Enfleurage

Enfleurage is a method that has been used for centuries to draw out the scent of a flower and fix it to fat which is especially useful for delicate flowers that can’t be distilled.

I am always looking for ways to extract and utilize scents from flowers; naturally. I want the exact scent that the flower releases. While doing some research, I came across a method called enfleurage which has been used for thousands of years by many cultures.

This ancient method is unique in the aromatherapy market. Due to the expense of production, the end product is hard to find.

I have tried my luck with making an enfleurage. I started with plumeria flowers and learned quick; I made a mistake on the first try. Instead of adding my blossoms to a solid fat such as shea butter or mango butter, I added them to a few ounces of jojoba oil. The oil smelled nice for a short period, but then started to go rancid after about two weeks.

So on to round two. I used shea butter this time as my fatty base. I used 2 ounces and spread the butter out in a thin layer on a plate and added a combination of papaya, plumeria and jasmine flowers. I added the blossoms face down and as flat as possible, exposing the center of the flower and as much of the floral material to the butter. After 2 days, the blossoms need to be replaced with new ones. And before adding the new blossoms to the shea butter, I removed the stamens and/or pistils from the flower to prevent impurities and possible mold growth. Finally I sealed the plate with saran wrap and stored it in a cool, dark place.

Traditionally once the layer of fat is strongly scented (which happens in about 2-4 weeks depending on the type of flower used), the flowers are removed and alcohol is added to the fat mixture. It then sits in a glass container for 2 weeks and gets shaken daily. The alcohol will eventually float to the top. After 2 weeks, the alcohol is removed with an eyedropper and placed in a container that is then stored in a cool, dark place. However in my case, I did something a little different.

After infusing the flowers in shea butter for about 4 weeks, I removed the last set of flowers and added 2 drops of essential oil as a preservative, mixed well and transferred to a container where I am storing in the refrigerator until usage. I plan on using my enfleurage as is or in a lotion, hair conditioner or other lovely creations.

Recently, I listened to an interesting webinar with a woman who makes different types of enfleurages by using a “contactless” method where she exposes the flowers to a fat without either one of the mediums touching. This sounds very promising as it would avoid any potential contamination. My gardenia bush is starting to produce buds and will soon bloom. I am excited to try this contactless technique with the gardenia flowers.