Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Julie Brow-Polanco and by How.com.vn staff writer, Sophia Latorre. Julie Brow-Polanco is a Master Herbalist & Certified Aromatherapist with more than 11 years of experience. She is an expert on natural remedies and specializes in using them to support whole-body wellness, particularly immune, digestive, nervous, and reproductive health. Julie earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Dominican University, a Master Herbalist Certification from The School of Natural Healing, and a Certificate of Aromatherapy from the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy. Julie is a member of the American Herbalist Guild and a Certified Aromatherapist through the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy.
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Long loved for its delightful fragrance, lavender oil can aid sleep, reduce pain and inflammation, or simply create a pleasant massage or body oil.[1] That’s why we’re here to teach you to make lavender-infused oil at home. Plus, we’ll explain how to turn that oil into a salve or balm and also walk you through an easy lavender room spray recipe, too! Trying to make lavender essential oil instead? That process is pretty complex and requires commercial equipment, but can be done with our helpful guide.
Steps
Dry fresh lavender or purchase dried lavender. If you’re growing lavender in your garden, cut the stems so they’re 6 inches (15 cm) or longer. You’ll be able to use the entire sprig, including the flowers, to infuse the oil. Avoid using the thick, woody stems near the base of the plant, though. Pick the flowers just before they’re about to open.[2] Alternatively, buy dried lavender to make your oil.- You can use any kind of lavender to make infused oil, including English, French, or Spanish.
- To dry lavender, tie the sprigs with rubber bands or a string and let them hang upside down in a dry, warm area for up to 2 weeks. Keep them out of the sun, which will cause oxidation and decrease the potency.
Fill a jar with the lavender. Use a clean, dry, dark-colored glass jar. Add enough lavender to fill the jar, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space at the top.[3] Crumbling the lavender first or bruising it with a clean, heavy object may expose the fragrance better.Advertisement- Pour oil over the flowers. Choose any oil you like, but be aware that strongly scented oils could overpower the lavender. Popular options include jojoba, extra-virgin olive, safflower, coconut, apricot kernel, and sweet almond oil. Completely cover the lavender with oil so all of the stems and flowers are submerged.[4]
- Choose a shelf-stable oil so your lavender oil lasts as long as possible. Here’s how long different oils last:[5]
- Jojoba oil: 3 years
- Olive oil: 2 years
- Safflower oil: 1 year
- Coconut oil: 1 year
- Sweet almond oil: 6 months to 1 year
- Apricot kernel oil: 6 months to 1 year
- Choose a shelf-stable oil so your lavender oil lasts as long as possible. Here’s how long different oils last:[5]
Place the jar in a sunny window for 2 weeks for a slow infusion. Secure the lid tightly, then shake the jar. Set it on a windowsill that gets plenty of light and warmth. Allow the lavender to steep and infuse the oil. Every day, shake the jar to help the process along.[6]- If you’re using a clear glass jar, place it in a paper bag to protect it from the sunlight.
Heat the oil in a pan of water for a fast infusion. If you don’t want to wait for the oil to infuse, you can heat it up. Fill a pan with a few inches of water and place the closed jar in the water. Set the burner to low and let the jar warm for a few hours. Add more water as it evaporates to avoid heating a dry pan.[7]- Strain the oil. Whether you let the oil infuse naturally or heated it, the next step is to strain out the flowers and stems. Lay a piece of muslin or cheesecloth over a funnel on top of a glass measuring cup or jar and carefully pour the oil and herb mix over it. Discard the flowers and other lavender pieces in the compost or garden.[8]
- If your oil isn’t strong enough, repeat the process using the same oil and more lavender sprigs.
- If you chose an oil with a short shelf life, add a few drops of vitamin E oil to the mixture and stir it in to increase the shelf life.
Store your oil in a cool, dry location. Gather up the muslin and squeeze the material to extract as much oil as you can over the measuring cup or jar. If needed, transfer the oil to the container you wish to store it in. For best results, use a dark-colored glass jar. Label your jar and place it in a cupboard or cabinet away from heat and light.[9]- Use the oil on your skin or in beauty products. Lavender has many benefits. It supports sleep, reduces pain and inflammation, and helps with mood, anxiety, and depression. Rub the oil into your skin as a body or massage oil.[10] Or, use it to create a body scrub, to condition your hair, or even wash your face.
Create lavender-infused oil first. You’ll use lavender-infused oil to create a DIY salve to soothe your skin. So, follow the recipe above to create your oil before moving onto the next step.
Shave beeswax using a knife or cheese grater. Use a cheap, extra grater rather than one you use regularly, because the wax may be difficult to clean off. Use about 0.5 oz (15 g) of beeswax, or half that much candelilla wax for a vegan option.[11]
- Pour the mixture into containers. Turn off the burner and remove the pan from the heat. If you’d like, you can add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the mixture to intensify the aroma. Carefully pour the melted balm into glass or tin containers, making sure they are clean and dry first. Seal them with an airtight lid.[13]
- Depending on the type of oil you used, your DIY lavender balm will last 6 months to 2 years.
- Add witch hazel, vodka, or rubbing alcohol to a small glass spray bottle. Use 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of either witch hazel, vodka, or rubbing alcohol. Pour it through a funnel into a 2 fl oz (59 mL) glass spray bottle.[14]
- The alcohol or witch hazel helps the water evaporate faster.
- Put 30 drops of lavender essential oil into the bottle. Use fewer drops for a lighter scent or more drops for a stronger scent.[15]
- Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water. Use distilled water instead of tap water so it doesn’t contain any minerals or contaminants.[16]
Enjoy your spray. Put the spray cap on the bottle. Shake it to mix up the ingredients. That’s it! Now you can spray it in the air or on your linens. Lavender has a calming scent that can help you relax. This simple room spray also makes a great gift.[17]
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow can you use lavender to freshen up your home?
Julie Brow-PolancoJulie Brow-Polanco is a Master Herbalist & Certified Aromatherapist with more than 11 years of experience. She is an expert on natural remedies and specializes in using them to support whole-body wellness, particularly immune, digestive, nervous, and reproductive health. Julie earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Dominican University, a Master Herbalist Certification from The School of Natural Healing, and a Certificate of Aromatherapy from the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy. Julie is a member of the American Herbalist Guild and a Certified Aromatherapist through the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy.
Master Herbalist & Certified AromatherapistYou can use dried flowers to make little sachets that you can add to your laundry. You can also use essential oil in a room diffuser to make your whole house smell nice. There are stick-type room candles where you have the oil in the bottom and it flows up the stick. That's a much slower release.
How.com.vn Video: How to Make Lavender Oil
Video
Tips
- You can mix lavender with other plants such as witch hazel, peppermint, or lemon/orange peel.Thanks
Warnings
- Do not leave wax or oil unattended on the stovetop. It may smoke or catch fire if the temperature gets too high.Thanks
Things You'll Need
Lavender-Infused Oil
- Fresh or dried lavender
- Dark-colored glass jar
- Shelf-stable oil (like jojoba, olive, safflower, coconut, sweet almond, or apricot)
- Muslin or cheesecloth
- Funnel
- Vitamin E oil (optional)
- Pot or pan (optional)
Lavender Balm or Salve
- Lavender-infused oil
- Beeswax or candelilla wax
- Cheese grater
- Glass jar
- Pot or pan
- Stirring utensil
- Glass or tin containers with tight lids
Lavender Spray
- Witch hazel, vodka, or rubbing alcohol
- Lavender essential oil
- Distilled water
- Small glass spray bottle
- Funnel
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about essential oils, check out our in-depth interview with Julie Brow-Polanco.
References
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/health-benefits-of-lavender/
- ↑ https://theherbalacademy.com/lavender-infused-oil-recipe-aka-heaven-in-a-bottle/
- ↑ https://thevioletjournal.com/how-to-make-homemade-lavender-oil-recipe/
- ↑ https://theherbalacademy.com/lavender-infused-oil-recipe-aka-heaven-in-a-bottle/
- ↑ https://www.soapguild.org/tools-and-resources/resource-center/107/shelf-life-of-oils/
- ↑ https://theherbalacademy.com/lavender-infused-oil-recipe-aka-heaven-in-a-bottle/
- ↑ https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/10-things-to-make-with-lavender/
- ↑ https://theherbalacademy.com/lavender-infused-oil-recipe-aka-heaven-in-a-bottle/
- ↑ https://gardentherapy.ca/herbal-oils-for-natural-beauty/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/health-benefits-of-lavender/
- ↑ https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/10-things-to-make-with-lavender/
- ↑ https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/10-things-to-make-with-lavender/
- ↑ https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/10-things-to-make-with-lavender/
- ↑ https://www.firstdayofhome.com/diy-lavender-spray/
- ↑ https://mostlovelythings.com/lavender-room-spray/
- ↑ https://www.firstdayofhome.com/diy-lavender-spray/
- ↑ https://www.firstdayofhome.com/diy-lavender-spray/
About This Article
To make lavender-infused oil, buy sprigs of dried lavender or collect fresh sprigs and dry them. Lightly crush the lavender flowers with clean, dry hands and place them in a small jar. Pour an oil such as almond, olive, or safflower oil over the flowers, leaving 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of space at the top of the jar. Close the lid tightly and place the jar in a sunny spot for at least 48 hours. Lay a piece of muslin or cheesecloth over the top of a bowl or jar and strain the oil through it to remove the dried lavender pieces. If you want, put new lavender flowers in the same batch of oil and repeat the process to make a stronger infusion. Put the oil in a dark, tightly sealed bottle or jar and store it in a cool, dark location. If you want to learn how to make a lavender balm with beeswax, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
"I was trying to distill other flowers with ethanol in a boiling pot with oil. It exploded, and hot ethanol solution went everywhere. Lucky, I was wearing a face shield designed to protect me. I am oil fusing nutmeg, coffee, etc."..." more
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