How to Make Your Own Essential Oils

Contributor

By Nannette Richford
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(7 Ratings)

Nothing quite matches the fragrance of flower gardens in full bloom. Unfortunately the blooms don't last and the fragrance of summer will fade, unless you capture that fragrance before it is gone. Making your own essential oils will provide you with the fragrance of summer all year long.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Carrier Oil
Fresh Flowers
Plastic storage bags
wooden mallet
glass jars
dark colored storage jars

Step 1

Select the flowers or herbs you would like to capture the fragrance from. Most flowers are highly fragrant in the early morning, but be sure to wait until all the dew has dried from the blooms. Roses should be picked when they are partially open for optimum fragrance.
Step 2

Place 1/4 cup of tightly packed flowers or herbs in a plastic storage bag and seal. Use a wooden mallet to tap them gently to bruise them and release the oils and fragrance.
Step 3

Pour 1/2 cup warm carrier oil over the flowers and store in a glass jar. Carrier oils are any light oil that will pick up the fragrance. Many people use olive oil, but other good choices are grape seed oil, almond oil, or wheat germ oil.
Step 4

Shake the jar and then let it sit for 5 to 6 hours.
Step 5

Strain the oil through a clean piece of cheesecloth and discard the flowers.
Step 6

Repeat the process each day for the next three days. Use the infused oil that you created on the first day and add 1/4 cup of fresh flowers or herbs to the oil each time. Always strain away the flowers and stems and discard.
Step 7

Store your finished essential oils in dark glass containers to prevent exposure to light. Rich reds and blues are always a good choice. Be sure your oil is tightly sealed.