The Essential Oil Distillery was purchased from Robert Siedel of the Essential Oil Company.  This photo shows Judith, (Apprentice 2000) visiting in 2001 and examining the retort. (tall cylinder on left)  Her friend, Jesse, looks at the condenser (smaller cylinder on the right). 

The retort has been filled with water up to the bottom of a steel basket prior to putting the material in the retort.  Flowers/leaves/or bark are placed in a container  (I use a clean pillowcase used only for that purpose).  The pillow case of material is held above the water by a steel basket placing the material six inches above  the bottom of the retort.  The steam builds up to about 200 degrees (temperature gauge is on the right side of the retort).  Steam circulates through the bird beak to the condenser (next to Jesse).  The bird beak circulates steam to the condenser.  The condenser has coils within it which circulates the steam.  The condenser is filled with cool water which turns the steam to essential oil and hydrosol (floral water or hydrolate, as it is known in France). The hydrosols and essential oils are separated by a separator which can barely be seen here (in Jesse's left hand).  The water in the condenser is kept cool by re-circulating through  a series of three graduated steel containers of water.  This was the innovation of the steward of La Paix who was tired of buying and carting ice to keep the condenser cool.  The concept  was brought to fruition by another apprentice from WV Wesleyan College, David Nichols.  It works very well.