Peppermint Essential Oil Distillation

Introduction to peppermint essential oil

Mint is a hybrid of water mint and green mint and contains a high amount of menthol. Peppermint is often added to toothpaste and mouthwash to help improve oral health. Peppermint essential oil has a wide range of uses and has a refreshing effect. It is indispensable for those who drive long distances or stay up late. It has always been one of the best-selling essential oil products.

Peppermint essential oil types

There are about 30 species of mint plants in the world; mint contains 25 species. Except for a few annual plants, most of them are fragrant perennial plants. The current main production area is the United States, and the best mint is produced in the United Kingdom. The stem is about 90 cm long, the furry leaves are serrated, and the flowers are terminal and have purple, white and pink flower spikes. There are 12 species in China, and the wild ones include peppermint, peppermint, spearmint, and lipcalyx mint.

Peppermint essential oil is a commonly used essential oil that has cooling, refreshing and calming properties. It is usually extracted through the following two methods:

1. Distillation method: Distillation method is the most common extraction method of peppermint essential oil. Specific steps are as follows:

- First, place the mint leaves and flowers in a still (also called mint Essential oil distillation equipment).

- Add enough water and heat it at the bottom of the still to generate steam.

- The steam passes through the plant material, carrying away the volatile compounds in the plant.

- Condensate the steam into liquid and collect it in the oil collector to obtain peppermint essential oil.

2. Solvent extraction method: Solvent extraction method is mainly suitable for extracting difficult-to-volatile chemical components from mint plants. The specific steps are as follows:

- First soak the mint leaves in a suitable solvent, such as ethanol or petroleum ether, to form an extract.

- Let it sit for a period of time to allow the solvent to fully contact the plant material and allow the active ingredients in the liquid to dissolve.

- Filter the extract to separate out the solid plant residue.

- Use a distillation device or heat to evaporate the solvent, leaving behind the extracted peppermint essential oil.

When extracting peppermint essential oil, you need to pay attention to the use of high-quality raw materials and appropriate extraction processes to ensure that the extracted essential oil is of high quality. Extracted peppermint essential oil should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and high temperatures to maintain its freshness and effectiveness.

Peppermint essential oil price

The price of peppermint essential oil is generally between $30/kg. The price difference is due to the difference in purity. If the price is too cheap, basically don’t buy it. It is basically water. You can identify it by smelling it and testing the skin. , essential oil has no fragrance, it is the taste of the plant itself, so don’t pursue fragrance, that is essence. The taste is quite stringy, and it feels like it's going to the back of your head. For skin testing, you drop essential oils into skin care products and then apply them on the skin. Essential oils are known for their high penetration and high absorption. After applying, you can use oil-absorbing paper to check the oil level.