Botanical Extracts Level 3: Extractions, Alchemy & Perfumery ~ Online Class

Traditional and Modern Processes for Optimal Botanical & Flower Extractions

This 6-week online workshop is designed to empower students with the skills to navigate the entire production process, from raw materials to the final product. It also creates a space for people to be introduced to techniques that are slowly disappearing with time. Renowned for her mastery in botanical extractions, Alice will delve into sustainable plant harvesting practices, exploring their alignment with the Biodynamic calendar and the alchemical world. Drawing from her extensive background as a perfumer and aromatherapist, Alice's deep admiration for flowers, which she perceives as living gems of color and scent, has been the driving force behind two decades of hands-on experience in extracting nature's magical expressions. Along this journey, she uncovered the profound capacity of flowers to heal emotional patterns and blockages in both humans and animals, utilizing the transformative power of flower essences and aromatherapy.

This series places an emphasis on working with flowers. Flowers are the most ethereal expression of nature, they are the beauty and the promise of a new seed, a new future. In the alchemical world, they are related to the sun, the ether, and the gemstones of the natural world. They are the expression of the lighter realm, the hidden world, and the potential of a new life and new thought patterns unveiled by their capacity to attain vulnerability. We will explore their place in the natural kingdom and eco-system, the spiritual world, and the emotional impact on humans and animals.

Often people see tinctures as strictly medicinal extracts used in herbal therapy, nevertheless, tinctures can be amazing bases for perfumery blends. Other prized techniques will also be covered such as enfleurage. These repeated extraction processes, combined with proper solvent choices as well delicate and gentle methods bridge the realm of flower and botanical extraction with the art of aromatherapy and perfumery.

This class is designed for:

• Cosmetic, topical, medicine and perfume formulators.
• Estheticians looking to develop their line of botanical treatments.
• Plant lovers, farmers and gardeners that want to expand their practical knowledge.

Workshop Topics

Introduction to Botanical Arts and Alchemy

• Explore the alchemical realm of botanical arts.
• Understand the foundational principles of botanical extraction.
• Learn the significance of mathematical ratios in creating quality, therapeutic grade extractions.

Solvent Selection and Techniques Level 3

• Examine the properties of various solvents, all related to the techniques shared in this class.
• Improve solvent stability and sent for optimal perfume grade extracts.
• Understand perfume grade solvents for optimal results.

Sustainable Harvesting and Biodynamic Principles

• Gain insights into sustainable harvesting practices for botanical extraction.
• Explore the correspondence between the Biodynamic calendar and optimal harvesting times.
• Learn how to ethically and responsibly source raw materials for botanical extractions.

Introduction to the realm of Flower & Perfume Grade Extractions

Flowers are the most ethereal expression of Nature, they are the beauty and the promises of a new seed, a new future. In the alchemical world, they are related to the sun, the ether, and are the Gemstones of the natural world. They are the expression of the lighter realm, the hidden world, and vulnerability. We will explore their place in the natural kingdom and eco-system, the spiritual world and the emotional impact on humans and animals.

• Alchemy of flowers gems of the plant kingdom
  
• Understanding flowers as ethereal expressions of nature and their symbolic significance in alchemy and biodynamics.
• Exploring the connection between flowers, the sun, ether, and gemstones in the natural world.

• Floral Essence Making:

• Recognizing flowers as portals to emotional health and well-being.
• Creating your own flower essence from the garden
• Formulating your own flower essence blend for optimal wellbeing

• Hydrosols and Essential Oil Extractions:

• Witnessing seasonal floral distillation, an ancient alchemical art.
• Traditional copper stills and gentle techniques to preserve flower properties and aromas.
• Note: Distillation techniques and details will not be covered in this class; if you want to learn how to make your own we highly recommend the distillation class, for information see: The Art of Distillation: An Alchemical Experience.

• Enfleurage Techniques:

• Reviving the French perfumery extraction technique of enfleurage.
• Alice Duvernell shares methods for creating aromatic pomades using cold and hot enfleurage techniques.
• Hands-on experimentation with seasonal fresh flowers.

• Floral Tinctures and Repeated Extractions for Perfumery:

• Breaking the misconception of tinctures as only medicinal extracts.
• Exploring repeated extraction processes, solvent choices, and delicate methods for perfumery.
• Bridging the realms of flower extraction with the art of aromatherapy.
• Students craft custom aromatherapy blends to complement artisan-crafted alcohol extracts presented during the class.

• Percolation

  • Percolation Principles:
  • Understanding the percolation method as an efficient botanical extraction technique.
  • Factors influencing percolation, solvent choice, and extraction time.
  • Practical Implementation:
  • Setting up and operating a percolation apparatus.
  • Step-by-step percolation process demonstration with hands-on participation.

Throughout the Series:

• Work through the entire process, from raw materials to finished products.
• Engage in hands-on experience creating customized botanical extracts as home assessments during the course of the class.
• Receive guidance from Alice, a master in botanical extractions, on defining creation and blend goals
• By the end, participants will have the knowledge and confidence to incorporate botanical extractions into their formulations for medicinal and cosmetic purposes.

Additional Information

All classes will be recorded and accessible for all signed up students for 90 days after the end of the series. So if you miss a class or wish to review the material, no worries, you can study at your own pace!

We strongly advise that you have the Enfleurage Kit by your side while taking this online class. This enables students to be in direct connection with the results that they could attain. These extracts are all made from organic herbs and solvent. We are offering a 30% discount off the normal price of the Enfleurage Kit when you purchase it at the same time as the online class. 

Note: If ordered together, this class+kit package also qualifies for free shipping for students within the USA. (Outside of  USA will pay shipping.) The discount and free shipping is applied automatically when you checkout.

See you soon!