A Magical Journey
from the garden
through the still
to fully matured
scents
A Magical Journey
from the garden
through the still
to fully matured
scents
Harvesting and Transport
After harvest, the aromatic plants grown in our garden are transported to the distillery. Some medicinal plants must be distilled as quickly as possible, as they would otherwise lose a significant amount of their essential oil. These are therefore placed into the stills fresh, within half an hour to one hour after harvesting. Other plants benefit from resting for a few hours or up to half a day before processing.
Filling the Stills
We work with two stills. The smaller one, with a capacity of 160 liters, is made entirely of red copper, while the larger, 1,000-liter still is made of stainless steel. The required steam is generated by a separate steam generator. Proper compaction is essential so that the flowing steam can release as much oil as possible from the tiny sacs that store the essential oils. For this reason, we quite literally climb into the still and use our own body weight. In the height of summer, during the greatest heat, alongside the harvest, this too becomes a truly demanding task.
Filling the Stills
We work with two stills. The smaller one, with a capacity of 160 liters, is made entirely of red copper, while the larger, 1,000-liter still is made of stainless steel. The required steam is generated by a separate steam generator. Proper compaction is essential so that the flowing steam can release as much oil as possible from the tiny sacs that store the essential oils. For this reason, we quite literally climb into the still and use our own body weight. In the height of summer, during the greatest heat, alongside the harvest, this too becomes a truly demanding task.
Distillation
We seal the stills, and the steam slowly rises as the vessels warm through. At first, the plant’s characteristic scent fills the space, and a few minutes later the first drops of hydrosol appear. These are the most exciting moments. The distillation is gentle and prolonged, lasting for hours, allowing the oils to retain as many components as possible. This is how we achieve the highest therapeutic quality.
Cooling and Storage
As the steam cools, it condenses back into liquid and is collected in a special vessel. The oil, being lighter than water, separates naturally: the aromatic water settles below, while the essential oil floats above. The aromatic waters are stored in a temperature-controlled cooling chamber until bottling. Essential oils require a period of further care. After settling and filtration, they are left to rest. During this resting phase, the fresh scents merge and soften.
Cooling and Storage
As the steam cools, it condenses back into liquid and is collected in a special vessel. The oil, being lighter than water, separates naturally: the aromatic water settles below, while the essential oil floats above. The aromatic waters are stored in a temperature-controlled cooling chamber until bottling. Essential oils require a period of further care. After settling and filtration, they are left to rest. During this resting phase, the fresh scents merge and soften.
Quality Control and Packaging
The purity of our aromatic waters is verified through microbiological testing. Essential oils are sent for gas chromatographic analysis prior to bottling. As with all other stages of production, filling and labeling are carried out by hand.