[bosox99]

Hi, I'm a high school chemistry student in my second year of chemistry. I have a moderately good setup in my basement for experiments. Earlier this year I used steam distillation to make essential peppermint oil. I'm wondering if anybody knows of some good choices for ingredients to repeat the process. (To make new oils). Are there some that would work very well? (examples are helpful), any that I should avoid?

P.S. The eventual goal is to use the oils as candle scent, if that changes anything.

[curiouscat]

Eucalyptus? Sandalwood? Rose? Patchouli? Orange peel? Most citrus fruit peel?

[billnotgatez]

@bosox99

It would be great if you could post a picture of your distillation set up.

[bosox99]

It's a really simple setup, but I do know that it works (i've used it before). The amount of loss isn't too bad, but it isn't great either.

http://imgur.com/dWNrXjz

[Yggdrasil]

Although probably not great for scented candles, here's a nice DIY protocol for isolating the essential oil in catnip.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Kitty-Crack%3A--ultra-potent-catnip-extract/

[Corribus]

Evil prank # 786: sneak into a pet store, light one of Yggdrasil's patented catnip-scented candles somewhere it won't be noticed, sit back and watch the fun.

[curiouscat]

Evil prank # 786: sneak into a pet store, light one of Yggdrasil's patented catnip-scented candles somewhere it won't be noticed, sit back and watch the fun.

I wonder, would it work in a zoo? Whenever I seem to visit the big cats decide to not show up outside their dens.

[Corribus]

According to wikipedia most big cats, with the exception of lions, are as susceptible to it as domestic breeds. So yeah. Maybe Yggdrasil can put this in a spray can or something... deoderant? Perfume? Er... on second thought, probably not a great idea.

[curiouscat]

Maybe Yggdrasil can put this in a spray can or something... deoderant? Perfume? Er... on second thought, probably not a great idea.

I think it's a great idea. So long as you aren't going camping.

You sell it outside zoos or African safari trips with moneyback gurantees if you cannot spot a lion.

[Corribus]

"So sorry your husband was turned into a chew-toy, ma'am. Here's your money back."

[billnotgatez]

@bosox99
Most excellent experiment.
I wonder if you put ice in the water bath of the receiving vessel?
Just curious.

[bosox99]

yeah, the cooling bath is ice/salt water below the freezing point.

[billnotgatez]

@bosox99

The amount of loss isn't too bad, but it isn't great either.

Just curious as to how you determined the above?

[bosox99]

Oh, I just measured the amount left in the boiling flask, measured what was captured in the Erlenmeyer, and saw how much i lost in total volume