Why Make an Herb Infused Oil?
You use herbs everyday. They are wonderful for adding flavor to our foods, and can also have great value as home medicine. Making medicinal teas is one way to consume herbs but sometimes an herb is needed externally to relieve itch, soothe a rash, or provide pain relief.
By steeping herbs in oil many of its chemical components can be extracted and preserved for future use in healing salves, balms and even herbal soaps.
St. John’s Wort
How to Make an Herb Infused Oil
Making an herb infused oil really is as simple as steeping quality herbs in a quality oil. Time and warmth are needed to allow the volatile oils in the herb to become infused in the oil.
There are a number of ways to provide that warmth; we’ll discuss five methods below. But first a word about the herbs and oil.
Fresh herbs contain water which can potentially cause mold. Using dried herbs can prevent this problem, but if you must use fresh herbs, allow them to sit spread out in a dry, airy location for a day to allow some of the water to evaporate. If you’re looking for a quality source of dried herbs, you’ll love Frontier Herbs or Starwest Botanicals.
With each method, I do not specify amounts for the herbs or oil; you can make as little or as much as you like. In each case, just be sure to completely cover your herbs with oil.
Your herb infused oil will only be as good as your herbs and your oil. Choose high quality. Olive oil is a good choice for making infusions since it itself is nourishing and does not easily go rancid.
Mullein
Double-boiler Method
When infusing an oil with herbs, it’s important to keep any heat used very low (around 100°F is ideal) so that neither the herb nor the oil are destroyed. A double-boiler can help to protect these precious ingredients. A mason jar placed in a pan of water will work in a pinch. I like to place a few canning jar rings in the bottom to protect the oil from overheating.
Chop or tear your herbs and place in the top of a double-boiler, or in a mason jar. Completely cover the herbs with olive oil. Place water in the bottom of the double-boiler and keep warm at very low heat for at least 60 minutes. Remember, low heat and long infusion time means great oil.
Strain the herbs which may then be composted. Bottle your oil and be sure to label and date your jar.
Calendula
Solar Method
To use the heat of the sun to infuse your oil, simply place your chopped herbs in a mason jar and cover with olive oil, leaving about an inch of headroom. Cover the jar. Now simply place your jar in a sunny location for 2 – 4 weeks. Consider moving the jar to a warm location (like the top of your refrigerator) on days the sun is not shining, and at night.
Strain the herbs which may then be composted. Bottle your oil and be sure to label and date your jar.
Dehydrator Method
I like to use my Excalibur dehydrator to make infused oils when it’s already running for another purpose, as long as the temperature is not above 110°F. Place your chopped herbs in a mason jar and cover with olive oil, leaving about an inch of headroom. Place in your dehydrator and set the temperature anywhere between 100° and 110°F. Allow to infuse for at least 8 hours. Longer is always better.
Strain the herbs which may then be composted. Bottle your oil and be sure to label and date your jar.
Oven Method
Place your chopped herbs in a mason jar and cover with olive oil, leaving about an inch of headroom. Place several inches of warm water in an oven proof baking dish and place it in the oven. Warm your oven to 200°. When the oven is at temperature, turn it off. Place the mason jar into the pan of water. Close the oven door and let the herbs steep there for at least 4 hours.
Strain the herbs which may then be composted. Bottle your oil and be sure to label and date your jar.
Dandelion
Crock-Pot Method
Chop or tear your herbs and place in a mason jar. Completely cover the herbs with olive oil. Place a dishtowel in the bottom of your crock-pot and add several inches of warm water. Place the mason jar in the water and turn your crock-pot to warm. If the lowest setting on your crock-pot is low, then monitor the water temperature and if it goes above 110°F, turn the crock-pot off until the water begins to cool a bit. Allow to infuse for at least 4 hours. Longer is always better.
Strain the herbs which may then be composted. Bottle your oil and be sure to label and date your jar.
Storing Your Oils
Store your oils in a cool, dark place (or in colored bottles). The shelf life is approximately one year, longer if you keep them refrigerated.
Be sure to also visit my post Natural Home Remedies for Your Medicine Cabinet.
Making Specific Herbal Oils
Arnica Oil for bruises, sprains, and wounds.
Birch Leaf Oil for sore muscles.
Chamomile Oil to soften skin.
Jewelweed Oil for itch.
Mullein Oil for earaches.
Using Your Infused Oils in Salves and Balms
From Plantain Leaf to Healing Balm
Make Your Own Tinted Lip Gloss
Warming Ginger Cayenne Salve for Pain Relief
Thank you for visiting Learning And Yearning. May "the LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Num 6:24-26
Marcel Paquin says
I am interesting to received all information about natural health
Joan says
After each method it says:
Strain the herbs which may then be composted. Bottle your herbs and be sure to label and date your jar.
So, do we keep the herbs or compost them? Should it say bottle oil?
Susan Vinskofski says
Great catch, Joan. Thank you. I will update the post. You compost the herbs and bottle the oil.
Amanda says
Do you cover Mason jar while infusing?
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Amanda, I do not cover the jar if using any of the methods that use heat. Only when allowing the oil to infuse for a few weeks do I use the jar lid. Once you bottle your oil for storage, then it does need a lid. Thanks for stopping by.
Kohpala says
Even with solar infusion of oils, if using fresh plant matter, you will get condensation in your jars. Opening the jars up every day for at least a couple hours for the first 10 days or so While Still Letting Them Sit In The Sun (can use a breathable, natural fiber cloth and rubber band to cover the jar) is crucial to avoid eventual molding. I find it best to let the condensation “dry out” during the hottest part of the day.
Low heat oil infusion evaporates water particles from fresh plant matter far more quickly and has less mold risk than solar. I prefer solar infusions but have learned to take the extra measure of condensation release. I know a lot of Herbalists that always add an anti mold essential oil to their solar infused oils as mold prevention/remediation.
Hope that this tidbit helps!
Susan Vinskofski says
Thank you, Kohpala!
Pris says
If you burn a bit the herb because slow heater was too hot and oil smells charcoal like, should it be thrown out or can u still use it?
Susan Vinskofski says
Pris, you have destroyed the good qualities of both the herbs and the oil. That should be tossed.
Daniel says
Hi Susan,
About to try my first cold infusion! To remove any bacteria from the herb, even using dried herb, I’ve been advised to add 50% of the weight of the herb of 90% Ethanol or 190 proof grain alcohol , capped, set overnight, BEFORE adding oil.
Susan what are your thoughts on this, will the alcohol ‘evaporate’ in the jar over the 3-4 weeks I plan to infuse?
Thanks for this herb infusion article!
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Daniel, I’ve never heard this advice and really don’t know why it would be necessary especially if using a dried herb. Perhaps do 2 small batches – one with, and one without the alcohol so that you can see which you prefer. I know I wouldn’t want alcohol in my oil especially for certain applications.
Renata says
Hello! Could you please tell me…. for the Dehydrator Method….. do you put a lid on the mason jar before placing it into the dehydrator or do you infuse the oil without a lid? Thank you!
Susan Vinskofski says
I prefer to leave the lid off, Renata. That way, if there happens to be any moisture in your jar it will evaporate.
Hermes says
Mrs. Vinskofski, I have been making herb infused oils using only the solar method, but as this is winter for an alternative slow method how about the fireplace?
I just tried it and it seems to work. I consider it a compromise between lack of sun in the window sill and too fast heating methods.
I use both regular mason jars and those glass jars with the clamp-on lid. These are folk method ‘simples’ so who knows what the ratio of herb to menstrum is.
I placed a Pyrex material safety items underneath (baking tray for two pint ones and a bowl for a 3L jar) in case anything cracks and I need something to catch the escaping oil! I actually was a little afraid of them catching fire too, while I was out of the house (no screen but as it is a gas fireplace I took the miniscule chance – no risk of sparks).
My real concern is being too hot and burning the oils/herbs so I kept them about 40 cm away. I vary position of glass doors of fireplace and where they are on the safety items daily according to the ambient heat in the room and how warm the jar gets. One thing I noticed is that being right on the cold floor results in cooler temperature so I late raised the entire set-up on a wood block.
I gently shook the containers a couple times a day and varied the distance according to what seemed right (smaller ones got hotter).
I got impatient and after 24 days* strained the smaller ones. I am using regular scullcap in extra virgin olive oil, nettles in avocado oil, and hops in a combination of EVOO and cocoanut oil. Curiously this last one doesn’t heat up so well, regardless of where I place it. Maybe this is due to the square container?
*This was all after five days on the windowsill in the rainy winter of the Vancouver area. So in front of the fire was more like two weeks only. What would be the ideal time in front of the fireplace? I suppose it depends on how hot the fire is and how close. What surprises me is that no one mentions this as herbal oil infusion a method. If it works now you have SIX methods!
Could you send me an automatic email so I know if there has been a reply? I m curious to know of similar experiences by yourself and readers, Thank you.
Susan Vinskofski says
Hermes, yes, that’s a great idea as long as you don’t let it get too close and too hot, as you’ve mentioned. I would think that your oil would easily be ready in a day or two this way.
Ann says
I am making a 3rd batch ,as we speak ,of multiple herbs for scar fading in my anova cooker at 100° F. Unfortunately my jar has the lid on,just like the 2 other batches I made recently.Should I worry about this?I am making a 64 oz mason jar that I have been infusing for 24 h so far.Also,do you think 24 h is too much, as I can feel the jas is pretty much cold to touch.I see some herbalists recommend up to 72 h.Thank you.
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Ann, I like to remove the lid to be sure all moisture is evaporated. If you are not having problems with mold, you are fine. Longer times for infusion insure that you’ve extracted every last bit of goodness from the herbs. Shorter periods are for when you are in a hurry. You’re doing a great job!
Alicia says
This is a fantastic post. I had no idea you could use the dehydrator. Thank you for that. Love the breakdown of herbs and their uses for pain, etc.
Andrea says
Hello and thank you for the idea to infuse in the oven but is it 200 celsius or fahrenheit? Thank you