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How to Make Infused Oils
Learn how to make garden infused oils of your own.
There are a few ways to make your own infused oils. Infused oils can be extracted from a variety of plant materials using a few processes. These include distillation, through the use of oils, or even vodka!
Pure infused oils are too strong to use directly on the skin, thus many are diluted in carrier oils. A few of these carrier oils include olive oil, almond oil, jojoba oil and coconut oil.
Oils are attracted to other oils. Using a carrier oil to help extract the oils from a given plant is one of the simplest ways you can make your very own infused oils. The process can take a few days to weeks, depending on the infused oil content of your plant.
Some popular plants used to make infused oils include lavender, roses, peppermint, lemon balm, Calendula, citrus fruit rinds, rosemary, garlic and hot peppers. You can use dried plants or fresh plants for this process. However, it is safest to use dried plants when initially starting out. Fresh plants have a high moisture content that increases the risk of introducing mold into your oil. If you are harvesting your own herbs or plants, be sure to pick them during the early morning when their infused oil content is highest.
To create infused oils for use in the kitchen, fill a Mason jar with the dried herb of your choice and cover the herb with an edible carrier oil such as olive or canola oil.
I like to make a lavender rose infused oil using the cold process technique. This infused oil will be used in beauty products. Regardless of the oil's final use, the creative process is exactly the same.
Supply List:
- Dried herbs
- Mason jar
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Strainer or cheese cloth
- Colored glass bottles- to prevent light from shining through and denaturing your oils.
Now take a peek at the gallery below for all of the step-by-step directions:
