As mentioned Make sure you are using good stirring and, never fill the flask more than half full, and also lower the flask with your oil into the heating oil so that it is below the line of the oil you are heating to heat the oil (fuck i almost lost my self in that explanation) also you can put a stir bar in the oil you are heating to heat the sassy which will also evenly distribute the heat also.
check this out http://www.chem.cuhk.edu.hk/labtech/index.asp (http://www.chem.cuhk.edu.hk/labtech/index.asp)
very good clips of distillation, vacuum etc :P
Also you said simple distillation are you using vacuum, you can get away without vacuum of the top f my head, but i am sure all recommend vaccum, i do!
Post 292562 (https://www.thevespiary.org/talk/index.php?topic=9414.msg29256200#msg29256200)
(wyndowlicker: "cant get safrole? FREEZE IT!", Methods Discourse)