2S4 
OIL OP LAVENDER. 
ART. LXV. — OIL OF LAVENDER. 
By Mr. Jacob Bell. 
In the distillation of oil of lavender on the large scale, a con- 
siderable proportion of the stalk is not unfreqnently thrown 
into the still with the heads of the flower. Sometimes the 
stalk is cut off with scissors almost close to the flower, in 
other cases less care is used and more stalk. The quality 
of the oil offered in the market varies very much, not only 
on account of occasional mixture with foreign oil, but even 
l he genuine oil differs according to the circumstances under 
which it has been prepared. 
The object of the following experiments was to ascertain 
to what extent the entire separation of the stalk would in- 
fluence the quality of the result. The lavender florets were, 
therefore, stripped by hand from the stalk, which latter was 
carefully separated, so that nothing but the absolute floret 
should find its way into the still. The distillation was con- 
ducted in the usual way by steam. The quantity of water 
employed was about 30 gallons to the cwt. of flowers, the 
water coming over in each distillation being saved for the 
next, any deficiency being made up with fresh water. 
The following table shows the quantity of flowers dis- 
tilled on each of the occasions referred to, with the amount 
as well as the cost, of the product from each distillation. 
Pounds of 
Lavender Flowers. 
Oil produced. 
Cost per lb 
lbs. 
lb. oz. 
j. d. 
46 July 28 
99 
1 7 
64 
" 29 
113 
1 15 
53 4 
" 31 
116 
2 4 
52 
Aug. 10 
89 
1 4| 
61 4 
1847. 
July 29 
110 
1 7 
70 
Aug. 4 
161 
2 11 
53 4 
« 6 
217 
3 12 
53 4 
" 9 
145 
2 3 
58 8 
1848. 
July 3 1 
255 
3 
63 
Aug. 2 
217 
2 8 
61 
« 4 
306 
4 
57 4 
" 7 
80 
1 2 
32 
" 8 
66 
15 
31 3 
