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Distillation Process

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1. Blue Mallee eucalypts before harvest

Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Oil is made from the leaves of Eucalyptus polybractea also known as Blue Mallee. Blue Mallee trees come from the unique natural forest around Inglewood – near Bendigo, Victoria.

These eucalypts grow to approximately 1 metre in height and are harvested every two years. During harvesting the ‘shrubs’ are cut off just above the roots leaving enough growth for the new Blue Mallee to spring back after each harvest.

No weedicide, pesticide, fertiliser, additives or irrigation is used during the growth of the trees. The trees simply use the sun, soil and rain.

2. Harvesting the Blue Mallee

The trees are planted in what’s known as ‘patches’ – each patch is at a different stage and ready for harvest at different times throughout the year. This allows harvesting and distillation all year round.

The tractor pulls along the harvester that empties the cut trees into a vat towing behind. When the vat is full, approx. 3 tonnes of leaf, it’s taken back to the distillery.

3. Stoking the boiler

A boiler is used to generate the steam. This steam is used to extract the oil from the leaves. The boiler is fuelled using dried leaves that have already been distilled. The boiler must maintain a steady temperature to ensure a fresh, fragrant oil is produced.

4. Crude Oil and Water

A lid is clamped onto the vat of leaf and steam enters via the base. The steam generated from the boiler is pumped around the vat steaming out the oil from the leaves.

The oil / water mix comes out of the vat and into a bucket where the crude oil and water separate naturally. The oil is skimmed off the top and the left over water goes back to the dam.

It takes approx. 5kg of leaves to produce a 50mL bottle of eucalyptus oil.

5. Lifting the lid

After 2 hours of steam being pumped through the vat the leaves are spent and ready to be dried out ready to re-fuel the boiler. When the lid is lifted off the excess steam comes flowing out with a strong fragrance.

6. Out to dry

Once the lid has been lifted the vat of spent leaf is taken behind the distillery . The leaf is taken out of the vat to dry and be used as fuel for the boiler at a later date. These mounds of mulch will be used throughout the year and are the only fuel used for the boiler.

7. Liquid gold!

Once all the crude oil has been collected it’s carefully redistilled to remove any impurities and blended to create a fresh, premium grade eucalyptus oil.

8. Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Oil

Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Oil has a distinctive clean, fresh fragrance and is made using no artificial additives, aromas or flavourings. Available in supermarkets and pharmacies in a variety of sizes.