How to make lavender-infused oil without all the distilling equipment!! I share two different recipes for making lavender oil from scratch, that don’t require distilling. Let me know which is your favourite!!
Making my own essential oils has been a dream of mine for many years now. I’m always using them, whether in my homemade products, for ointments on my skin, as a perfume… In almost everything.
I had the idea that, instead of restocking my pile of essential oils from the shop, why not make them myself?
As I don’t own any distilling equipment, I couldn’t make “true” lavender essential oil at home. The closest thing to it was lavender-infused oil. Steam distilling is required to make authentic essential oils. You’d have to distil the lavender buds, capture the steam, and condense the steam into a liquid. If you choose to go down the distillery route, it may be a good idea to go with tin-coated copper, since pure copper may be reactive with various botanicals.
For those of us whose kitchens aren’t filled with distilling equipment, flower/herb/fruit-infused “essential” oil is as close as we can get. Keep in mind that this oil will be less concentrated than true lavender essential oil.
Here is how to make lavender-infused oil from fresh lavender!
Harvesting the Lavender
I planted our lavender bush earlier this year, and it’s grown exceptionally! To harvest the blooms, cut the lavender flowers off the plant, tie them into a bunch then hang them upside-down to dry in a dark dry place for 4 weeks, or until completely dry. They take anywhere between 2-4 weeks to fully dry. The lavender flowers will feel brittle once they’re ready.
Drying the Lavender
Using two rubber bands per dried lavender bunch — one just beneath the flower heads and one at the base of stems — hang the bundles upside-down to dry in a dark, warm spot. To retain the best colour, protect the drying lavender from sunlight, and place a sheet beneath the bundles to catch any buds or blooms that might fall.
Homemade Lavender Oil (without alcohol)
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup dried lavender
- 2/3 cup liquid coconut oil
To make:
- Once the lavender has finished drying, add dried buds to a clean glass jar (just the flowers, you can compost the stems). Pour the coconut oil over the lavender until just covered. Avoid using too much oil or you’ll dilute the oil too much. Secure the lid tightly and shake well. Allow the oil to sit on a sunny windowsill for 1-3 weeks, shaking once or twice daily (this is most important during the first few days).
- Once the oil’s finished infusing, strain out the oil flowers using a cheesecloth or nut milk bag. Wring out the cloth or bag of lavender to squeeze out every bit of oil possible, then pour the mixture through a funnel into a clean dark glass bottle for storage, and keep in a cool, dark place. The oil will keep for up to 1-2 years. This lavender oil will have a mild aroma to it. It will never be as strong as true essential oils. To give the oil extra fragrance, add a few drops of your favourite organic lavender essential oil.
Homemade Lavender Tincture (with Alcohol)
Using alcohol creates more of a lavender tincture than an oil, but it does still contain the wonderful healthful properties of a lavender oil!
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup dried lavender
- 2/3 cup organic gluten-free vodka
To make:
- Gently crush the dried lavender flowers using the back of a spoon to release the oil before combining it with the vodka. You’re just bruising the flowers, not turning them to mush.
- Transfer the crushed lavender into a glass jar and pour vodka over the lavender until just covered. Secure the lid tightly and shake well. Allow to sit on a sunny windowsill for one week, shaking once or twice daily (this is most important during the first few days).
- Once it’s finished infusing, strain out the tincture using a cheesecloth or nut milk bag. Wring out the cloth or bag of lavender to squeeze out every bit of liquid possible. Pour the solution through a funnel into a clean glass jar, cover with some cheesecloth over the top and allow it to sit, undisturbed, for about one week.
- Store the tincture solution in a clean dark glass bottle, and keep in a cool, dark place. The tincture will keep for up to 1-2 years. This lavender tincture has a noticeable aroma of alcohol, with a very slight scent of lavender. To give the tincture some extra fragrance, add a few drops of your favourite organic lavender essential oil.
Do not substitute isopropyl/rubbing alcohol for this DIY.
Uses for Lavender Oil
Some wonderful uses for lavender-infused oil:
- In a facial moisturiser: Lavender can help remedy skin issues like acne. A little goes a long way, a few drops is all you need.
- Mixed in with the oil you use for oil cleansing.
- As a general moisturiser for your body, as well as your face: Use as a massage oil, to soothe bug bites, sunburns, eczema, stings, rashes, scars, as a natural perfume, to remove makeup and more! Avoid contact with sensitive areas around your eyes.
- An ingredient in homemade body care products: Lavender oil can be used as a base ingredient for body butter, cream, balm, salve, ointment, soap, and more!
- As a hair serum to nourish hair, moisturise your scalp, and encourage hair growth.
- An ingredient in homemade cleaning products: Incorporate a tablespoon or two of the lavender-infused oil into your homemade cleaning sprays.
Lavender-infused oil recipe
As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post.
Have you made infused oils before? Share in the comments below.
Lots of love,
🖤 Vanessa