Best Flower Varieties to Distill Fragrance From
Distilling flowers for fragrance is an ancient practice used to produce essential oils, floral waters (hydrosols), and perfumes. Some flowers are especially known for their ability to yield strong, pleasing, and therapeutic fragrances when distilled. Below are some of the best flowers to use for fragrance extraction.
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Fragrance Profile: Fresh, clean, herbal, with a slightly sweet, floral note.
Distillation Benefits: Lavender is one of the most popular flowers for distillation because it produces a highly aromatic and versatile essential oil. It is used in aromatherapy, skincare, and cosmetics. The oil has soothing, calming properties and is ideal for relaxation.
Best Use: Lavender essential oil is often used in diffusers, bath products, and even for homemade cleaning supplies due to its calming and antiseptic properties.
2. Rose (Rosa damascena)
Fragrance Profile: Sweet, rich, floral, and slightly fruity.
Distillation Benefits: Rose is known as the "queen of flowers" for its luxurious, elegant scent. Distilled rose essential oil is cherished for its romantic and calming properties, and its use in skincare is widely recognized due to its anti-aging and hydrating qualities.
Best Use: Rose water and rose oil are frequently used in perfumes, skincare, and wellness products. It is also beneficial for uplifting the spirit and calming the mind.
3. Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum)
Fragrance Profile: Warm, sweet, exotic, and intensely floral.
Distillation Benefits: Jasmine is one of the most beloved flowers in the perfume industry due to its deep, sensual fragrance. It is highly prized for its ability to evoke feelings of warmth and luxury. Jasmine essential oil is often used in romantic, floral-based perfumes and is a key ingredient in many fine fragrances.
Best Use: Jasmine oil can be used in aromatherapy for mood enhancement, relaxation, and as an aphrodisiac. It’s also effective for moisturizing and nourishing the skin.
4. Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)
Fragrance Profile: Rich, sweet, floral, and slightly fruity with hints of spice.
Distillation Benefits: Known for its exotic and sweet fragrance, ylang ylang is highly valued in the perfume industry. The essential oil is obtained from the flower's petals and is used to calm and balance emotions. It is also known for its benefits to the skin and hair.
Best Use: Ylang ylang is often used in aromatherapy to promote relaxation and reduce stress. It’s also commonly found in haircare products due to its nourishing properties.
5. Neroli (Citrus aurantium)
Fragrance Profile: Sweet, honeyed, floral, with a citrus undertone.
Distillation Benefits: Neroli essential oil is extracted from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree. Its calming, uplifting scent is frequently used to reduce anxiety and improve skin health. The oil is especially known for its ability to soothe sensitive skin and combat signs of aging.
Best Use: Neroli oil is often incorporated into facial products and perfumes due to its rejuvenating properties and delicate fragrance.
6. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile)
Fragrance Profile: Sweet, apple-like, with a gentle herbal scent.
Distillation Benefits: Chamomile flowers, particularly Roman chamomile, produce an essential oil that is gentle and calming. Known for its ability to soothe both the mind and the skin, chamomile is excellent for creating relaxing products, especially in skincare for sensitive skin.
Best Use: Chamomile essential oil is often used in skincare products for calming irritation or redness and in sleep aids like bath salts or pillow sprays.
7. Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
Fragrance Profile: Sweet, rosy, and slightly minty with earthy undertones.
Distillation Benefits: Geranium essential oil is produced from the leaves and flowers of the plant. It is known for its balancing properties and is often used to help regulate emotions. Geranium oil is also highly effective in skincare, promoting healthy and youthful-looking skin.
Best Use: Used in balancing skincare routines, geranium essential oil is also included in perfumes for its complex, floral aroma.
8. Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)
Fragrance Profile: Sweet, herbal, with fruity and earthy notes.
Distillation Benefits: Clary sage flowers produce an essential oil that is used for its calming and grounding effects. The fragrance is often described as relaxing and uplifting. It is also known for its skin benefits, especially in controlling oily skin.
Best Use: Clary sage oil is used in stress-relief products, aromatherapy, and skincare products targeting acne-prone skin.
9. Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa)
Fragrance Profile: Rich, heady, creamy, and slightly sweet with floral notes.
Distillation Benefits: Tuberose has a deeply luxurious and intoxicating fragrance that is highly prized in the perfume industry. The oil is more expensive and is known for its ability to evoke passion and sensuality.
Best Use: Tuberose is commonly used in high-end perfumes and as a note in floral fragrances. It can also be found in luxurious bath and body products.
10. Violet (Viola odorata)
Fragrance Profile: Soft, powdery, sweet, and floral with green undertones.
Distillation Benefits: Violet flowers yield an essential oil with a delicate, powdery fragrance that is soothing and calming. It is less commonly distilled than other flowers, making it a rare and treasured scent in perfumery.
Best Use: Violet essential oil can be used in perfumes, skin lotions, and bath products for its gentle, floral scent and its soothing properties.
Flowers offer an abundance of fragrant oils that can be distilled for various uses, from perfumes to skincare products. The best flowers to distill depend on the desired fragrance profile and therapeutic properties. Whether you’re seeking a calming lavender scent, an exotic jasmine note, or the richness of rose, distilling flowers can unlock their full aromatic potential.
