Steps

1. Find a large, clear, clean glass jar or bottle with a tight lid.
2. Pack fresh, clean, whole herbs loosely into the jar.
3. Cover the herbs with oil. High-quality olive oil is best, but any good-quality vegetable oil will work.
4. Put the lid on as tightly as you can, and set the jar on a sunny windowsill - this is best done in the summertime, but can be done in winter if you have a window that gets maximum amount of light, even in winter.
5. Leave the jar on the windowsill for 30 days, shaking it gently once a day.
6. Find another large, clear, clean glass jar or bottle with a tight lid, a large funnel, and some cheesecloth.
7. Pack the cheesecloth fairly tightly in the funnel.
8. Set the funnel in the empty jar, and wrap some cheese cloth around where the mouth of the jar meets the funnel, to prevent spillage.
9. Slowly pour the oil into the clean jar through the funnel. The cheesecloth will strain the herbs, letting the oil filter into the jar.

Video

Tips

• This does not make essential oil. This makes diluted oil. There is no need to further dilute this oil.
• Some herbs can be used dried, like cinnamon, but for the most part, dried herbs lose their essential oils.
• Lavender is soothing, cinnamon invigorating, mint fresh. White willow bark has a spicy smell, sage is used by Native Americans for cleansing, chamomile is used to soothe and help sleep. Do some research about your favorite scents, and see what you can find.
• White willow bark (or any kind of bark or nuts or roots) may need to be soaked in water first, left in the oil longer, and/or used as freshly as possible.
• Experiment with mixes. Fill the jar with a mix of chamomile, vanilla and lavender to ensure pleasant sleep. Mix vanilla and cinnamon to fill your kitchen with cooking scents.
• In the summer pick or purchase mint to make a refreshing oil
• In the fall try using rosemary which also has astringent and healing properties as well.

Warnings

• Store oil in a cool, dark place, and smell it occasionally. If it smells rancid, don't use it.

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Sources and Citations