Lilac solvent extraction

[Woodland Note]

Does anyone have some experience with extraction of lilac (syringa vulgaris) flowers? What is best approach? Is there any way to get rid of this sticky/tacky resinous thing?


Well, one way would be to carefully cut each little flower separately, cause it's the green parts that secrete this resinous stuff I think. But that is quite a bit of work.

 

[xii]

I've attempted a solvent extraction with pentane. A fiasco. The waxy substance comes from petals so separating the green parts won't help. More importantly, the extract turned out to be of a very poor quality. Smells of cooked flowers.

For the purpose of being able to smell lilac fragrance throughout entire year I'd suggest preparing some pomade from enfleurage. For this one needs to spread some 100g - 200g solid odourless fat over the area of 1/4 square metres. For the best results the flowers need to be placed (literally) one by one so a variety with large fragrant flowers is needed. With some practice preparing and replacing flowers will take 45 minutes tops. After having replaced the flowers 4 - 8 times the fat can be collected put into a sealed jar and meted in a water bath with some ethanol for preservation.