How to Make Gardenia Essential Oil

Capture the sweet scent of these flowers for personal perfumes.

Gardenia flowers have a distinctive light scent. Harvest the flowers as soon as they begin to open and bloom. Their essential oil is said to have several healing properties. Gardenia essential oil is thought to be antibacterial, astringent, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal. The essential oil is therefore used topically to treat bacterial infections and swelling. In homeopathic treatments, gardenia essential oil is used to promote calm and reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. It is also employed in homeopathic medicine to relieve symptoms of insomnia.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 4 cups jojoba oil
• Crock pot
• 1 oz. gardenia flowers
• Glass jar with lid
• Cheesecloth
• Rubber band
• Permanent marker

1. Put 4 cups of jojoba oil into a crock pot to act as a base, which is also known as a "carrier oil."

2. Add 1 oz. of gardenia flowers to the crock pot and reduce the heat to its lowest setting. Wait 6 hours.

3. Unfold some cheesecloth and remove the lid from a glass jar. Position the cheesecloth over the lid of the jar.

4. Wrap a rubber band over the cheesecloth, going around the top of the jar to secure it.

5. Turn the crock pot off and wait 15 minutes.

6. Strain the oil blend through the cheesecloth and collect it in the jar. Leave enough room to seal the jar with its lid when you are pouring the oil blend into the jar.

7. Unwrap the rubber band and set it aside along with the cheesecloth. Screw the lid back onto the jar and mark the date on the lid with a marker. Store your gardenia essential oil in a refrigerator to maintain freshness for six months, after which it should be discarded.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult your physician before using any essential oils if you are currently being treated for any medical conditions or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

References

• It's a Healthy New Age: Tips for Making Your Own Essential Oils
• "Advanced Book Search The New Age Herbalist: How to Use Herbs for Healing, Nutrition, Body Care. and Relaxation;" Richard Mabey, Anne McIntyre; 1988