DIY: Making Infused Oils

This is by far the easiest DIY when it comes to making your own home and body products. Let’s first start with what infused oil is. An infused oil consists of a carrier oil with one or more herbs. The benefit of using an infused oil instead of just a carrier oil is the infused oil contains the benefits of both the herb AND carrier oil.There are many carrier oils to choose from (coconut, jojoba, almond, grapeseed, etc.) but for this DIY we will use organic extra virgin olive oil because of its long shelf life and it's suitable for many applications. You can purchase bulk carrier oils here. There are also many herbs to choose from when infusing (rose petals, lavender flowers, calendula flowers, peppermint, etc.) and each contain their own list of benefits. For the purpose of this DIY we will use chamomile flowers.There are two ways you can infuse oil:

• Heat infused:

1. In a crockpot, gently heat the herbs with carrier oil over very low heat (preferably between 100 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit)
2. Heat for 1-5 hours until the oil takes on the color and scent of the herb.
3. Turn off the heat and allow to cool.

• Solar infused (my preference):

1. Place chamomile flowers (or herb of choice) into a clean jar (fill about 2/3 or jar with the herbs). I suggest using a mason jar with an airtight lid. If you are using fresh herbs you should first wilt them for 12 hours to remove the moisture. Cut your herbs into small pieces and crush with a mortar and pestle then place into the jar. You can skip these fresh herb steps if you use dried herbs. You can find a lot of options for dried herbs here.
2. Pour your carrier oil into the jar making sure to leave ½” of space at the top so the herbs will have room to expand. Keep herbs fully covered at all times.
3. Stir well and cap the jar tightly.
4. Place the jar in a sunny and warm place. I suggest finding a windowsill that allows a lot of light in. Shake or turn the jar over once per day.
5. After 4-6 weeks, strain the herbs out of the oil using cheesecloth.
6. Pour your infused oil into clean jar(s) and store in a cool dark place. The oil should keep for at least a year.

Now you are ready to use your infused oil as a versatile ingredient for a variety of preparations. You can use herbal infused oils to create massage oils, salves, lip balms, facial serums, hair treatments, body creams, soaps, and more! The options are limitless! Happy infusing!