Essential Oil
Floral Essential Oil –
1/2-cup cold-pressed sweet almond oil
2-3 cups freshly cut, full-bloom flowers
Herbal Essential Oil –
1/2-cup cold-pressed sweet almond oil
1-cup fresh herbs
Spice Essential Oil
1/2-cup cold-pressed sweet almond oil
1/2 cup dried spice pieces
Citrus Essential Oil
1/2-cup cold-pressed sweet almond oil
1-cup citrus peel chopped into fine pieces
Put oil in a glass canning jar and use a mortar and pestle to bruise the plants slightly. Add the flowers to the oil. Leave the jar in a moderately warm location for a week and shake it every 24 hours. Put the jar in a dark place and let it age for another 1 or two weeks. Shake it again, and then strain the oil through a piece of cheesecloth, mashing the cloth to get as much floral essence as possible. Process can be repeated to make stronger oil by reusing the oil with fresh plants.
Shelf life – 12-18 months if stored away from light and kept at temperatures lower than 75F.
Tincture
1 part herb or plant material
5 parts alcohol
Using a mortar and pestle, lightly bruise the chosen plants and place them in a glass jar. Add the alcohol, seal the jar, and place it in a dark, warm location. Shake the jar twice a day for 14 days. Strain the liquid into a clear jar, making sure to get the full concentration. Store in a sealed, dark-colored glass bottle in a cool, dark location.
Shelf life – 18 months to 2 years
(NOTE – The best alcohol for all recipes is 90 proof vodka unless otherwise specified)
Infusion
30 g dried herbs or 75 g fresh herbs
500 ml hot water
Pour hot water over the herbs and let sit for 10 minutes. Strain.
Shelf life – none. Shelf life can be stretched to 1 week if a teaspoon of vodka is added
Decoction
30 g dried herb or 75 g fresh herbs
750 ml water
Place the herb in a saucepan and add cool water. Bring to a boil, and then simmer for up to 1 hour until the volume has been reduced by 1/3. Strain.
Shelf life – none. Shelf life can be stretched to 1 week if a teaspoon of vodka is added
Syrup
500 ml infusion or decoction
500g honey or unrefined sugar
Heat infusion or decoction in a saucepan. Add sugar or honey and stir constantly until dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool and pour into a dark glass bottle. Seal with a cork, as syrups can ferment and may explode of sealed otherwise.
Hot Oil Infusion
250 g dried herb or 750 g fresh herb
500 ml sunflower oil
Heat together in a double boiler gently for three hours and then strain and pour into a clean, airtight storage bottle.
Cream
150 g emulsifying ointment
70 ml glycerin
80 ml water
30 g dried herb
Melt the fats and water in a double boiler; add the herb and heat gently for three hours. Strain the mixture into a boil, stir constantly until cold. Store in small, airtight jars.
Shelf life – 7 months
Ointment
500 g petroleum jelly or soft paraffin wax
60 g dried herb
Melt the wax or jelly in a double boiler and stir in the herbs. Heat for about two hours, or until the herbs are crisp. Strain. Quickly pour the strained mixture into clean glass storage jars while it is still warm and molten.
Salve
1/2-cup beeswax
1/2-cup petroleum jelly
1-tablespoon jojoba oil
5 drops herbal or flower essential oil
Melt the wax and petroleum jelly in a double boiler until mixed. Add the essential oil slowly after you removed from heat. Continue stirring until the mix starts to thicken. Pour into dark glass jars while still warm.
Shelf life – 4-6 months
Related Posts -
Jasmine (jasminum officinale) Sometimes called poet's jasmine, this vine-like plant with its captivating scent is native to warm parts of the eastern hemisphere. It can be grown outdoors in the southern United States, but must be taken indoors in winter in cold weather areas. The name is derived from the...... -
Homemade Perfume Traditional Perfume 1 part essential oil 4-6 parts alcohol Blend and store in a small amber glass bottle with a stopper. Shelf life – 1-3 years Natural Perfume 1 part essential oil 4-6 parts sweet almond oil Blend and store in a small amber glass bottle with a stopper. Shelf......
Related Websites - Wet Burrito Recipe After eating at the Asian buffet the other night I figured it was time for...
- Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time,...
