I was at the store looking at scent infused oils and essential oils and the price of them was pretty prohibitive... and since I want to experiment with lotions, shampoos, and other personal care items, I wanted the ability to make them smell good! So today I researched making my own essential oils.
While high quality essential oils are produced using steam or distillation, it is possible to create an oil at home. I have a little crockpot that is used for dips and things (or should I say "unused" and in the cupboard), so I am devoting it to infusing oils.
Tonight we have started a small batch of Rosemary essential oil. I love the scent of rosemary and wanted to buy some the other day but did not. But I DO have some growing in the windowsill. So tonight we started almost 1/4 ounce of Rosemary (it was actually about equivalent to 2 Tablespoons) in almost 1 cup of olive oil in the little crockpot.
I think I am going to try some different methods and different scents. I have herbs growing on the windowsill and some mint outside in the garden. I will have vanilla bean coming in the mail to try and I want to try some of the citrus .. grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime... the rinds will be thrown away anyway so I might as well use them.
Here is the information I found... when making these essential oils at home, they will not have the same potency, purity, or therapeutic aromatherapy effects as those commercially produced. The oils I am making are best used in personal care products or candles and should not be eaten. Here are 6 possible methods for making your own essential oils at home.
Method #1
Place plant material into a crock pot filled with distilled water. Cook on low
for 24 hours. Leave crock pot open and allow it to sit for a week. Collect the
oil off the surface of the water and put it into a dark, glass container. Cover
with a piece of cloth and allow it to sit for a week to evaporate off any extra
water. It will last for about 12 months.
Method #2
Place ground up plant material in a cotton or linen bag. Tie it shut and place
it in a pot of distilled water. Bring water to a boil and simmer slowly for 24
hours. Collect the oil off the surface of the water (you may have to squeeze
the bag) and put it into a dark, glass container. Cover with a piece of cloth
and allow it to sit for a week to evaporate off any extra water. It will last
for about 12 months.
Method #3
Half-fill a large glass bottle with olive oil (or almond, jojoba, or rapeseed).
Cram as much plant material as possible into the bottle. Cap it and let it sit
in a cool, dark place for 24 hours. Shake it. After three days strain it
through cheese cloth and put liquid in a dark, glass container. (If scent is
not strong enough add more plant material and repeat process.) It will last for
about 6 months.
Method #4
Stir 1/2 ounce of plant material into 2 cups olive oil (or almond, jojoba, or
rapeseed). Cook in crock pot on low for about 6 hours. Strain the mixture with
unbleached cheese cloth and put liquid in a dark, glass container. It will last
for about 6 months.
Method #5
Place 1 Tablespoon ground up plant material, 1/2 cup of olive oil (or almond,
jojoba, or rapeseed), and 1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar into a small bottle
(cap on). Put it in a warm place (sunny window) for three weeks. Shake it well
twice a day. Strain the mixture with unbleached cheese cloth and put liquid in
a dark, glass container. It will last for about 6 months.
Method #6
Soak plant material in a bottle of rubbing alcohol for two weeks (cap on). Pour
it out into a wide container. Allow alcohol to evaporate. Collect the oil left
in the container and put it into a dark, glass container. It will last for
about 6 months. Please note that this method should NOT be consumed.
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