Still LEONARDO® Grande

The Still LEONARDO® Grande is a high-quality copper still for the gentle production of essential oils and intense hydrosols. It works according to the principle of steam distillation: the plant material does not lie in the water but is flowed through exclusively by steam. Thanks to the larger fill volume, considerably greater quantities of plant material can be processed in a single run. This is particularly sensible for larger harvests and for plants with a low oil content.

The LEONARDO® was designed by us, optimised from a process-engineering perspective and is manufactured exclusively for us. We were one of the first suppliers to offer an essential oil still in this design specifically suitable for small and medium plant quantities. The unit has since been imitated many times but, thanks to its thoughtful construction, the short vapour path and the easy cleaning, it remains a true original.

The principle of LEONARDO® steam distillation

Above the bottom of the boiler there is an aroma basket. The botanicals therefore do not come into direct contact with the water but only with the rising steam. The steam absorbs the volatile constituents of the plants and then condenses in the cooling dome. Thanks to the short vapour and cooling path, particularly intense hydrosols are formed and valuable essential oil is not unnecessarily lost in long cooling systems. Its construction is based on the historical sketches by Leonardo da Vinci from the 15th century, which are designed for steam distillation with as little loss as possible.

The main advantages

• Large plant volume: with 6.5 litres of fill volume for botanicals, considerably more plant material can be processed in one run.
• Ideal with low oil content: with plants such as roses, wild herbs, lemon balm or chamomile, more plant material is needed in order to actually obtain essential oil. The Grande is considerably better suited to this than smaller units.
• Aroma basket above the water: the plant material is flowed through only by the steam. This is ideal for high-quality essential oils and hydrosols.
• Short vapour path: the vapour condenses directly in the cooling dome. As a result, aroma, intensity and yield are preserved as well as possible.
• Solid hammered copper: the unit is stable, durable and has the typical artisanal appearance of a classic copper still.
• Direct heating: thanks to the flat boiler base, the still can be used on a gas stove, electric stove, wood stove or open fire.
• Open condenser: the cooling can be carried out with running water, a circulating pump or by simply topping up with cold water from above.
• No seals required: the precisely fitting individual parts are plugged together. The unit is therefore tight without the constant need for spare parts or seals.
• Easy to clean: the entire interior, including the condenser and drainage groove, is easy to reach and can be cleaned thoroughly.

Handcrafted and clearly marked

Each LEONARDO® is made by hand and is therefore essentially a one-off piece. So that the precisely fitting individual parts cannot be confused, they are marked with individual stamped marks. Each unit therefore unambiguously belongs together.

Deliberately without an automatic oil separator

The LEONARDO® deliberately has no automatic oil separator or separating funnel. Valuable amounts of oil can adhere in such devices. In addition, some essential oils are heavier than water and would not be cleanly captured during automatic separation. It is better to let the hydrosol and oil rest together after distillation and only then to separate them carefully. This improves the yield and protects the quality of the distillate.

Who is the LEONARDO® Grande suitable for?

The LEONARDO® Grande is particularly well suited when larger quantities of plant material are to be processed or when working with plants that deliver only small amounts of essential oil. Thanks to the larger fill volume, more plant material can be processed in a single distillation run. This saves working steps and increases the chance of obtaining an intense hydrosol and actually essential oil.

Particularly with plants that have a low oil content, for example roses, wild herbs, lemon balm or chamomile, a larger plant volume is decisive. With too little plant material, you often obtain a hydrosol but little or no visibly separable essential oil. For such applications, the LEONARDO® Grande is therefore considerably better suited than very small stills.

If you would like to start smaller, the LEONARDO® Classic is a matching alternative. If you would like to work even more flexibly or process larger quantities, the LEONARDO® Flexi or the SUPREMA Duo are interesting next steps. For even larger batches, the Still LEONARDO 35 to 85 Litres is a suitable option.

Technical data

The distillation time refers to operation with an electric 1500-W single hotplate, including heat-up time.

Scope of delivery

• Still LEONARDO® Grande made of copper
• Aroma basket
• 1 metre of silicone hose
• Detailed operating instructions

Practical accessories and further instructions

For cleaning the distillate drain tube, we recommend the matching Cleaning Brush for Still LEONARDO. In addition, our book Producing Essential Oils Yourself contains many further tips on plant selection, harvest time, processing and use of essential oils and hydrosols.