Kewda (Flower) Essential Oil Distillation Plant

A Kewda flower essential oil distillation plant is a specialized facility designed to extract fragrant essential oil from the flowers of Pandanus odoratissimus, commonly known as Kewda or screwpine. Kewda oil, known for its rich, floral, and honey-like aroma, is widely used in traditional Indian perfumery (attars), cosmetics, incense, and food flavoring, especially in South Asia.

The extraction process primarily involves hydro-distillation, a traditional method well-suited to delicate Kewda flowers. In this process, freshly picked male Kewda flowers are placed in a copper or stainless steel distillation vessel with water. The mixture is then heated, allowing the steam to carry the aromatic compounds into a condenser. The vapor is cooled and condensed back into liquid form, where the essential oil separates from the water and is collected. In some traditional setups, attars are made by distilling Kewda oil directly into a sandalwood oil base.

Modern Kewda oil distillation plants feature stainless steel or copper stills, efficient boilers, condensers, and florentine separators for oil-water separation. Some facilities use hybrid techniques combining traditional and modern systems to improve efficiency and maintain the delicate floral profile of the oil.

Kewda essential oil is rich in aromatic compounds like methyl ether of beta-phenyl ethyl alcohol, which gives it its characteristic sweet, floral scent. The plant operates under strict hygiene and quality control standards, producing high-grade oil suitable for perfumery, food-grade applications, and traditional medicinal uses.