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Question by  catman529 (809)

Can peppermint oil be extracted in alcohol?

I want to soak peppermint leaves in some grain alcohol to create an extract, then evaporate the alcohol and just have pure peppermint oil.

 
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Answer by  BrendaG (6111)

Soaking peppermint leaves in alcohol is the traditional way to do this. The oils in the leaves will give flavor. Peppermint oil is more potent than extract.

 
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Answer by  malone (4817)

If you want pure peppermint oil, you can buy it at the health food store of the pharmacy. It a volatile, potent, dangerous oil. Essential oils are extracted by a complicated process. You would need hexane, several hundred pounds of peppermint leaves, and a still for distillation.

Reply by catman529 (809):
Thanks. The idea though is that I want to make my own. It doesn't need to be ultra-pure. I am just asking if I evaporated the alcohol-based extract, would I be left with anything?  add a comment
 
+5

Answer by  Liz59 (10966)

I have not heard of someone do that. But you can do that because that is the same way a vanilla extract is made through the evaporation of alcohol. Therefore, yes you can go ahead and use this method to see if it works. It will be a creative mechanism.

 
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Answer by  Liz59 (10966)

Yes, it can depending on your preferences. Virtually anything can be extracted into alcohol so if you want to make peppermint oil then use alcohol. Alcohol will actually give your peppermint oil the substance that it may need. It will make it thick so that will be perfect for an extract.

 
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