How to Make Lavender Oil
Cut sprigs of fresh lavender or purchase them dried., Let the lavender dry., Lightly crush the lavender and place it in a jar., Pour oil over the flowers., Soak the lavender if you have time and sunlight., If you do not have time or sunlight, heat...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Cut sprigs of fresh lavender or purchase them dried.
Cut off the stems of lavender along with the flowers, in 6 inch (15 centimeter) segments or longer.
The leaves and new stems can be used to infuse oil as well as the flowers, although the woody, thick stems near the base should be avoided.You may use flower buds or strong-smelling flowers.You may wish to pick more lavender than you think you need.
Then, if the oil you create isn't strong enough to suit your preferences, you will not have to wait for a new batch of lavender to dry. -
Step 2: Let the lavender dry.
If you are using fresh lavender, dry it first in shade or wrapped in a cloth, to enhance its aroma and minimize the chance of the oil becoming rancid.
Tie the sprig up with rubber bands or a string and let it hang upside down in a dry, warm area.
Exposing it to sunlight will dry the lavender out much faster, but could break down some of its aromatic oils.
Fresh cut lavender may take two weeks to dry fully.
Some infusers dry it for only one to three days, until it is withered but not crunchy; this reduces the chance of spoilage greatly, but does not eliminate it., Crumble the lavender apart with clean hands, or bruise it slightly with any clean, heavy object to expose its fragrance.
If using buds, open them up with a knife or fingers.
Place it in a clean jar.
Wash your hands and jar first if they are dirty, but dry thoroughly before bringing them into contact with the lavender.
Mixing water into the oil may interfere with the infusion., Pour any non-scented or lightly scented oil into the jar, fully covering the lavender but leaving 1–2 inches (1.25–2.5cm) of space at the top to allow for expansion.Almond oil, olive oil, or safflower oil are commonly used for this purpose, although you may wish to smell these first and avoid strong-smelling bottles that could overpower the lavender scent. , Cover the jar tightly and leave the mixture to soak in a sunny location.
It will most likely take at least 48 hours to achieve a noticeable scent, and more typically the oil is left out for three to six weeks.
If you do not have enough sunlight or time to use this method, continue to the next step. , A faster alternative to the sun-steeping method is to heat the oil and lavender mixture in a double boiler or crockpot for 2–5 hours, keeping it at a steady temperature between 100–120ºF (38–49ºC).
This is only recommended if you have a cooking thermometer and a well-controlled, low temperature heat source, as too much heat can affect the aroma and the shelf life of the oil., Lay a piece of muslin or cheesecloth over a bowl and pour the oil and herb mix over it.
Discard the flowers and other lavender pieces in the compost or garden. , The same oil can be poured back into the jar and have a new batch of dried lavender placed in it.
As described above, leave it out in a sunny location, or heat it at low temperatures, to create a stronger infusion.
This can be repeated as many as eight times if you want a powerful oil., Vitamin E can be added at the end of the infusion to increase the shelf life of the oil.
This is recommended if you do not have a cool, dark place to store the oil, or if the oil you used is somewhat old or has a short shelf life.
Stir in a few drops of vitamin E oil, or cut open a vitamin E gel capsule and pour in the contents. , Gather up the muslin and squeeze the material to extract as much as you can over a bowl or measuring cup.
Transfer this to a bottle or jar made from dark glass or opaque plastic to prevent overlong exposure to light from breaking the aroma down.
The shelf life for lavender infused oil depends on the type and freshness of oil used, but can typically last for months if kept in a dry, dark location. -
Step 3: Lightly crush the lavender and place it in a jar.
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Step 4: Pour oil over the flowers.
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Step 5: Soak the lavender if you have time and sunlight.
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Step 6: If you do not have time or sunlight
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Step 7: heat the oil carefully.
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Step 8: Strain the oil.
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Step 9: Repeat the process if you wish to make the oil stronger.
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Step 10: Add a few drops of vitamin E (optional).
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Step 11: Store your oil in a dark bottle or jar.
Detailed Guide
Cut off the stems of lavender along with the flowers, in 6 inch (15 centimeter) segments or longer.
The leaves and new stems can be used to infuse oil as well as the flowers, although the woody, thick stems near the base should be avoided.You may use flower buds or strong-smelling flowers.You may wish to pick more lavender than you think you need.
Then, if the oil you create isn't strong enough to suit your preferences, you will not have to wait for a new batch of lavender to dry.
If you are using fresh lavender, dry it first in shade or wrapped in a cloth, to enhance its aroma and minimize the chance of the oil becoming rancid.
Tie the sprig up with rubber bands or a string and let it hang upside down in a dry, warm area.
Exposing it to sunlight will dry the lavender out much faster, but could break down some of its aromatic oils.
Fresh cut lavender may take two weeks to dry fully.
Some infusers dry it for only one to three days, until it is withered but not crunchy; this reduces the chance of spoilage greatly, but does not eliminate it., Crumble the lavender apart with clean hands, or bruise it slightly with any clean, heavy object to expose its fragrance.
If using buds, open them up with a knife or fingers.
Place it in a clean jar.
Wash your hands and jar first if they are dirty, but dry thoroughly before bringing them into contact with the lavender.
Mixing water into the oil may interfere with the infusion., Pour any non-scented or lightly scented oil into the jar, fully covering the lavender but leaving 1–2 inches (1.25–2.5cm) of space at the top to allow for expansion.Almond oil, olive oil, or safflower oil are commonly used for this purpose, although you may wish to smell these first and avoid strong-smelling bottles that could overpower the lavender scent. , Cover the jar tightly and leave the mixture to soak in a sunny location.
It will most likely take at least 48 hours to achieve a noticeable scent, and more typically the oil is left out for three to six weeks.
If you do not have enough sunlight or time to use this method, continue to the next step. , A faster alternative to the sun-steeping method is to heat the oil and lavender mixture in a double boiler or crockpot for 2–5 hours, keeping it at a steady temperature between 100–120ºF (38–49ºC).
This is only recommended if you have a cooking thermometer and a well-controlled, low temperature heat source, as too much heat can affect the aroma and the shelf life of the oil., Lay a piece of muslin or cheesecloth over a bowl and pour the oil and herb mix over it.
Discard the flowers and other lavender pieces in the compost or garden. , The same oil can be poured back into the jar and have a new batch of dried lavender placed in it.
As described above, leave it out in a sunny location, or heat it at low temperatures, to create a stronger infusion.
This can be repeated as many as eight times if you want a powerful oil., Vitamin E can be added at the end of the infusion to increase the shelf life of the oil.
This is recommended if you do not have a cool, dark place to store the oil, or if the oil you used is somewhat old or has a short shelf life.
Stir in a few drops of vitamin E oil, or cut open a vitamin E gel capsule and pour in the contents. , Gather up the muslin and squeeze the material to extract as much as you can over a bowl or measuring cup.
Transfer this to a bottle or jar made from dark glass or opaque plastic to prevent overlong exposure to light from breaking the aroma down.
The shelf life for lavender infused oil depends on the type and freshness of oil used, but can typically last for months if kept in a dry, dark location.
About the Author
Richard Gray
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow organization tutorials.
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