MFH - Experiments & Materials

MaxFromHolland said:
Filtration can be a pain with the filter paper clogging and all that.
I tend to do like this:
Bottle, funnel with paper; pour the oil in and cover with a jar to avoid reduce evaporation;
First it drips, then clogs. But after a while it starts to drip again. I suspect microchannels form in the precipitate as it clings together more and kind-of cracks.
View attachment 52840
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I am guessing you are familiar with buchner funnels? Vacuum assisted filtration is another option and a basic vacuum pump that would work for this is pretty inexpensive
 
Mr.P said:
I am guessing you are familiar with buchner funnels? Vacuum assisted filtration is another option and a basic vacuum pump that would work for this is pretty inexpensive
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Yes, always thought they are quite big but haven't properly looked around tbh.
 
MaxFromHolland said:
Yes, always thought they are quite big but haven't properly looked around tbh.
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depending on how you set it up they can be any size you want. I know what you mean though, the kits seem to come in very specific sizes. The following is for anybody who may not be familiar with this (MFH I'm guessing you are aware of this all)

The basic piece of equipment is an erlemeyer flask that has a hole drilled in the side with a little barbed extension to attach a hose to. You pull air through that hose which then draws air in through the top of the flask. You just put a rubber stopper in that with whatever size funnel you want and the appropriate filter paper. I think I've seen 500 mL and 1000 mL version of the special flasks

IMG_5412.jpeg
 
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Mr.P said:
depending on how you set it up they can be any size you want. I know what you mean though, the kits seem to come in very specific sizes. The following is for anybody who may not be familiar with this (MFH I'm guessing you are aware of this all)

The basic piece of equipment is an erlemeyer flask that has a hole drilled in the side with a little barbed extension to attach a hose to. You pull air through that hose which then draws air in through the top of the flask. You just put a rubber stopper in that with whatever size funnel you want and the appropriate filter paper. I think I've seen 500 mL and 1000 mL version of the special flasks

View attachment 52841
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Yes, i've seen 250ml kits and bigger popping up in the ads. Those are good for straining a tincture prior to concentrating. But some weak concentrates end up as, say, 2ml of oil and i feel like i may loose a lot if i use a 250ml flask. Maybe thats not necessarily true if i just clamp the flask to let it drip until empty into the vial, but im not sure. So i end up with a sq inch of paper in a small glass funnel trying to avoid loss🙂
 
Just tried another 'cheap' Santalum album oil. Apparently very low in a- and b-santalol and I found it much similar to copaiba balm. The latter being slightly dryer.

So, incoming experiment:
I will buy, grate and extract some Santen and try to blend it with copaiba to see if i can add the fatty and sweet cream note that way.

Or I end up with some tropical basenote🙂 no harm done..
 
While sniffing & thinking i was concentrating a sandalwood powder tincture. Which should get oil added when almost done, but i was to late and it turned into a sticky goo.

IMG_20260204_212150_6~2.jpgSticky goo only dissolves in warm water. So that i did and then added oil for liquid-liquid extraction. Lot of extra work (shake-a-lot, filtrate, separate oil from water).

So, just that you know: ethanol evaporation rate is inverse-proportional to attention given 🧐
 
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MaxFromHolland said:
While sniffing & thinking i was concentrating a sandalwood powder tincture. Which should get oil added when almost done, but i was to late and it turned into a sticky goo.

View attachment 52888Sticky goo only dissolves in warm water. So that i did and then added oil for liquid-liquid extraction. Lot of extra work (shake-a-lot, filtrate, separate oil from water).

So, just that you know: ethanol evaporation rate is inverse-proportional to attention given 🧐
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This plan B is technically a fail though. Scent molecules sit in the alcohol. If all of the alcohol gets evaporated, then where do those molecules go but out of the jar?
The sticky goo remaining is mostly sugars, waxes and pigments and of little interest for said molecules.

The oil must be added after straining the tincture, or after concentrating the bulk down, to offer the molecules an attractive place to go.

The rescue attempt gives an impression of what the scent would have been. As such useful to decide if the material is worth another try.

Edit: It ended up in the bin. New tincture started after remembering i only used half the bag first time..
 
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Just filtered a jar of pitch black Patchouli tincture and noticed that the leaves still have a nice aroma. So i put them back in a jar and topped it off with boiling water. Will let it sit for a day or so and filter again. The liquid may be suitable as mild roomspray. (its a lovely soft and creamy patch)
 
MaxFromHolland said:
Just filtered a jar of pitch black Patchouli tincture and noticed that the leaves still have a nice aroma. So i put them back in a jar and topped it off with boiling water. Will let it sit for a day or so and filter again. The liquid may be suitable as mild roomspray. (its a lovely soft and creamy patch)
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Well. That turned out te be a good idea. Sprayed some on the curtains. Scent is just present enough to greet you upon entering the room, then lingers barely noticeable in the background. Me like🙂
 
MaxFromHolland said:
Just tried another 'cheap' Santalum album oil. Apparently very low in a- and b-santalol and I found it much similar to copaiba balm. The latter being slightly dryer.

So, incoming experiment:
I will buy, grate and extract some Santen and try to blend it with copaiba to see if i can add the fatty and sweet cream note that way.

Or I end up with some tropical basenote🙂 no harm done..
Click to expand...
In progress🙂
 
Is 1+1 2?

I was just thinking, if i convert a tincture into a scented oil, i use 5-15ml of jojoba (depending on the strenght).
Now, somewhere along the vacuum-evaporation line, the liquid gets so cold that the jojoba solidifies.

Now, what if i filter the tincture, add the jojoba, let it sit for a day with occasional shake and then put it in the freezer? With a bit of luck the jojoba solidifies into a grainy mess, allowing me to pour it trough a filter and put the jojoba in a small jar before it turns liquid again.
Then i would only need to finish it off in the vacuum chamber and be done. + I get to keep the alcohol for another (same) tincture if so desired.
The simple fact that i like to use jojoba, which is technically a wax may make life much easier (the vac pump will likely agree🙂)

Eager to try🙂
 
MaxFromHolland said:
Is 1+1 2?

I was just thinking, if i convert a tincture into a scented oil, i use 5-15ml of jojoba (depending on the strenght).
Now, somewhere along the vacuum-evaporation line, the liquid gets so cold that the jojoba solidifies.

Now, what if i filter the tincture, add the jojoba, let it sit for a day with occasional shake and then put it in the freezer? With a bit of luck the jojoba solidifies into a grainy mess, allowing me to pour it trough a filter and put the jojoba in a small jar before it turns liquid again.
Then i would only need to finish it off in the vacuum chamber and be done. + I get to keep the alcohol for another (same) tincture if so desired.
The simple fact that i like to use jojoba, which is technically a wax may make life much easier (the vac pump will likely agree🙂)

Eager to try🙂
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Well.. nope, doesn't work. Could seperate a bit of the oil. But that doesn't have much scent. Guess concentrating the alcohol is a step that cannot be skipped.
 
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MaxFromHolland said:
Tricky task it is. The santen dissolves in lukewarm alcohol and then the whole lot begins to solidify. Finding the sweetspot between liquid and solid to filter..
Fun though🙂
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[Ouddict.com] MFH - Experiments & MaterialsThe saturated alcohol is floating on top of the oil🤔 and the precipitate that was remaining in the mix sits as a thin layer in between. Did shake this multiple times already. Dont know yet how much scent the oil has.
 
MaxFromHolland said:
View attachment 52930The saturated alcohol is floating on top of the oil🤔 and the precipitate that was remaining in the mix sits as a thin layer in between. Did shake this multiple times already. Dont know yet how much scent the oil has.
Click to expand...
That one was no good, wrong method.
IMG_20260207_223555_4.jpgNext try is a hot infusion (right-hand bottle). Top layer is oil infused with santen. (Mid layer is water.) Think i best chill this, then i can scoop the toplayer off and briefly put it on paper towel to absorb unwanted water.
 
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MaxFromHolland said:
That one was no good, wrong method.
View attachment 52957Next try is a hot infusion (right-hand bottle). Top layer is oil infused with santen. (Mid layer is water.) Think i best chill this, then i can scoop the toplayer off and briefly put it on paper towel to absorb unwanted water.
Click to expand...
IMG_20260208_103445_0.jpg

Still at fridge temp. here. I expect it to be a semi-solid at room temperature, so i've put it in a cream jar.
😎 If it turns out unsuitable for my blending idea, it has the right package to be used as lip balm 😎
 
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