A family of producers-distillers
" Our family has lived in the hamlet that bears his name since the Middle Ages, picking wild lavender before starting to distill lavender flower in 1895. Since then, 5 generations have succeeded one another, developing the company, innovating in the harvesting and distillation processes to constantly improve the quality of the products.
As farmers, distillers and traders, we are passionate about lavender, which produces an essential oil with multiple virtues.
By opening the doors of our company, we invite you to understand our profession as distillers and share our know-how
The story of a family
That of the Agnel family, who has lived in this hamlet since medieval times. Cutters of wild lavender since the 18th century, they began distilling their harvest in 1895, when Julien Isidore installed a 500-liter open-fire still.
Over the years, 5 generations succeeded one another. Thanks to their know-how, they developed innovative processes that have become world standards and increased their production capacity of essential oils, supplying a range of perfumers with an oil renowned for its quality.
An organic farming estate
The fields of the domain stretch across the hills above Apt, from the distillery to the « Claparèdes plateau », in the heart of the most beautiful landscapes of the Luberon Regional Nature Park. Today, on the 50-hectare estate, Véronique Agnel grows several varieties of lavender and aromatic plants, which she distills throughout the seasons.
The Agnels distillery distills its own production of lavender, lavandin, rosemary... as well as that of local farmers.
A Distillery
Discover the distiller's craft, how a still works, and the evolution of harvesting and distillation techniques, from yesterday to today.
Here, we combine tradition and innovation, offering not only distillation in water bath stills, but also a «ground-green» distillation (distillation en vert-broyé) which allows to harvest lavender thanks to cutters-silage directly in mobile containers used as a distillation vessel.
A 200-liter experimental still, the "Aromaprocess", allows small custom distillations, tests on new plants or shrubs, distillation demonstrations for groups throughout the year...
5 Generations of Distillers, Agnels distillation in a few dates :
- 1895 : manufacture of the first open-fired still with a capacity of 500 liters
- 1930 : installation of a 2nd open-fired still with a capacity of 1 000 liters
- 1956 : construction of 2 stills, each with a capacity of 2,500 liters
- 1966 : the 2 stills installed in 1956 are replaced by 3 stills of 3 000 liters
- 1988 : installation of 2 new 6,000-liter stills and a 4,000-liter still, bringing the total distillation capacity to 16,000 liters ... this is the equipment still used today for our distillations.
- 1992 : distillation of plants in «ground green» (en"vert-broyé") : In the mid-1990s, Raymond Agnel invested in technical research to improve this new distillation system, which enabled a significant increase in productivity: the lavender was harvested thanks to silage cutters directly in mobile boxes serving as a vase for distillation.
- 2011 : The "Aromaprocess". Installed in 2011, this 200-liter experimental distillation unit allows small custom distillations, tests on new plants or shrubs, distillation demonstrations all year round...
Portrait of Véronique Agnel, owner of the distillery « Les Agnels »
Véronique Agnel joined the family business in 1995 after completing her business studies. In 2007, wishing to concentrate on plantation management, she resumed her agricultural studies and set up as a "young farmer" in January 2008, converting the farm and part of the essential oil production to organic farming.
CEO of the distillery since Raymond Agnel's death in 2015, she, like her father, has many projects for the company, including improving the place to make it more efficient and energy-saving: installation of photovoltaic panels, insulation work on the steam circuit, re-use of distillation waste other than in the form of compost, construction of new distillation boxes...
Her expertise in essential oils leads her to advise and work in partnership with cosmetic and food companies around the world.
