Those who follow this method, which is the one most generally employed when it is a question of exhausting plants which contain rather heavy oils, certify that the essences separate themselves more easily if distilling is effected at a little over 100° C. (water boiling-point).
“This instrument, named the Pellicane, which is a Vessell for Circulating, serveth to none other ende and purpose, than for to Circulate the Quintessence, which by the Arte of dystilling is drawen.”
A 16TH-CENTURY STILL, WITH CONDENSER JACKET TO HELM OF STILL.
STILLS AT THE WORKS OF THE LONDON ESSENCE CO.
Those who criticize this proceeding pretend that it has the disadvantage of injuring the quality of the essences obtained.
Thus the necessary quantity of sea salt required for the complete salting of the water is rarely used, which is to say about 40 per cent.; the majority of distillers limit themselves, according to the case in hand, to putting in 20 per cent. and sometimes only from 12 to 15 per cent., considering this a sufficient quantity to obtain a satisfactory result.