How to make Infused Oil

Step 5 Massage, bath and scent oils

You can also capture the scent of flowers and herbs in infused oils.  These infused oils can be used as massage oils, bath oils or can be used in making lotions, soaps or perfumes. There are several plant based oils that you can use in making infused scent oils (these are referred to as carrier oils):

Sweet almond oil	Evening primrose oil
Jojoba oil	Avocado oil
Apricot kernel oil	Borage Seed Oil
Olive oil	Various nut oils (eg walnut,pecan, hazelnut)
Grape seed oil	Various seed oils (eg hemp,sesame, sunflower)

These oils are easily absorbed into the skin (making them great moisturizers) and do not have a strong odor.  They can be bought at health/natural food stores or specialty aromatherapy stores. Some can be found at grocery stores, but try to get cold pressed oils.

The type of flowers or herbs that you can use is really up to your imagination or what you happen to have growing in your garden, here are some suggestions:

Lavender	Rose, carnation, chamomile, jasmine, violets
Comfrey	Geranium, violets, lily, sweet pea, hyacinths etc
Clove	Vanilla bean
Citrus peel	Cinnamon bark
Calendula	Lemongrass
Pine	Mint

Using fresh over dried is usually better, also if you are getting them from your garden, cut the flowers/herbs in the morning and start making the infused oil right away if you can. You can mix different flowers and herbs together creating a variety of different scent combinations. The instructions for making scent infused oils are basically the same as culinary oils, though I wouldn't recommend using the heating method since flowers are more delicate than culinary herbs.

How to make:

• Gently bruise, crush, or chop the flower petals, herbs, spices or peels
• Place them into clean dry glass jar
• Cover them in a carrier oil
• Place a lid on the jar and close
• Place jar in a sunny spot. Swirl or shake the jar every day or so.

Comments

[chillen1]

How would you use these oils? Heating them up, with reed infusors or just laying them out in a bowl or open bottle?

[ChrysN]

You could use them as massage oils or in homemade lotions, soaps personal care products or in the bath.

[lydwatters]

Is there a way to speed the process up?

[ChrysN]

You can try heating it like in step 4, though I've never tried it myself with flowers.