Various methods of production of essential oils can be listed as follows.

1. HYDRO DISTIILATION.

2. HYDRO - STEAM DISTILLATION.

3. STEAM DISTILLATION.

4. TURBO STEAM DISTILLATION.

5. SOLVENT EXTRACTION.

HYDRO DISTILLATION.

In this process raw material (plant to be distilled) is directly mixed with water kept in the distillation unit. But the product obtained from this process is inferior to the product obtained from other improved processes. The same method is used in CLEVENGER METHOD in which many kind of essential oils can be produced in lab scale.

HYDRO - STEAM DISTILLATION

In this process water is taken in the bottom portion of the distillation tank where as the raw material or the plant to be distilled is placed on a grid just above the water. In this water should not touch the raw material. Water stored in the bottom portion of the tank is boiled and steam passes through the plant stored inside the tank. The steam carrying the oil is condensed to separate oil and water. PALMAROSA, CITRONELLA, LEMONGRASS, GERANIUM, DAVANA AND BULGARIAN ROSE are some important essential oils can be produced by this process.

STEAM DISTILLATION

Here steam is produced separately in a boiler at particular pressure and passed through the plant stored inside the tank. Pressure of the steam is regulated to control the condensation rate of the water vapour which carries oil. Previously said all the oils can be produced by this process.

TURBO STEAM DISTILLATION

This method is suitable for hard to extract or coarse plant material such as barks, roots, and seeds. In this process plant is soaked in water and the steam is circulated through water and plant mixture. Throughout the entire process the same water is used for soaking so as to allow the faster extraction.

SOLVENT EXTRACTION

In this process raw material is soaked in a organic chemical called solvent. Usually hexane is used for this purpose. The mixture of oil and solvent is called as concrete. The absolute of the oil is later separated by using alcohol. JASMINE OIL is prepared by this solvent process.