Homemade lavender oil recipe
AuthorHow to easily prepare lavender oil
Lavender oil has been used for centuries in various cultures as a universal remedy, especially for soothing and healing wounds and reducing inflammation. Many of the healing effects of the active substances contained in lavender oil have been confirmed by scientific studies, and so this versatile healing oil has a place in the modern home medicine cabinet as well.
Even a small amount of lavender oil is very effective, and when used externally it can relieve skin irritation, treat various fungal infections, speed up wound healing, calm insect bites, strengthen hair growth and reduce stress. In addition, lavender oil diluted with water can also be taken internally to alleviate anxiety, nausea and constipation. Due to its versatility, lavender oil has become one of the most widely used medicinal oils today.
Lavender oil preparation
If you learn how to make your own lavender oil at home, you will save money and, most importantly, you'll know the source of all the ingredients in your oil. When making lavender oil, the most important thing is that as much of the essential oils as possible pass from the lavender plant into the carrier oil, so you need to use the right process.
Lavender oil recipe ingredients:
• Lavender
• Plant cold-pressed oil (castor/olive/grape/almond)
Lavender oil recipe step by step
1. To prepare lavender oil you will need fresh or dried lavender. The advantage of dried lavender is that there is no risk of mold when it is infused, but on the other hand it also absorbs more oil. If you have a press that can squeeze most of the oil out of the dried lavender after infusion, it's a great choice. Freshly picked stems of flowering lavender can also be partially dried to reduce the chances of mold while not allowing them to absorb too much oil.
To dry lavender, the freshly picked stems and flowers of flowering lavender should be left to dry in a dark, well-ventilated room at a temperature of 68-105 °F (20-40 °C) (lofts or attics are ideal). Under ideal conditions, the herbs will dry completely in 1-2 weeks.
2. Using your hands, crush or cut the lavender stems into small pieces, collecting them along with the flowers in a glass jar or bottle. Fill your container as much as possible.
3. Pour your carrier oil over the lavender so that it is completely submerged. Do not fill the jar/bottle completely – leave an inch (2.5 cm) from the rim in case the volume increases. You can use any cold-pressed virgin oil, but oils that do not have a strong aroma such as castor or grapeseed oil are ideal. Stir the mixture with a spoon to make sure no air bubbles remain.
4. Seal the jar so that it's airtight store it in a sunny or heated dark place (e.g. an attic in summer) for 4 to 6 weeks. A higher temperature is important for the infusion process, but it must not exceed 110°F (43 °C).
5. After the infusion period, strain the lavender oil through a fine cloth so that no plant residue remains.
6. Store your lavender oil in tightly closed, dark bottles or jars, out of sunlight and in a cool place.
Our tips:
1. Lavender oil has a long shelf life (months to years) under proper storage conditions (a cool, dark dry place). In the absence of proper storage, the shelf life of the oil can be extended by adding vitamin E (e.g. from gel capsules) prior to infusion.
2. You can speed up the infusion process by putting the mixture (carrier oil and dried lavender) in a slow cooker with adjustable temperature and infusing for 5 hours at a constant temperature of 100-110°F (38-43 °C). However, it is important not to exceed this temperature range as this could cause the active ingredients in the lavender to decompose.
3. If you want to get an even more concentrated lavender oil, you can repeat the infusion process with a new batch of lavender after straining.
If you try this recipe, we'd love it if you could give us some feedback on the preparation and the results in the comments section of this article.
