How to Make Herbal Oil Extracts
Making your own herbal oil extracts is a relatively simple way to cut household budget costs and gain some peace of mind. Homemade herbal preparations cost much less than those found in stores and making your own herbal oils means that you know exactly what kinds of ingredients are in the preparations that you are making. With some clean jars, a few kitchen items, and a little patience and attentiveness, you can make your own herbal preparations and scents that you can use in ointments, liniments, salves, sprays and bath oils.
Things You'll Need
- Fresh or dried herbs, including leaves, roots, seeds and stems
- Light oil such as sunflower oil
- Clean amber or dark glass bottles
- *Labels
- Two pots that fit together (the smaller pot should have a tight-fitting lid) or a double boiler
Instructions
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Herbs
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1
Put half of the herbs in the smaller pot, or the top of the double boiler. Add oil. Cover with a tight-fitting lid.
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2
Place the pot in the larger pot or on top of the double boiler. Put water in the larger pot, leaving room for bubbling water. Do not put the oil and herbs directly on heat.
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3
Simmer gently for two hours.
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4
After two hours, strain well and discard the herbs. The oil will have absorbed some of the properties of the herbs and have changed color.
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5
Repeat the process with the remaining herbs, covering them with the oil strained from the first batch. Return to the double boiler or larger pot with water and simmer again for two hours.
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6
Transfer the oil into clean amber or dark glass bottles, label and store for later use.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Flowers are too delicate to infuse in the above manner. Sunlight provides a more gentle heat source to extract scents and properties from flowers. Use the following method: Put the flowers in a clean glass jar, cover with oil and leave in direct sunlight for four weeks. During this time, you may need to strain the oil and add more flowers to reach desired color or scent. After four weeks, strain the oil into clean dark glass bottles, label and discard the flowers.
Boil all bottles and lids for 20 minutes and dry thoroughly before filling them with herbal oil. Always follow the recipe. Adding more herbs will not strengthen the formula. Store in dark or amber glass containers. Do not use plastic. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
