First International Workshop of Essential Oils at the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL) Freising

Rudolf Rinder and Dr. Heidi Heuberger, working group for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding, received skilled aromatherapists from Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Czech Republic, Germany and United States (tour operator Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy, San Rafael, CA 94903, USA, Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, Monika Haas, Georg Effner) in 2011, June 21st for a vivid exchange of information and experiences on essential oils.

After a brief history of optimizing and developing new steam distillation techniques, there were lots of hands-on experiences on three new see-through RIBA glass stills and three cold-lightning binoculars. The participants recovered their own essential oil from yarrow, mint, thyme, oregano, estragon, basil and lavender. The entire group was committed discussing different extraction methods and the controversial issues related to authentic straight oils and terms of trade for standardized oils. In the last part of the workshop pleasantly scenting samples of pure essential oils from RIBA-stills were ready to train the sensing skills.

After the workshop the participants joined and visited the Bavarian distillers in their fields at Rottaler Aromaöle, Ampertaler Naturprodukte, Dachauer Land.
Bavarian farmers and distillers have successfully striven into the market segment of high grade pure essential oils for aromatherapy. This new source for essentials oils was supposed to be positioned and inspired by the workshop.

September 2011
Rudolf Rinder, Dr. Heidi Heuberger IPZ 3d
Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft
Institut für Pflanzenbau und Pflanzenzüchtung
Tel.: 08161/71-3637 • Fax: 08161/71-4102