Herbal infused oils

jenndillin
Apr 2
4 min read

You wont believe how easy it is to make your own healing skin oil; using only 2 ingredients, a glass jar, and a little patience, you can have a nourishing herbal oil in 6 weeks!

It's such a rewarding feeling once you make and use your first herbal infused oil. With endless possibilities, there's no limit on what you can create.

In this blog post I'll be giving you the instructions on how to create your very own "folk method" herbal oil. Not only will I provide you with step by step information, I'll also give you a small list of different herbs that you can utilize, and what they're best intended for.

First, what is a herbal infused oil?

It's exactly how it sounds. It's dried herbs or flowers that have been immersed in a carrier oil, kept in a dark cupboard, for 6-8 weeks. The oil is then strained, bottled, and stored for future use. The beneficial properties of the herbs break down into the oil, making it an easy way to harness the constitutes of the plant.

Why use an oil that's infused with plants?

Infused oils can be used for many different aliments and purposes.

Skin conditions
Face Moisturizer
Massage oil
Hair oil
First Aid (scrapes, burns, bites)
Oil base for salves, lotions, soaps, & more!

What plants should I use?

Always make sure the plant material you are using is completely dry to prevent bacteria growth or spoilage. Organic herbs are always best to use as well! You can find quality dried organic herbs at a lot of local grocery stores, health food markets, and online. I like to personally order form Here Feel free to use homegrown or foraged (if properly ID'ed) as well!

Picking the right herbs will vary depending on what you want to use it for!

Here's just a sample of some herbs that you can easily get your hands on:

Yarrow- Astringent: Stops bleeding, repairs and tightens skin; heals wounds.
Plantain- Antibacterial: prevents infection; stops itching from stings & bites.
Lavender- Calming: reduces redness; stress relief.
Chamomile- Relaxing: mild pain relief/ anti-inflammatory.
Rosemary- Stimulating: scalp health/ hair growth; increase blood flow.
Rose Petal- Rejuvenating: improve skin texture, restore dry skin. Do not use petals from store bought flowers unless they are organic and dye free!

What oil do I choose?

You can use many different oils as a base for your infusion. My personal favorite is grapeseed oil because it's light weight and dermatologist recommended because it doesn't clog the pores; making it a great choice for a facial oil! Some other options include:

Olive
Avocado
Jojoba
Rosehip
Fractionated coconut

You'll want to pick a quality (organic if possible), unrefined oil for the best skin benefits.

You'll need-

(Sanitized) Pint canning jar with lid
half oz - one oz Herb of choice
~ 16 oz Oil of choice
Rubber gloves
Digital scale (optional)

Step 1: Let’s Get Started

Gather up your materials in a clean environment. Place your clean jar on your scale and set it to zero.

Put enough dried plant material in your jar until it is half way full. This is where the variation of weight comes in. Some herbs are more dense and will take up less space than others... on the other hand, some plants can be more fluffy.. in which case you'll use less.

Step 2: Grab the Oil

Zero out your scale. Take your oil and cover the herbs or flowers completely. Continue to add oil until there's only 1-2 inches of room at the top of the jar. Take a clean spoon or chop stick and lightly move the herbs around ensuring all air bubbles have come to the surface. Once you are satisfied, screw on the lid.

Step 3: Grab a pen.

Properly label your jar! It's important to not only write what herbs are inside, but the date, and even a batch number would be helpful.

example: Lavender & Chamomile 1/2 oz ./ Grapeseed Oil 15 fl oz./ made 1-18-23 ready 3-1-23 / batch no. 04 ... and then in a notebook I might write down that batch no. 04 was made with lavender from MRH & chamomile was homegrown. Now, I'll know exactly what's in each jar.

Step 4: Shake it!

Try shaking your jar everyday, or at least every other day to properly mix the oil and keep all of the plant product evenly covered in oil.

Step 5: It's ready!!

Grab your gloves. After your 6 weeks is up, take your beautifully crafted oil and strain it through a mesh bag or a fine mesh strainer. I like using a reusable produce bag like this . Once the oil is strained (don't be scared to give the herbs a squeeze to get all of the goodness out!), its ready to bottle and use!! 🙌