Testimonials
Dolby Essential Stills
Testimonials
Here's what our customers are saying.
What can we say about how amazing Dolby Stills have been during our new venture of setting up a lavender farm in the Isle of Man?
We first bought Bruce’s book when we were in the very early stages and then visited the website to figure out which still was best for us. We have over 6000 lavender plants on 2 acres of land, 7 varieties.
I telephoned Bruce and he really took the time to understand our needs. He recommended a size up from the Mini Still we actually bought and now that we are on our third harvest we would have to agree that his original recommendation was correct! We compensate for our still being a little too small for us by working from 6.00am until 10pm at the height of the season.
We came to an agreement that the Dolby Stills Senior Team i.e Bruce, Margaret and Becky, would come and stay in our holiday cottage for a week, bringing the still with them and giving us intensive training on how to use it.
Bruce sent through advance instructions on the electricity supply fitments and the plumbing needs and we made sure that everything that was needed was in place.
What an incredible practical learning week we had. We had the benefit of the combined knowledge of the whole of the Dolby Stills team and we learned an aspect every morning from setting up and running the still right through to the critical importance of the thorough cleaning of the lab equipment at the end of the day. There was no detail too small. We carried on ourselves in the afternoons and Bruce, Margaret and Becky marked our homework every evening. We felt competent and confident to distil top quality lavender essential oil by the end of the week.
One of the unexpected bonuses was that if we have had any queries as things progressed Bruce was always supportive and really carried on mentoring us so we feel as if Dolby Stills are in our corner.
We distil Angustifolia, Lavandin and Stoechas essential oils plus the associated hydrosols. We have dipped our toe into sage & rosemary and are actively thinking about other possibilities.
Our Top Tip: Buy the post distillation pack! Bruce turning up with all the lab equipment we needed was an absolute godsend. It is very reasonably priced and you really do need every element.
- Denzil and Beverley Williams, Manx Lavender, Isle of Man.
"Having purchased this still in 2004 we have used it faultlessly every year, primarily to produce a range of essential oils from plants we grow on our small farm here in the Scilly Isles."
- Mike Hicks, 28 Miles, Westward Farm St Agnes
“Having searched long and hard for a still suitable for distilling botanic oils we found ‘Bruce’ and team who quickly understood what we were trying to achieve at Roskorwell Farm Cornish Lavender and our vision to create the first and principal Lavender Farm in Cornwall #roskorwellfarm #cornwalllavenderoil #cornishlavender #cornwalllavender.
Bruce understood our budget and yet made recommendations that have given us room to expand over the ensuing years; we shall be moving to over 10 acres of lavender next year and the still could readily cope with double, a quality product from a great family business. Thank you “
- Mark & Sam Roskorwell Farm Cornish Lavender
