How to Make Fragrance Oil for Candles

Lavender

Making fragrance oil for candles is about finding the freshest plant material possible as a base for your oil. Picking blossoms or herbs from your own garden is best, but you can also purchase fresh material from your local organic gardener. Make sure that no pesticides have been used on the plants; you want a completely natural and organic base, or the fragrance in your oil will be altered.

Things You'll Need

• 3 cups of plant material
• Resealable plastic bag
• Rolling pin
• Cold-pressed sweet almond oil
• Mason jar
• Cheesecloth

Instructions

1. Gather 3 cups of whatever flower blossom or herbs you plan to use for your fragrance oil. If you're picking them from your garden, pick them in the morning, just as the sun dries the dew from the petals. Their fragrance is at its best then.

2. Remove any stems or leaves, you need only the blossoms of the flowers. If you're using rosemary, thyme or another leafy herb, strip the leaves from the stems.

3. Place the plant material in a plastic bag and zip it closed. Lay it on a flat counter and roll over it with a rolling pin to crush, or bruise, the material so that the natural oils will surface. You can also use a mortar and pestle, if you have one available.

4. Place 8 oz. of almond oil in the mason jar. You can find cold-pressed sweet almond oil in local aromatherapy supply stores and from online retailers. Add the bruised floral or herb material and seal the jar. Shake it together well and place the jar in a sunny location inside your home. Make sure the room temperature stays between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Shake the jar once each day for 3 weeks.

5. Strain the fragrance oil through a cheesecloth into another mason jar to remove all of the plant material. You can throw away the cheesecloth and the plant material. Seal the mason jar and place it in a darkened room for another 2 weeks. Cover the jar with a dark towel or cloth to keep any light from getting in. Your fragrance oil will now be ready to use in your candles.

Tips & Warnings

• Store your oil in colored bottles to keep it as fresh as possible.

References

• Scent Forum: Fragrance Oils

Resources

• Teach Soap: History of Fragrance Oils