How to Make Candle Fragrance Oil From Herbs
Plenty of crafters enjoy making candles. Not only are they endlessly versatile, they also make thoughtful gifts. Making your own allows the freedom to choose colors and customize scents for your candles. Though essential oils and candle fragrances can be strong, unpleasant or expensive, candle-makers can solve these problems by making their own candle fragrance.
Distilling essential oils at home may be difficult, but making herb-scented oils is not. It takes a few kitchen tools, some herb knowledge and a little patience but the dedicated candle-maker can create some lovely custom scents.
Things You'll Need
- Carrier oil
- Fresh herbs
- Large, deep skillet
- Large glass bowl
- Water
- Tongs
- Colander
- Glass jars
Instructions
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1
Pour some carrier oil into a glass bowl, using two cups of oil for every two cups of fresh herbs you plant to use. Nut oils, like sweet almond or pecan oil work well since they have no scent or color. Olive or vegetable oil will yellow your candles and carry the odor of those oils beneath the herbal scents.
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2
Place the bowl in a large skillet filled about halfway with water. This creates a kind of double boiler that heats the oil and herbs gently without burning them or picking up food scents from the skillet.
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3
Bruise and crush your fresh herbs between your hands to release the scents. Lavender, rose petals, cinnamon bark and citrus leaves all are aromatic choices. Put the herbs into the oil, poking them beneath the surface with tongs.
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4
Simmer the herbs and oil for about two hours, adding more water to the pan as necessary. Do not let the pan boil dry; this could crack your bowl and cause a big mess.
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5
Allow the oil and herbs to cool before straining them with a colander into a clean glass jar. Store the jar in a cool, dry place when not using
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