Preparing Infused Herbal Oils

To infuse herbs into the oil you will need a stainless steel or enamel pot, make sure that the enamel pot has no chips in the pan. Use 1/4 to 3/4 cup of whole herbs for 16 oz. of oil, this again is really according to how strong you want the herbs to be in the soap, ointment or cream oor spray. You can use more if you like.

Equipment needed:

• Pure fresh whole herbs
• Glycerine
• Extra virgin olive or flaxseed oil
• Clean muslin or cheese cloth
• Rubber gloves
• Distilled water
• One large stainless steel mixing bowl.
• One heat-resistant container that hold 2 cups (glass Pyrex works well).
• A container to heat oils.
  • If using the stove - a glass, enamel or stainless steel pot (preferably a double boiler).
  • If using the microwave - use a microwave-safe container
• Measuring spoons, pot holders or oven mitts, and plastic spatulas
• Weight scale

The Double Boiler works very well because the oils come out with a wonderful herbal aroma instead of the burnt herb smell that happens when using high temperatures. Direct Heat and the Crock Pot also works, but has to be monitored as the temperature can very greatly.

• Place your herbs in the top boiler and cover with the oil.
• Heat slowly, not going over 130° or so, so as not to fry the herbs or destroy the properties in the herbs.
• If using Direct Heat or Crock Pot and you don't have a long time to stay with it, heat for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, then set it aside and let it cool to room temp. For the Double Boiler method, let the herbs heat on low for a few to several hours, then allow them to cool a bit and strain them out. Another infusion can be done using the same herbs or by adding more of the same herbs and replacing the oil that was lost in the first infusion.

To strain them, warm the herbed oil just a bit, just till they are a little warmer then room temp.

• Place the herbs in 3 or 4 layers of cheese cloth (or a couple of layers of Muslin Fabric) cut big enough to gather up around the herbs - squeeze as much oil out of the herb as possible.
• Add enough oil and add more dried herbs to make a stronger infusion if you wish and do the process again.

This gives a colored oil, light or dark, according to how much and what herbs are used.

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