in the video is a specialized machine designed to cut lavender plants efficiently. It operates by pulling the stems straight up and snipping them near the base, ensuring that the cut stems are of uniform length and suitable for processing. This machine plays a critical role in the lavender oil production process by facilitating the harvesting of the plant material.

💡Distillery

A distillery is a facility where the process of distillation takes place, typically used for producing alcoholic spirits. In the context of the video, the distillery is where lavender is processed to extract its essential oil. The distillation process involves heating the plant material to release the oil, which is then separated from the water.

💡Still

A still is a large vessel used in the distillation process to heat and vaporize the plant material. In the video, the still is used to compact lavender and extract its oil. The still is described as a key piece of equipment in the distillery, where the lavender is heated to release its essential oil, which is then collected.

💡Lavender floral water

Lavender floral water is a byproduct of the lavender oil extraction process, which consists of the water in which the oil has been dissolved. After the oil is separated, the remaining water, now infused with the essence of lavender, is known as floral water. It is mentioned in the video as a secondary product that, like lavender oil, has various uses in health and beauty products.

Highlights

Lavandula angustifolia is the scientific name for lavender, a plant used for its aromatic properties.

Lavender essential oil is used in health and beauty products due to its antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

The lavender plant is a perennial that begins flowering in its second year.

Harvest time for lavender in Canada is in July, during the peak of the first bloom.

Weeding is a crucial daily ritual for lavender farms to prevent water and nutrient loss.

The right time to harvest lavender is determined by the quantity and color of blooms, which should be purple-blue turning grayish-brown.

A specialized harvester is used to cut lavender, similar to a hair stylist.

Lavender is cut and placed on a conveyor belt, then transferred to a trailer for transport to the distillery.

The distillation process involves compacting lavender into a still, a large stainless steel vessel.

Steam is used to extract the lavender oil from the plant material in the still.

Cold water is used to condense the steam, which helps in the separation of lavender oil.

Lavender oil and floral water are the main products obtained from the distillation process.

The oil-to-water ratio in the holding tank is approximately 1:40.

Lavender oil naturally separates and rises to the surface due to its lower density.

Lavender floral water is a secondary product used in health and beauty products.

Both lavender oil and floral water are sent to a laboratory for further filtration and quality control.

Producers often create their own lines of lavender-based products for body and soul pampering.

Transcripts

lavandula angustifolia might sound like

the name of an ancient Roman Emperor but

it's actually the scientific name for

the lavender plant the leaves and

striking blue Petals of this aromatic

flowering shrub are used to make

lavender essential oil an ingredient in

many health and beauty

products lavender essential oil has

antiviral antibacterial and

anti-inflammatory properties no wonder

it's long been an natural remedy for

many ailments and with its flowery

fragrance and relaxant effects it's also

a common ingredient in lotions soaps and

bath

oils Lavender is a perennial plant that

begins flowering in its second year

Harvest Time at this Canadian Farm is in

July at the peak of the first Bloom

there's a second Bloom afterward but not

significant enough to Warrant another

Harvest

weeds like to grow at the base of

lavender plants siphoning off water and

important soil nutrients so between May

and September killing those weeds is a

vital daily

ritual the weeding machine lifts the

lavender stems out of the way then

blasts the weeds around the base with a

death blow of hot

[Music]

steam to determine the right time to

harvest the producer looks at the

quantity of blooms and the color of the

flowers they should be purple blue on

the verge of turning grayish Brown the

producer also crushes a few petals to

see how much oil comes

out the Harvester is specially designed

for cutting

lavender like a stylist cutting hair it

pulls the stems straight up then Snips

near the base

the cut stems about 40 cm long fall onto

a conveyor belt which moves them into a

tray from there workers manually

transfer the lavender to the Harvester's

trailer when the trailer is full the

Harvester delivers its load to the

on-site

Distillery workers load the lavender

into a still a large stainless steel

vessel typically used to produce

alcoholic spirits but in this case

lavender

oil they compact as much lavender as

possible into the still to prevent the

formation of air

pockets the less air the greater the oil

[Music]

yield once the still is stuffed to

compacted capacity they close it tightly

and start up an oil fired boiler the

boiler heats water into steam which they

then inject into the bottom of the still

at very low pressure over the course of

about 15 minutes the steam slowly Rises

to the top of the still heating the

lavender along the way they continue the

Steam for another half hour or so this

bursts the glands located primarily in

the petals to a lesser extent in the

leaves and stems releasing the

oil to collect that extracted oil they

feed cold water into a coiled pipe

running through the still when the hot

steam hits that cold pipe it condenses

transforming back into water only now

that water contains lavender

oil they open the Sills tap and let the

water flow into a holding tank

on average the proportions are one part

lavender oil to 40 Parts

water in the holding tank over the next

hour or so the oil naturally separates

and Rises to the surface at that point

they begin pumping the water to another

container stopping at the first sign of

oil what remains in the tank is the

final product pure lavender essential

oil the Pumped out water is a secondary

product called lavender floral

water the producer sends both products

to a laboratory to be

[Music]

filtered besides selling lavender oil

and floral water as ingredients to

manufacturers of health and beauty

products producers often design their

own lines of lavender Creations for

pampering the body and soul