Herbal Infused Oils
- Laura Van Horn
- Nov 7, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 12
Why & How
Herbal-infused oils are my favorite thing to make. They are simple, versatile, and honestly more effective than most store-bought products. When I first got into herbalism, I thought it might be too complicated to learn at my age. Then I made my first infused oil and realized - this is actually easy. I was hooked!
The best part? Infused oils are budget-friendly and do not require fancy equipment. You can use herbs from your kitchen or yard, and oils you already have. Once you make them, you can use infused oils for massage, in roller bottles, as hair or beard oil, in foot baths, or as the base for lip balms, salves, soaps, body butter, and lotions. Your only limit is imagination.
Similar to cooking, making herbal oils is an art form that thrives on creativity and leaves a lot of room for variability. There is no one-size-fits-all approach; instead, it's a blend of intuition, experimentation, and the environment in which you live. Which oils you use, which herbs you use, if you use one herb or a combination of herbs, how long you infuse, and which method you follow are all options that are up to you.
If you are new to herbal-infused oils, I have created a simple, beginner-friendly guide that walks you through the process. You can find it at my shop or on my Etsy shop.
Why Make Herb-Infused Oils?
Besides the fact that it is fun to make your own products, you should consider making herb-infused oils because of their health benefits. Not only do they offer positive health benefits, but they also lack the negative effects that come with the toxins found in many store-bought products. Common herbs to start working with are calendula, plantain, rosemary, and lavender.
Great Starter Herbs:
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Powerful wound healer that promotes tissue regeneration. Ideal for first-aid salves, and it's used in commercial cosmetics for good reason.
Plantain (Plantago spp.) That common "weed" in your yard? It's excellent for soothing stings, bites, splinters, and skin irritations. Pairs well with calendula in first-aid blends.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) Rich in antioxidants, stimulates circulation, great for both skincare and hair care. Applied to the scalp, it encourages hair growth and combats dandruff. Its circulation-boosting properties brighten and clarify skin.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) You either love it or hate it. If you love it, lavender is calming for emotions and muscles, eases headaches, and has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that help with wounds, infections, and bug bites. If you hate the smell, there are plenty of other herbs to explore.
How to Make Herb-Infused Oils
To get started, you will want to gather some dried herbs, a carrier oil, and a container. Some herbs can be infused as fresh or freshly wilted, but to keep things simple, we will only focus on the dried herb method. This approach offers distinct advantages, notably in preventing the introduction of moisture, which can lead to mold and bacteria growth. Additionally, dried herbs can be conveniently stored for future use.
What You Will Need
Dried herbs - We are focusing on dried herbs here. Fresh herbs introduce moisture that can cause mold and bacterial growth. Dried herbs are safer and can be stored for future use.
Carrier oils - These are fatty oils pressed from seeds, nuts, or kernels (or animal fats like tallow or lard). They should have little to no scent, a decent shelf life, and be good for skin.
Common options:
Food oils: olive, grapeseed, avocado, coconut, sesame
Specialty oils: jojoba, rice bran, sweet almond
Luxury oils (use in blends): rosehip, raspberry seed, hemp seed
Animal fats: tallow, lard
You can use one oil or blend several. Try mixing an affordable base like avocado oil with a small amount of a luxury oil. Experiment and see what you like.
Container - Glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
The Folk Method (Intuitive Approach)
This is for people who do not like strict recipes and prefer to work by feel.
How to do it:
Fill a jar about halfway with dried herbs
Cover completely with carrier oil, leaving a little headspace
Make sure herbs are fully submerged
Put on the lid, label with herbs, oil, and date
Choose your infusion method below
Slow/Traditional Method
With patience, tuck the jar away in a dark, cool cabinet or pantry, allowing the herbs to infuse into the oil for at least 4 to 6 weeks. This method yields the strongest, most effective oils.
Solar Method
Place the covered jar in a sunny but not overly hot windowsill for 2 to 4 weeks. The gentle warmth can encourage the release of the constituents. In addition, a gentle daily shake can also enhance the oil's potency.
Quick (Heat) Method
This is not the most ideal method, but it works great in a pinch. Using a double-boiler, you can place the jar with your herb and oil into a warm water bath. Use the lowest setting that is possible to avoid degrading the herbs or the oil. The jar should be open so that you can stir it occasionally, but be sure that water does not get into the oil. Allow to heat slowly and gently for at least 3-6+ hours.
The Standardized Method (Precise Measurements)
For those who want consistency and replicability.
Standard Ratio: 1 part dried herb (by weight) to 5 parts oil (by volume)
Strong Ratio: 1 part dried herb (by weight) to 2 parts oil (by volume)
Example: 50 grams (1.75 oz) dried herb + 250 ml (8.75 fl oz) oil
Use the same infusion methods as above (slow, solar, or heat).
Intermediary Option (Kami McBride's Method)
This method is more involved but produces potent oil in just 2-5 days.
Process:
Powder and weigh your dried herb (note the weight)
Rehydrate with 100-proof vodka using a 2:1 ratio (herb weight to alcohol volume)
Example: 2 oz powdered herb + 1 fl oz vodka
Cover and let sit 12 hours
Use 1:7 ratio (herb weight to oil volume)
Example: 2 oz herb + 14 fl oz carrier oil
Put the rehydrated herb and oil in a blender
Blend on high until warm, then stop
Repeat 5 times daily for 2-5 days (fluffier herbs need longer)
Strain and store in a dark glass bottle (labeled)
Example recipe:
2 oz dried, powdered plantain and calendula
Rehydrate with 1 fl oz 100-proof vodka for 12 hours
Blend with 14 oz jojoba oil
Blend until warm 5x daily for 3-5 days
Strain
Use to make body butter for eczema or psoriasis
Troubleshooting
Does the oil smell rancid or off? Toss it and start over. This usually means moisture got in or the oil went bad
Herbs are not fully submerged? They will mold if left that way, add more oil, or remove excess herbs
Oil looks cloudy? You likely have moisture contamination. If it smells off, start over; if it smells ok, strain to collect the "clear" oil and add more herbs to continue infusion
Not sure if it is working? Check the color; most herb-infused oils will take on color from the herbs (calendula turns golden-orange, plantain turns green, etc.)
How long does infused oil last? Depends on the carrier oil's shelf life. Most last 6-12 months stored properly (cool, dark, tightly sealed). Shelf life is shortened by heat, light, air exposure, and any remaining plant material
Final Thoughts
Start simple. Pick one herb and one carrier oil. Try one method. See how it goes. Making herbal-infused oils is straightforward once you do it - reading about it makes it seem more complicated than it is.
Happy infusing!
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