The Copper Essential Oil Still — How Much Oil You’ll Actually Get Per Batch.
An essential oil still is a copper alembic set up for steam distillation of aromatic plants — lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, rose, chamomile, and roughly 200 other species used in aromatherapy, perfumery, and natural wellness. Yields are not magical, and the numbers are honest. 1 kg of lavender typically gives 12–18 mL of pure essential oil and around 1 L of hydrosol. 1 kg of rosemary: 8–15 mL of oil. 1 kg of fresh peppermint: 3–8 mL. Rose is the outlier — 3–5 kg of petals for a single millilitre of rose oil, which is why authentic rose absolute is the most expensive ingredient in perfumery.
A CopperHolic still ships with everything a steam-distillation run needs: copper boiling pot, onion-head helmet, condenser coil, thermometer. Plant material sits above the water line on a perforated rack (a stainless steamer basket works fine). The 5-litre ($399) is the most-used size for hobby and small-batch oil work — one 2–3 hour run produces enough hydrosol for a full season of skincare and a working amount of essential oil floating at the top of the separator. The 5-gallon ($499) is the size for serious herbalists and small commercial brands. Lifetime guarantee on the workmanship.
How steam distillation
works in a copper still.
Fill the copper pot with fresh or dried botanical material — flowers, leaves, bark, or roots.
Steam rises through the plant material, carrying volatile aromatic compounds with it through the helmet.
The vapour passes through the copper condenser, where it cools and returns to liquid form.
Essential oil floats on top of the hydrosol (floral water), ready to separate and use.
Which plants work best in a copper essential oil still?
The most popular essential oil for home distillers. Calming, versatile, and relatively easy to extract with good yield.
Sharp, herbaceous, and excellent for aromatherapy and hair care applications. Distils readily from fresh stems.
One of the highest-yielding plants for home distillation. The cooling, camphor-forward oil is widely used and easy to sell.
Fast-growing and prolific. Peppermint oil is one of the most commercially in-demand essential oils you can produce at home.
Requires large volumes of petals but produces extraordinarily valuable oil and rose water. A luxury distillation project.
Distilled from resin rather than leaves. Produces a warm, meditative oil prized in perfumery and wellness applications.
Why is copper the best material for distilling essential oils?
Copper has been the distiller's material of choice for thousands of years — and not by accident. When it comes to extracting essential oils, copper doesn't just hold the process. It actively improves it.
Unlike stainless steel, copper reacts with sulphur compounds released during distillation, binding them and removing them from the final oil. The result is a cleaner, more aromatic output with less of the harsh notes that can diminish quality.
And beyond chemistry: a CopperHolic still develops a living patina over years of use. No two stills age the same way. It becomes yours — marked by the plants you've run through it, the batches you've made.
Which essential oil still size is right for you?
Perfect for home growers distilling small harvests. Handles 200–400g of fresh botanical material per run. Fits on a standard stovetop.
The sweet spot for essential oil production. Handles 1–2kg of botanical material and produces meaningful yield per run. Our most ordered size.
For growers with larger harvests or buyers building a dedicated distillation workspace. Maximum capacity and visual presence.
Essential oil still —
questions answered.
An essential oil still is a distillation apparatus used to extract aromatic oils from plant material via steam. The steam carries the volatile compounds through the still, which are then cooled and collected. A copper alembic still is the traditional choice for this process.
Lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, and lemon balm are among the easiest and most rewarding plants to distil at home. They offer good yield, accessible growing conditions, and strong demand if you choose to sell. Rose and frankincense are advanced projects with high-value outputs.
Copper binds sulphur compounds released during distillation, producing a cleaner and more aromatic oil. It also conducts heat more evenly for consistent steam temperature, and develops a natural patina that many distillers find improves output quality over time.
The 5-litre is ideal for small home harvests and tabletop setups. The 5-gallon handles more botanical material per run and is our most popular choice. The 10-gallon suits larger growing operations or dedicated distillation setups. See the Size Guide for a full breakdown.
Yes. Each CopperHolic still kit includes the copper pot, domed helmet, condenser, and a care guide. You supply the heat source, water, and botanicals — and you're ready to run your first distillation.
Your botanicals deserve
a proper still.
Handcrafted copper essential oil still kits in 5L, 5-gallon, and 10-gallon. Ships worldwide.
Shop the Essential Oil Still