Sweet Clover as Air Freshener -- How to Capture the Scent?

I love the scent of sweet clover. It's a summer favourite.

I've noticed that the scent is not really about the flowers. It's all through the stems and leaves of the plants even before they get to the flowering stage. I've been cutting it and chopping it up for early greens in my compost. Some was forgotten and quickly dried out in the sun. Today we had a rain shower and the scent was coming off the previously chopped and dried stuff!

I wonder, could I somehow distill the scent and store it?

Why would I buy stuff in a can when air freshener is growing wild in the ditches?

Ah, finally something I can help with!

You've got two options for air freshener. You can get a steam distiller of Amazon for pretty cheap, and cram as many plants in as you can with some water slightly covering while still allowing airflow. Reuse the resulting liquid with more plants as many times as you want.

Or you could use a filtered, very distilled vodka or perfumers alcohol (not the same thing) and step a sizable jar mostly full of plants, covered with the alcohol. Let step for a couple months.

Amanda Barteck wrote:Ah, finally something I can help with!

Excellent suggestions. Thank you Amanda!

I think I will fine-chop and flash-dry a bunch of this sweet clover, and store it in airtight containers. Then, concentrating and capturing the scent will give me a nice winter project that reminds me of summer.

I won't be buying any Amazon gear, but I'd like to understand the underlying principles (esp. water based). Infusions, decocations (sp?), and other mysterious ancient processes? Help me out folks!