How To Make Essential Oils

Now that I have you all growing plants out of your pots, bowls, baskets and shoes….let’s take a look at how to make them consumable, other than standard food.

Here, I am showing you how to take the essential oils from herbs to make soap. Let’s go over how to make those essential oils.

Even though I am explaining with Lavender, this is the same scenario for other herbs!

Equipment and Ingredients:

Flower buds of Lavender Grown organically (w/o pesticides or fertilzers)
Cheap vodka or grain alcohol (but do not use isopropyl/rubbing alcohol)
I have a mortar and pestle; but a bowl and spoon will work too!
Mason jars (you can keep and use glass jars from your sauces, condiments and jellies that you buy in stores)
Coffee filters

There are several ways to create a (Lavender) essential oil, tincture or extract at home, from distilling. Producing what is technically a true essential oil is also known as steam distilling. To make an essential oil, you have to distill the Lavender buds, capture the steam, and condense the steam into a liquid. This requires heat, pressure, equipment, skill and patience. And, distillery is where the word “still” comes from—yes, just like moonshiners.

Place (Lavender) buds into your bowl or mortar, and crush lightly with the pestle or spoon to release the aromatic oil. Don’t make mush!

Transfer the crushed buds to a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Cover entirely with the grain alcohol or vodka. Shake the jar to release more oil, several times a day, for several days in a row. A longer steep means more intense extraction.

After a week or so of this, you’re ready to refine. Use a coffee filter and strain the liquid and into a second jar. (The pour-off is technically lavender-infused vodka, I don’t recommend drinking it.)

Loosely tie off a coffee filter over the open mouth of the jar you just filtered the liquid into; but don’t put a lid on it. You want air to flow through the jar and allow excess alcohol to evaporate from the oil. Let this stand for about a week.

Now, depending on what you are using this oil for; you may want to strain it one more time through a coffee filter to remove any remaining sediment. Other than that, you can store it for your upcoming crafting, baking, making needs!