Prepare Raw Materials
1 hourDry or lightly wilt botanicals, grind resins, or chop citrus peel for alcohol extraction.
Field context
This workflow is part of 1 niche field
Learn maceration technique from scratch with a clear step-by-step workflow, recommended tools, safety guidelines, and expert tips.
Dry or lightly wilt botanicals, grind resins, or chop citrus peel for alcohol extraction.
Fill jar one-third botanical to two-thirds alcohol by volume for standard maceration.
Seal jar, store in cool dark place, and shake daily for 4–8 weeks.
Strain through coffee filter or muslin, rest filtrate 2–4 weeks before use in blends.
Maceration captures heavier molecules; steam distillation yields lighter essential oils.
95% ethanol is flammable — no open flames in maceration area.
Discard batch immediately if fuzzy growth appears on botanicals.
Alcohol vapors accumulate — work with windows open.