Making Herbal Oil Infusions -------------------------------- Herbal oil infusions are wonderful, high quality carrier oils that have been infused with the scent, taste, flavor and botanical/medicinal properties of the herbs you utilize. The infused oils can be used alone (for instance, as a hair conditioning treatment or moisturizer) or can form the basis of products such as cold process soap, salves, lotions, balms or serums. The general principle of herbal infusion is simple – the herb is placed into the oil and releases its botanical properties into the oil through either cold infusion over time or the application of heat. (Cold infusion is preferred by many crafters because there is no danger of heat damage to the oil, herbs, or their properties … but it does take several weeks longer than heat extraction). The quality and strength of the infused oil can be adjusted significantly based on the ratio of herb to oil (a standard ratio is 1 part herb to 5 parts oil by weight) and the number of times the used herb is strained out of the infusion and a new batch of herb is infused into the same oil batch. It is even possible to use combinations of herbs to make blended herbal infusions. For instance, spearmint and peppermint make a delightful combination that smells like fresh, minty gum, and lemon peel with rosemary makes a sophisticated, delightful fresh herbal scent – and is also a great hair conditioning treatment!! Using a high quality carrier oil use as extra virgin olive oil or safflower oil is just as important as using good quality, fully dried and clean herbs not sprayed with any pesticides in your infused oils. It is also very important to always completely cover the dried herb with the oil when making herbal infusions to reduce the chances of spoilage of partially submerged herbs. It’s also always a good idea to add an oil-based antioxidant such as T-50 to your infused oil to retard rancidity for as long as possible, and to store the finished oil in a cool, dark location in a tightly sealed container. That said, here are several methods you can use to make herbal oil infusions: Cold infusion – Put your clean, dried herbs in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and add your carrier oil until the herbs are completely covered by oil, with an extra ½ inch of oil above the top of the herbs for good measure. Put the jar in a cool, dark place and take it out daily and gently shake/swirl the contents. After a week or two, strain out the herbs. Repeat the process with more dried herbs in the same oil to make a more concentrated infusion. Solar infusion: Place your clean, dried herbs and oil in a glass jar and cover tightly. Place in a warm, sunny window and let infuse for about 2 weeks.. Strain and rebottle. For a stronger oil, repeat the process with more dried herbs in the same oil. Oven Extraction: Place your clean, dried herbs and oil in a canning jar or other heat resistant container with a tight fitting lid. Place this container in a pan with enough water to completely cover the bottom half of the jar. Then turn the oven to the lowest possible temperature and heat the jar and water-filled pan for at least four hours. (Make sure you will be able to be nearby throughout the cooking period, and check the oven at least once every ten minutes!) Double boiler method. Place your clean, dried herbs and oil in a double boiler or makeshift double boiler. (A makeshift double boiler consists of a canning jar, can or other heat resistant container sitting in a larger pot filled with water). Put a tight fitting lid on the double boiler and bring the water inside to a slow simmer. Continue heating over LOW heat for up to an hour. Check the double boiler frequently to ensure the oil is not overheating and the water is not boiling. Low heat and a longer infusion time will result in a higher quality oil than a fast infusion over high heat. Crockpot/electric roaster method. Place herbs and oils in a crockpot or electric roaster and set it on the lowest possible heat. Cover tightly and heat for 2-4 hours, checking and gently stirring the oil and herbs every ten minutes or so.. Once the herbs have been infused into the oil, strain the herbs out and allow the oil to cool to room temperature. Then add your antioxidant, rebottle the infused oil and enjoy it! :->
Posted on: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 01:09:43 +0000
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