Extraction

When a solvent enters in contact with plant material, it absorbs all the odoriferous substances contained in that material. Traditionally this method - called ENFLEURAGE - involved the use of cold fat. The result of this operation was a pomade or an odoriferous oil.

Today fat is replaced by volatile solvents (ethanol, methanol , hexane, toluene, butane or carbon dioxide) which are heated. These solvents are then eliminated through evaporation. What is left is a waxy substance called the concrete. Alcohol is added to the concrete and the mixture is heated and then chilled During this process, plant matter and waxes are removed from the concrete. Once the alcohol is removed through evaporation,all that is left is the absolute.