The Alembic: The Heritage of Distillation in Grasse Title Tag: The Alembic and its History | Grasse Perfumery Workshop Meta Description: Discover the history of the alembic, from Mesopotamia to Grasse. Learn how this precious tool is used to extract the essential oils that we select for our perfumes. Optimized Article: The alembic is the sacred tool that defined high perfumery. Its origin dates back to 3500 BC in Mesopotamia. The term comes from the Greek "ambix" (vase). As early as 1200 BC, Babylonian tablets mention Tapputi, the first perfumer and chemist in history, already using these distillation techniques. A Respected Expertise: The alembic allows the separation of the most subtle components of plants and woods to obtain essential oils of absolute purity. This technical process, such as "double distillation," is what gives Grasse perfumery its worldwide reputation. The Grasse Atelier Signature: True to this heritage, Grasse Atelier selects raw materials with absolute rigor from these traditional distillations. Whether it's Oud (agarwood) or Rose, we choose essences of the highest quality to blend in our family workshop. It is this rigorous selection, combined with our composition expertise in Grasse, that ensures the nobility and exceptional longevity of our niche perfumes. The Alembic The oldest type that has come down to us dates back to 3500 BC and comes from the Mesopotamian site of Tepe Gawra in Northern Iraq. Alembic comes from the Greek ambix (= vase). The alembic was first used to produce essential oils, floral waters, medicines, as well as the production of spirits by distilling fermented fruit juices. On a Babylonian cuneiform tablet around 1200 BC, this tablet mentions Tapputi, a Babylonian perfumer considered the very first chemist. Alembic Composition The alembic is composed of four parts: the serpentine or condenser, a helical tube with a vertical axis on the walls where the vapors condense due to the cooling effect of the liquid circulating around it. The oldest devices had a more or less inclined rectilinear condenser. the swan neck, originally conical and arc-shaped (hence the name) then cylindrical and rectilinear on more modern devices, carries the vapors into the condenser. the head covers the boiler and has a conical tube in which the vapors will rise. the body or boiler or cucurbit in which the liquids to be distilled are found, is heated directly on a fire or serves as a water bath. Double Distillation Alembic Double distillation allows the separation of esters, more volatile, from ethyl alcohol. Spirits were scented with various substances (juniper, anise...). Practicing double distillation is called "cohobation" in the liquorists' jargon, and the small alembic intended for this purpose is called a "cohobator." Grasse Perfume
