PRODUCING ESSENTIAL OILS

The lavender is harvested in mid July and the lavandin in early August. We wait until the flowers are at the stage in their development when they contain the maximum quantity of oil and then use a purpose-built machine imported from Provence to cut the flowers and stalks – leaving a neatly domed mound of foliage behind.

The large trailers containing the cut flowers are then driven to the distillation unit. For several hours, steam is pumped under high pressure into the sealed trailers. As it rises through the lavender flowers, the oil volatilises into steam that is then cooled in a condenser. The ‘condensate’ - a mixture of water and oil - is collected in a large metal flasks. As it settles, the oil separates and floats to the surface where it can be tapped off. The pure oil is then poured into drums for storage and is allowed to mature for at least 6 months before being sold.

The condensed water remaining in the flask after the oil has been removed still retains the fragrance of the oil. This pure lavender water (also known as hydrolat) is bottled for sale in the shop as a natural, powerfully-fragranced linen water for ironing and is also used as an essential ingredient in the making of our hand-creams.