August is distillation season for us at McKinley Lavender Farm. The first crop of lavender has been cut, and we have a bit of extra time on our hands before our second harvest. This makes it the perfect window to start our oil and hydrosol production. Our lavender essential oil is made in small batches using fresh, organically grown buds. It’s a slow, careful process. And it’s one we’ve been refining for years. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into making real lavender essential oil, and why the good stuff costs more, now’s the perfect time to learn!
Distilling Lavender Essential Oil on Our Farm
Right now, we’re between our first and second lavender harvests, and we’ve been itching to turn some of this year’s crop into oil. We use a traditional copper still, called an alembic, for distillation. It looks a bit like something from Frankenstein’s lab, but it’s been used for centuries. We love this method because it doesn’t require any additives or chemicals. All we use in the still to produce oil is water, heat, and lavender buds.
Each batch we distill gives us two products. The first being lavender essential oil and the second being lavender hydrosol. There’s always way more hydrosol than oil during this process. It takes a lot of lavender buds to get even a small amount of oil. That’s one reason real lavender oil is more expensive than it looks. It’s not because we’re trying to markup the price, there’s just simply not that much oil in each plant.
We also take pride in using only good-quality, organically grown lavender. None of our crops are sprayed with pesticides or insecticides. That makes all the difference in how the oil smells and feels. It’s clean and true to the plant. We don’t blend our oil with anything else. What you get is exactly what came out of the still.
Why We Love Small-Batch Lavender Oil
There’s a reason people come back for our lavender essential oil year after year. When something is made with care, you can tell. We don’t rush through distillation. Each batch is done slowly, by hand, and in small amounts. It takes us weeks of labour to get our annual supply. That gives us control over the quality and lets us keep an eye on every step.
Small batch also means fresh. Our oil doesn’t sit around waiting to be bottled for months. It’s made and poured soon after, so it keeps its full strength and scent. Mass-produced oil might be faster and cheaper, but it often loses the little things like its warmth or smoothness. And because we use only our own lavender, grown right here on the farm, we know exactly what’s going into each bottle.
We wish we could invite you to see the still in action, but our farm isn’t open to the public. That’s part of why we’re able to focus so much on the work itself. You can find our products online, though, and we ship directly from our farm shop.
The Heart of the Farm, Bottled for You
We’ve been distilling lavender for years, but it never stops feeling like a special process. If you’ve never tried pure lavender essential oil before, now’s a great time. This year’s batches are rolling out, fresh from the still. Whether you use it for sleep, stress, or just because it smells good, we hope you feel the care and attention that went into making it.
And if you’re already a fan, thank you for supporting our farm. Buying direct helps small producers like us keep doing what we do. Everything we sell comes straight from our website to your door. Distillation season only happens once a year, and these fresh batches won’t last long. Visit our website to explore the new oil and hydrosol, both made with love from this season’s harvest.
Be sure to contact us with any questions about our products!
FAQ About Lavender Oil
- Why is lavender essential oil more expensive than lavender hydrosol?
Because it takes a lot more plant material to produce a small amount of oil. Hydrosol is made in larger amounts during the same process, so it’s more abundant.
- Can I visit the farm to see the distillation process?
Our farm is not open to the public. We like to keep things quiet so we can focus on the harvest and distillation.
- What’s the difference between small-batch and commercial lavender oil?
Small-batch oil is made slowly and with more care. It’s often fresher, purer, and more fragrant than large-scale versions.
- Is your lavender organic?
We use only organically grown, non-sprayed lavender. We care a lot about the quality and safety of what we grow. Please note that we are not certified organic growers.
- Where can I buy your lavender essential oil?
All of our products are available online through our website. We ship within Canada and to select international locations.
