How to Make Herbal Essential Oil at Home

Essential oils made from various herbs can be quite expensive when purchased at health food or herbal stores or even from various online sites. The reason for the high cost is due to the process, with the accompanying expertise and equipment, that is required to produce a good essential oil. You can, however, extract the oils from herbs yourself at home. Granted, your homemade essential oil will not be as potent or as pure as those made commercially; however, it will most likely serve your personal needs. The process is known as maceration and is actually quite easy. It just takes some time before you have an oil that you can use.

Ingredients:
1 pint sweet almond oil
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 heaping handful of the fresh herb of your choice
Large sterilized glass preserving jar

Step 1: Mash the herb using a mortar and pestle, then place into the jar.

Step 2: Pour the sweet almond oil over the herb and add the cider vinegar. (Do not fill the jar to the brim, because you will have to shake the jar on a regular basis.)

Step 3: Place the jar in a warm, sunny window. Shake daily for at least a month.

Step 4: Strain the oil into a dark glass jar. (You can use a piece of muslin for this.)

Tips:
If the oil is not strong enough, you can make another batch by adding fresh herbs to the oil that you have already made. Just repeat the process listed above.

Use essential oils in ceramic warming pots or place a few drops in bowl of water placed over a heat source. You can also add drops of your essential oil to freshen pot pourri.

Common herbs to use to make your essential oil:
Lavender
Rose
Mint
Lemon verbena

Warnings:
As previously mentioned, homemade essential oils are not as pure or as potent as commercially-made essential oils; therefore, you will still want to use commercially-produced essential oils for any medicinal purposes.

If you decide you want to try using your homemade essential oil for cosmetic purposes, be sure to test a small patch of skin first.

References:

Foley, Caroline; Jill Nice; Marcus A. Webb. New Herb Bible. NY, NY: Viking Studio, 2002.

Kruger, Anna. An Illustrated Guide to Herbs, Their Medicine and Magic. Surrey, Great Britain: Dragon's World Ltd., 1993.