Infused oils are easy to make and heavenly to use. You can use them in creams, salves, ointments, or all by their lonesome as a moisturizer or massage oil. You can get serious with the herbs you use to help specific skin issues or just do it because you love the scent of some herb or flower. It’s up to you. You can use many different types of oils, but the best IMHO is olive oil. If you store your finished oil in a cool dark place it will last for many months or sometimes even years (mine has never lasted that long because I use it up).
Note of Warning – I ordered a pound of each herb I could have used ¼ of that. I’m not displeased because I’ve been making some pretty amazing tea combos, but if you don’t have the storage or the use for such things go conservative.
Floral Solar Infused Oil
2 parts chamomile flowers, dried
1 part rose petals, dried
1 part lavender flowers, dried
Extra-virgin olive oil (enough to completely cover flowers)
25 drops lavender essential oil
30 drops roman chamomile essential oil
1 quart size jar, sterilized with a non-reactive lid with seal or a piece of plastic wrap to keep the metal lid from the oil
Loosely fill a dry, clean quart-sized jar with the dried flowers. Keep blossoms below the jar’s shoulder. Pour olive oil over flowers making sure they are completely submerged and not exposed to any air. Make sure there’s only around a one inch air space between the contents and the lid of the jar.
Find a warm sunny spot in a window and shake daily for one month. Strain the oil through a non-reactive strainer, cheesecloth, or muslin. When all the oil has been strained squeeze every precious drop of oil out by gathering up the cloth around the herbs and squeezing. If you want to make sure all the plant debris is out you can do a final straining through a coffee filter. This takes a bit of time and you lose some of your oil, but it gives you a clean final product. It’s up to you.
For an extra strong batch of oil you can strain after 2 weeks and add fresh dried herbs to the oil and infuse for 2 weeks more. Strain again. This will give you an extra strong oil.
After all your oil has been strained, add essential oils and stir well.
Floral Double Boiler Infused Oil
You lose some of the magic of the sun with this method, but it is quick and easy. It also makes a great oil.
Place herbs and oil in a double boiler and bring to a low simmer slowly heat for 30 to 60 minutes. Check often to make sure the oil isn’t over heating. The slower and lower your heat, the longer the infusion, the stronger the oil.
Strain the oil through a non-reactive strainer, cheesecloth, or muslin. When all the oil has been strained squeeze every precious drop of oil out by gathering up the cloth around the herbs and squeezing. If you want to make sure all the plant debris is out you can do a final straining through a coffee filter. This takes a bit of time and you lose some of your oil, but it gives you a clean final product. It’s up to you.
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