Herb and flower infused oils
Infused oils are delicious and magical liquids from the Plant Gods themselves. It’s easy and so nourishing to start infusing your own oils… even more wholesome if the plants comes directly from your own garden :)
Before getting stuck into it, here are a few tricks and tips to make sure your oil is full of magic
The fun part- choose your herbs and flowers! Calendula is one of my favourites; a beautiful healing, soothing and nourishing medicinal flower, producing a rich and caramel oil. Lavender and chamomile make a soothing and calming oil. Rose is sweet smelling, rich in antioxidants and opens up the heart. Plantain, yarrow, comfrey and chickweed are all great healing herbs to use on the skin for wounds, rashes, bites etc.
If harvesting your own herbs and flowers, pick your plant material when in season and full of life, so that it is in the height of its vitality.
Be sure to brush all dirt from your flowers and herbs (wash if necessary)
Dry your herbs - peg them onto the inside of a paper bag, cut a small hole in one corner of the bag and place it in a dark and well ventilated area (top of the pantry is ideal). Alternatively, lay the herbs out on your dehydrator and set it at the lowest temperature setting.
it is important that your plant material is completely dry, or is kept below the oil level. As the plants have a water content, if it is mixed with oil and air, it will cause mould to develop.place dried plant material into a sterilised glass jar.
Choose your oil. I like to use Sweet Almond oil for infused body oils and Olive oil for balms and salves. For all baby oils, I use Sunflower oil. Jojoba oil is one of my favourite body and face oils.. though is an expensive oil to use when infusing in higher quantities.
Cover with a lid (if using a metal lid, line it with baking paper), place the jar in a paper bag and leave on the window sill for 6-8 weeks (I like to have my oils infuse for a full 2 moon cycles)
When your oil is ready to be strained, set up a cheese cloth over a fine mesh strainer, with a funnel and sterilised amber jar below. As you strain out all your medicinal plant material, really squeeze the oil out of the cheese cloth. This can take some time and muscle power, but it is so satisfying.
Enjoy!!!
Store your oil in an amber jar out of direct sunlight. Best used within the year, so as to maintain high quality and medicinal potency.
