How to Distill Herbs

If you want to create essential oils from plants and herbs you have around your home, the process can be lengthy, but worth it if you have the time. You can purchase a still to speed up the process, but they can cost several hundred dollars. A less expensive way is to gather your materials and place them in a sealed container for a few days.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh herbs
• 2 16 oz. Glass containers with lids
• Olive oil or Jojoba oil
• Newspaper
• Cheesecloth

Instructions

1. Begin by collecting plants and herbs found around your home. Choose scented flowers and herbs such as rosemary or clove. You can also use orange rinds or the rinds from other citrus fruits. If you can't find these items at home, visit local nurseries or farmer's markets to find the plants and herbs you want to use.

2. Dry all plants, flowers, and other materials before putting them into the container. Lay three or four flowers or plants on a sheet of newspaper. Place another sheet over them and store in a cool, dry place. The drying process varies based on the types of items you want to dry and the conditions in which you are drying them. Most plants and flowers will dry in a week or so.

3. Fill the glass container with dried plants and flowers. Try to fit as many as possible in the container, but leave enough room for the oil. Use olive or jojoba oil as a base. Make sure the container is sealed properly to avoid air from escaping. Place the container in direct sunlight for a day. Take the top off the container to see how well the herbs and flowers have distilled. You may need to add additional herbs and other materials if the oil you've created isn't as potent as you want it to be.

4. After adding more materials, place the top on the container and leave it in direct sunlight for another day. Remove the top of the container and place a piece of cheesecloth over the opening. Strain the herbs and other materials from the essential oil you've created. Use another container to catch the oil.

5. Repeat the process if you want to distill additional quantities of herbs.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't want to invest much time in distilling herbs, purchasing a distiller is another option.

• Carefully research which herbs you want to use as some may be poisonous when used in large quantities.

Resources

• Information about Herbs