The Process — Distillation & Infusion

At La Evarose, every bottle begins long before it is filled. Our work is slow and intentional — rooted in the garden, guided by the seasons, and shaped by traditional methods of distillation and infusion.

We do not rush, scale, or shortcut. Instead, we return to older ways of working with plants: small batches, long extractions, and a deep respect for the land that grows our botanicals.

From Garden to Atelier

Most of the plants we use are grown in our own garden in rural Australia: heritage roses, lemon balm, immortelle, calendula, marshmallow, gotu kola, goldenrod, chamomile, and more. Each plant is tended through the seasons and harvested by hand when it is ready — not when a schedule says so.

We harvest in the cool of the morning, when the petals and leaves are at their most fragrant and vital. Only a portion of each plant is taken to ensure it remains strong and healthy for future years.

Copper Distillation — Hydrosols

Our hydrosols are crafted in a traditional copper still using fresh plant material and pure water. We work in small runs to preserve quality and character.

Single Distilled Hydrosols

For our regular hydrosols, such as those made with Roseraie de L’Haÿ and other garden botanicals, we:

– Harvest fresh flowers or foliage at peak potency
– Fill the copper still with pure water
– Distill slowly, keeping a careful eye on temperature and flow
– Collect only the heart of the distillate for use on the skin

The result is a gently aromatic, skin-safe hydrosol that captures the true, living scent of the plant.

Triple Distilled Hydrosols

For our most limited releases, like Alchemy No.1, we use a triple distillation method:

1. Fresh petals are distilled to create the first hydrosol.
2. New petals are added and distilled again, using that hydrosol instead of water.
3. A final round of petals and hydrosol completes the third distillation.

This layered method creates a hydrosol with far greater depth and complexity than a single run. It is extremely time-intensive and can only be done when the garden has enough blooms to spare.

Slow Oil Infusions

Our oils are made using slow, warm infusions rather than essential oils. We prefer to work with the whole plant in its gentlest form, allowing the botanicals to give themselves to the oil over time.

12-Week Warm Infusions

For our face and body oils, we:

– Harvest or carefully dry our botanicals
– Combine them with high-quality carrier oils such as Australian jojoba and other selected plant oils
– Infuse them gently over approximately 12 weeks at a low, steady warmth (around 30°C)
– Strain and press the infused oil, keeping only the clear, golden extract

This process allows skin-loving compounds to move slowly into the oil, creating infusions that are rich, stable, and deeply nourishing.

No Fragrance Oils

We do not use synthetic fragrance oils in our skincare. Instead, we rely on:

– Hydrosols (aromatic waters from distillation)
– Slow plant oil infusions
– Natural waxes and butters
– The inherent perfume of the botanicals themselves

This approach keeps our formulas closer to the plant and often gentler on the skin, especially for those who are sensitive to strong, concentrated aromatics.

Small Batches and Numbered Bottles

Because our work is tied to the garden, each run is small and finite. A single harvest may become only a handful of bottles, and once they are gone, they do not return until that plant blooms again.

Each batch is:

– Crafted in small quantities
– Filtered and bottled by hand
– Labelled with its batch number
– Often individually numbered by bottle

This is not scarcity for effect — it is simply the reality of working with a real garden and real seasons.

Variations Between Batches

Just as no two seasons are the same, no two batches are identical. Rainfall, heat, soil, and bloom cycles all influence the final character of a hydrosol or infusion.

We welcome this. It means each bottle is a true reflection of its year, its harvest, and its place.

Why It Takes Time

Our methods mean that there will always be more time in the making than in the selling. Distillations run for hours. Infusions rest for weeks. Plants take years to settle into the ground before they give their best.

We believe skin can feel the difference between something rushed and something grown and made slowly.

This is the process behind La Evarose — quiet, deliberate, seasonal. From garden to still, from still to bottle, from bottle to skin.