Shabby
Junior Member
Oh, I will share with the greatest happiness uncle @Rai Munir!
I just have a standard 20 litre copper still which I got based on recommendations in this wonderful facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1397983977111787/
A 20 litre still is the recommended beginner's size. I think frankincense is a wonderful substance to start with because it gives a high yield, so even if you make a mistake or get a lower yield than expected (which has happened to me every time so far), you should still get some essential oil from it, and that will give you an immense magical gratitude which I am guessing is the key to distillation.
The main challenge seems to be keeping the condenser cool. I would recommend a simple aquarium pump to start as well as some ice. Even if you do a distillation of a few hours it would satisfy you, and those two - the aquarium pump and ice will be enough. I was able to get my oils with simply those two, although it involved some dedication (two nights of waking up every two hours to refill the container with ice). In my pictures the aquarium pump is inside the silver container (for the steam distillation), and out of shot for the hydro distillation picture.
If you get a still with a column, then you can do steam distillations as well as hydro distillations, so I would highly recommend it.
Finally I would recommend you get a separating funnel as well, although even that is not strictly necessary (you could use a syringe to help separate the oil from the hydrosol, especially if you have a collector which has a narrow neck - see my pictures of the glass bottle).
I am enclosing some pictures of the rudimentary set ups which I used, as well as the fractions I was able to get. If you want to know any more please ask, although maybe it would be easier to speak on the phone.
P.s. Can you believe that dark oil came from the base of the sacra hydrodistillation? The scent lasts for hours!
P.p.s Expect some spilling, leaking, and various other inconveniences in your first few attempts as you try to see how to cool the condenser. The untidiness of my pictures is unseemly but it corresponds to my amateur attempts!
I just have a standard 20 litre copper still which I got based on recommendations in this wonderful facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1397983977111787/
A 20 litre still is the recommended beginner's size. I think frankincense is a wonderful substance to start with because it gives a high yield, so even if you make a mistake or get a lower yield than expected (which has happened to me every time so far), you should still get some essential oil from it, and that will give you an immense magical gratitude which I am guessing is the key to distillation.
The main challenge seems to be keeping the condenser cool. I would recommend a simple aquarium pump to start as well as some ice. Even if you do a distillation of a few hours it would satisfy you, and those two - the aquarium pump and ice will be enough. I was able to get my oils with simply those two, although it involved some dedication (two nights of waking up every two hours to refill the container with ice). In my pictures the aquarium pump is inside the silver container (for the steam distillation), and out of shot for the hydro distillation picture.
If you get a still with a column, then you can do steam distillations as well as hydro distillations, so I would highly recommend it.
Finally I would recommend you get a separating funnel as well, although even that is not strictly necessary (you could use a syringe to help separate the oil from the hydrosol, especially if you have a collector which has a narrow neck - see my pictures of the glass bottle).
I am enclosing some pictures of the rudimentary set ups which I used, as well as the fractions I was able to get. If you want to know any more please ask, although maybe it would be easier to speak on the phone.
P.s. Can you believe that dark oil came from the base of the sacra hydrodistillation? The scent lasts for hours!
P.p.s Expect some spilling, leaking, and various other inconveniences in your first few attempts as you try to see how to cool the condenser. The untidiness of my pictures is unseemly but it corresponds to my amateur attempts!