How to Make Aromatherapy Oils

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By Bonnie Vanaman
eHow Contributing Writer

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Aromatherapy uses the essential oils of plants, such as peppermint, lavender or rose, to promote general health and well-being in a natural, non-toxic way. Aromatherapy can alleviate stress, combat nausea and vomiting, assist in pain management and help people fall asleep without medication. Although you can buy premixed aromatherapy products in stores and online, they are often expensive. Save money and have fun at the same time by making your own oils.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Cooking pan
Herbs and flowers, bought or from your garden
Knife
Vegetable oil
Cooking thermometer
Strainer
Funnel
Container with lid (such as a mason jar or spice bottle)

Instructions

Step 1

Fill the cooking pan with your chosen flowers and/or herbs, chopped into pieces.
Step 2

Fill the pot with the vegetable oil until the flowers/herbs are covered, with about a 2:1 ratio of oil to plants, and press the plants down into the oil. Extra-virgin olive oil is best, but you can also try safflower, almond or any salad oil.
Step 3

Boil the pot over a medium to medium-low heat until the mixture reaches 150 to 160 degrees F (with a standard meat/candy thermometer).
Step 4

Remove the pot from the stove and allow the mixture to cool before straining out the plant materials.
Step 5

Discard the plant materials and pour the oil through the funnel into the bottle or jar and cap tightly. Store it in a cool, dark location.

Tips & Warnings

You can inhale the oils as they are, or mix them into lotions and creams. Good plants for beginners to try are sage, lavender, rosemary, mint, honeysuckle, citrus or thyme. Choose your plants based on your mood or needs: lavender for relaxation and sleep, citrus for energy, sage as an antiseptic and for menopause symptoms, peppermint for sore muscles or colds/flu. Effects can vary from one person to another, so experiment.
According to Valerie Ann Worwood, author of "The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy," there are some oils/plants you should never use, including bitter almond, boldo leaf, calamus, yellow camphor, horseradish, jaborandi leaf, mugwort, mustard, pennyroyal, rue, sassafras, savin, southernwood, tansy, wintergreen, wormseed and wormwood. Use of essential oils should be limited or avoided during the first trimester of pregnancy but can be helpful during labor. If you have any serious health problems or allergies, check with your doctor before trying any aromatherapy options.