One of my lavender plants...
I love lavender. The smell of lavender is one of my favorites, and people have used lavender for thousands of years for healing and relaxation.
I have three lavender plants growing in my front yard. And up until this year I sort of just let them bloom and left them alone. I didn’t do anything with the lavender itself, except break of a sprig off now and then to smell.
Well, A happens to love lavender as much as I do. And, he came up with a great use for our lavender: make homemade lavender oil.
Eureka!
It was a great idea, and the very next day I began researching how to do it. If you’re growing your own lavender this year (or you’re going to start), then making homemade lavender oil is a great way to make use of this luscious plant.
I haven’t actually made the oil yet (because I’m still drying my first batch of lavender), but I thought I’d write a post about all this as I researched how to do it myself.
How To Make Homemade Lavender Oil
Ok, important point here: this post is about how to make a lavender oil (like a mineral-oil based solution used as a lotion for your skin during winter), not how to make lavender essential oil.
The reason why I love using oil as a lotion is because my skin gets seriously, seriously dry during the Michigan winter. Oil based lotions are the only thing that can keep my skin hydrated it seems, so that’s why I’m focusing on making this kind of lavender oil.
Before You Do Anything…
My first batch of drying lavender
Your lavender must be completely dried out before infusing it in an oil. If there is any moisture in the lavender, it’s going to turn your oil rancid.
Drying lavender is easy.
- Cut the stems off using gardening shears or scissors.
- Tie the bunch together with a rubber band. Rubber bands are best because as the lavender dries, the stems will shrink. If you use twine to hold them together, many will fall out during the shrinking process. I know it looks like I’m using twine in the picture, but my rubber band is at the top, holding it all together.
- Hang your lavender upside down in a warm spot away from direct sunlight.
- Let sit for 10 days-14 days.
Once your lavender is completely dried out, you can then use it for oil diffusing.
If you want to save the delicate purple buds to put in an eye mask or drawer sachet, cut them off and place them in a tube of rolled up newspaper. On a hard surface, roll the newspaper back and forth; this will shake the buds off the stem.
Lavender Oil Recipe 1: From BellaOnline
Cold Oil Infusions
Tools Needed:
- Large Jar
- Cheese cloth or muslin
- Large bottle
Ingredients Needed:
- Enough dried herbs to fill the jar
- Enough oil to completely cover the herbs in the jar
Place herbs in the jar. Before you put the herbs in the jar, it is important to check to make sure they are completely dry. Any water in the herbs can make the infusion turn rancid. Pour oil over the herbs until it completely covers the herbs.
Set in a sunny spot for 2 to 6 weeks. It is the heat from the sun that is going to release the plant constituents into the oil. Once the oil has had a chance to infuse, pour the mixture through the cheescloth or muslin. Pour the oil into a bottle.
Lavender Oil Recipe 2: From All4NaturalHealth
- This can be prepared by filling a jar with lavender stems with leaves and flowers that have been lightly crushed.
- The high quality almond or olive oil should be poured on top thereafter and this mixture should be allowed to steep for about a month.
- The jar should be gently shaken daily to ensure that the lavender and oil mix well.
- After about a month, the mixture needs to be strained through a strainer and the oil needs to be transferred to a clean covered jar.
Using such a method to make lavender oil, within the confines of one’s home, requires no elaborate distilling process and the oil is authentic in its composition; it also serves as massage oil with soothing and rejuvenating properties.
Lavender Oil Recipe 3: Crock-Pot Infusing From What.A.Mess Tribe
Place the herbs into a dutch oven pot or, even better, a crock pot. For each half cup herbs you will add one full cup of your preferred oil. Simmer or “cook” on low for 2 to 3 hours. Cool it and “squeeze” the oil through cheesecloth.
What Oil Base Can You Use?
Yeah, this is one I’m still wondering about myself.
I saw several sites online that said olive oil makes a great base. I have no problem using olive oil as a lotion…in fact, I rather like the idea. I’m sure it would do my skin a world of good.
I also saw suggestions for grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, and safflower oil.
You could also buy witch hazel ($1.30 at most major drugstores) and steep your lavender in that for a wonderful skin toner. I love using witch hazel on my skin during the summer, and am definitely going to do this with my second lavender batch.
Old perfume bottles...
What To Store The Lavender Oil In
This is where my imagination really starts to kick into overdrive.
Can’t you just see this aromatic oil in a luscious old perfume bottle? Or in an old-timey glass salad dressing jar?
It’s time to hit the flea markets and garage sales, everyone! Homemade lavender oil definitely deserves a unique, funky glass jar to live in. I’m definitely going to head out next weekend and start scouring garage sales for just the right jar…
Chime In!
Have you ever made homemade lavender oil or toner? Do you have any advice to offer me and other readers (especially about what oil base to use)?
Chime in and share your knowledge! I just put up my first batch two days ago, which means I won’t start making my oil until at least July 4 to give it time to dry.
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Oh great…
Now you’ve gone and done it! My wife saw this, and now she wants ME to make use of Lavender oil, instead of some of the stuff I’ve been using around the house.
So, I have a few questions;
What’s the viscosity of this oil, once you get it distilled? Will it really replace WD-40?
How do you get the Muslim in the jar? I tried this, but he got really mad at me, and tried to strangle me with a burka!
My wife won’t let me play with scissors. She’s trying to set an example for the kid;
“See Joshua? It’s your one-eyed idiot of a father. No! He’s NOT playing pirate. It was SCISSORS.”
I tried hanging Lavender upside down. I tried hanging Rose upside down. I even tried hanging Daisy upside down, just like you said. All I got was a restraining order, and a court date. Thanks a lot!
I’m never listening to you again!
Ronin
PS. Oh yeah… Great Post! blah-blah-blah… 🙂
I had to comment; the front steps looked like my niece’s house (named Heather) who lives in Portage, Michigan.
I’m from Michigan – moved all over; loved the Lavender that I could harvest so easily in Michigan; Ohio, New York, and Washington. Moved to California; not so easy; now in the desert – nothing…………….
So, I have a person in Michigan who makes it up – she lives in Allegan, and I buy it from her – helps her; makes me happy.
Couldn’t resist commenting to a Michigander and to a person named ‘Heather’ – odds of that just too good! I don’t know if I’ll get this to post because the word verification reads:
loon company
Now come on, you’re not a loon company………….smile.
Diane – [email protected]
Whoops – typo – Lavendar – sorry…………
you would love the herbwife blog of awesome – http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/about/ – her lavender tags don’t include oil, but she’s brilliant with *everything* (and food!)
Ronin,
Only YOU could make me laugh that hard at 5 a.m.! You are hilarious.
@Diane,
I’ve been to Portage! That’s so weird. 🙂 Small world.
It’s cool to me how easily lavender grows here. I put in all my bushes last summer (all of them I bought from a local farmer) and they’re getting HUGE. If I don’t trim them down, they’re going to strangle my pansies. I’m going to be cutting a big second batch off this afternoon.
p.s. my word verification request says “request crabbe”
Classic.
@Heidi,
Thanks for that link! I’ll definitely check out her blog. I’ve got dill, rosemary, and thyme that I need to start cutting and drying as well, so any help I can get would be welcome! 🙂
I use the oil in an allpurpose wound salve that I make. Its lavendar oil, thyme oil, plantain oil (the weed not the bananana) then thickened with bees wax. Works great! You can use the dried lavendar for sleeping pillows. The smell of that, hops, chamomille, and rose buds are very relaxing. Some say hops helps you have dreams that you will remember. Havent made any yet as my hops are lost in the mail. 🙁
Melissa,
That sounds awesome! Much better than the Neosporin I use…
When you say it’s thickened with bees wax, does that mean you cook it in the stove? Sorry if that’s a dumb question! I know absolutely nothing about working with bees wax or making home remedies like that. But that sounds like a great salve. I wonder if I could get hops at my local Farmer’s Market?
You heat the oils, its 1 part of each oil. When I made it it was 1 oz of each oil, heat it in a double boiler but not to boiling. Add an oz of bees wax and let it melt into the oil. If you drop a drip of the solution into some water it will form a soft ball then you know you got the right amount of wax in. If its too hard at more oils too loose add more wax. While still warm you pour it into your mason jar or what have you and it will solidify.
I dont know if you could find hops there. If not check out Mountain Rose Herbs its iwantherbs.com. I LOVE them!!!!! Any herb, tea, essential oil, etc you could want. They also have premade herbal preparations also.
Greetings,
Well this is ironic, but I was searching the web looking for information on how to make Lavender oil when I ran across your post, because I also have Lavender growing in my front yard, and it is drying in my kitchen right now. I had decided to actually do something with it this year. After all, I started a whole treasure trove of wonderful, medicinal herbs in my garden this year.
The only two things that I ran across in my research that you had not mentioned was to use a Cold Pressed Olive Oil, I’m not really sure why however. And, when storing Herbs and Oil’s if you are putting them into glass from your own home preparations then you should use dark colored glass. It helps give the oil’s a longer shelf life, from six months up to a year.
Good luck and have fun making Lavender oil!
Eileen,
I did see several other sites online that recommended olive oil. And I think that’s what I’m going to use.
My only question is, if you’re supposed to steep it in the sun for 4-6 weeks, won’t that same sunshine turn the olive oil rancid? Like you, I’d always heard that olive oil should stay in dark glass, out of the sun. But in order for the lavender to really release its oils, it needs the warm sun.
My first batch of lavender still has about a week to go before it’s ready, so I’ve got some time to get this figured out! If you’ve heard anything about that I’d appreciate it.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write in!
You dont need it to sit in the sun. Best place is a warm dark area. Also, the reason for olive oil is because it is good for the skin and if I remember properly has some anti fungal properties. Its a great carrier oil because it isnt highly scented. Other oils can give off an aroma. Olive oil is also less expensive than many others.
Melissa,
You rock! Thanks so much for writing that in. I really do think I’m going to use olive oil, and I could have made a big mistake letting it sit in the sun like that. 🙂
Thanks again!
I just love growing herbs and cooking with them. About 3 months ago, I started searching of ways to use my herbs other ways. I learned how to difuse lavender oil. But you gave me some new info, Thanks for that. Also I love just dabbing a little behind my ears and on my wrists. My husband tells me how good I smell. Its so refreshing too. Thanks again for a cool website, and Ronin is funny. He reminds me of my brother in law.
Hi, I read that about letting the oil sit in the sun, and I have mine in the cupboard in the dark, so I was going to put it out (when it stops raining) but now I won’t–good thing u wrote in. I can’t believe someone had hard time growing it in CA–that’s where it grows best, I thought. I know lots of Lavender farms in CA. What’s the difference between essential oil and diffused oil?
Essential oil is the actual oil from the herb that is left over after the distilation process. So its more part of the plant. Herb infused oil which your talking about making above is infusing oil with the plant. They both have their place but for different applications. I use both quite often. Just please dont ingest the essential oil. Some you can but most you cant.
Heather,
I loved your lavender oil recipe. Do you happen to have one for linen spray?
All I found on the internet used lavender oil. I would like to use the lavender growing in my yard.
Thanks,
Lisa
Lisa,
I didn’t even think of linen spray! That’s a great idea. I did a Google check too and found the same thing; all are using the essential oil.
But I don’t see why you couldn’t soak the leaves in the water/vinegar base and still get the lavender scent.
You also might want to check out The Herb Gardner’s Blog:
http://nimuae905.googlepages.com/growing,keeping,andpropagatinglavender
That link will take you to her section on lavender. The wealth of information on that site is really amazing. She has recipes to make Lavender tea, Lavender sugar, Herbs de Provence, and tons of other things. I found her blog only yesterday, and really love it!
So if you can’t make the spray because of the oil issues, there are still tons of other ways to use the lavender. I now have four hanging bunches of lavender I’ve got to start making stuff with!
Hi again Heather,
Just checking back in after some more research. The main reason that olive oil is used is because it is the only oil that does not turn rancid. I also found two different way’s to infuse oil. One is to place fresh or dried herbs into a double boiler. Since most double boilers tend to be stainless steal, which is a big “no, no,” when it comes to herbs because it tends to destroy vital ingredients in the herbs, I have found that you can place a large glass bowl into a saucepan. In this you put your dried or fresh herbs and pour oil to cover them. Then you heat and simmer the herbs in the oil for 2 to 3 hours. This is called a hot oil infusion. And the second is the method that has already been discussed. The dry or fresh herbs are put into a cold pressed olive oil and either put directly into sunshine in the glass container or put in a warm dark area. I have begun making several different oils and using the different methods. I grow many medicinal herbs and they are also great when prepared as topical oils. Also, something that I came across that would be better then the vinegar that you mentioned in an earlier post is to use witch hazel instead, it will smell better then the vinegar and acts as an alcohol would in an external tincture.
How is your Lavender oil coming?
P.S.
I forgot to mention that the witch hazel is also good for your skin.. 🙂
I just bought some lavender shampoo and conditioner. Pure Lavender. They say its smell is so wonderful for your hair. I wear it but now my hair will smell of lavender and for some reason(maybe because I don’t smoke and am never around it) my hair keeps its scent of shampoo for the longest time. Its called French Lavender and its top rated. Does anyone know how to do this. I bought mine on amazon. Thanks, Ann
I am assuming homeade shampoo would be difficult to make, but maybe not.
@Eileen,
YOU ROCK! Thanks for that great information!
That’s great to know that olive oil doesn’t turn rancid; I thought I’d read somewhere that it can.
I’m still drying my lavender out, although my first batch is probably ready by now. I’ve got four big bunches now hanging up in my spare bedroom drying out!
I also bought some Trader Joe’s spanish olive oil this week that I’m going to use for my first batch!
@Ann, I’ve never heard of making your own lavender shampoo, but it’s an intriguing idea. I use the Kiss My Face Lavender shampoo and really love it!
thanks, I never even heard of lavender shampoo, but I was on Ebay and I found it. Ill let you all know how it works out. Where do you find Kiss My Face Lavender shampoo?
If I like this shampoo, I dont want to buy it on ebay every time. Thanks, Ann
Also I know this is about lavender, but I grow herbs and sell them, and did you all know that lemon balm is used as a calming agent for alzheimers patients, isnt that awesome. Praise God!
Couple questions:
*I just saw this video, and it contradicts the idea of leaving it in the sun, saying that increases the chance of spoilage. What do you think of that?
http://video.about.com/beauty/How-to-Make-Mint-Oil.htm
*Does anyone know if simmering it for a couple hours will be as strong as letting it sit for a while? Please give details if possible. Thanks
Nitty,
If you’ll look up through the comments you’ll see that one reader, Melissa, wrote in and said the oil doesn’t have to soak in the sun for it to work.
I have no idea about the simmering, however. Hopefully one of the other readers will have simmered it before and will know about that!
Hi Heather,
Love this site. I have this one huge French Lavendar plant in my Central Valley of California backyard. It is growing like a weed! Anyway, I will definitely try your recipe but if anyone knows how to make a salve using lavendar, I would LOVE to know how! Also to make a lotion what shall I use for the cream part? Thanks! lori
After you’ve infused the lavendar into the oil, then you use a mortar and pestle to ‘grind it’ as fine as you can. Melt some solid beeswax; put the lavendar in, and let the beeswax solidify again – it makes a great ‘balm’ or salve. You can enhance a ready-made lavendar cream (or lotion) by adding your own lavendar to it – there are plenty of inexpensive creams out there (as well as lotions), so use that as the delivery system rather than buying up the parafin; mineral oil, and other ingredients that go into making a lotion……………
When I buy my lavendar, I go to HSN and buy from Italian Bath and Body; it’s the best product I can find – it’s made in Italy, and has the most superb formula. You can also Google ‘Surgeon’s Skin’, and find balms already scented – the best beeswax product I’ve located so far. I’ve actually used their moisturizer by removing their product from the container; slowly warmed and liquified the wax, and using both their vanilla scent and their rose scent, I’ve added lavendar to both of them, with great results.
I just love lavender. I just bought some seeds from Harris seeds where I get all of my vegetable seeds. I ordered some lavender essential oil, and some EO clarifying shampoo French Lavender and the conditioner you can leave in or take out from Amazon. I just got out of the bathtub. I pour 2 drops of the oil in my bathwater, and my whole house, 2400 sq ft. smells of it upstairs and downstairs. Just 2 drops. How amazing. And what a wonderful relaxing smell it is. I have to go on like this, because I actually just got out of the tub. I can’t wait to plant my seed.
I even read here that you can simmer for 15-20 mins:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4515843_make-lavender-massage-oil.html
I’ll just try to do a variety of things in combination.
I’m actually using this to regenerate skin damaged from a fungal infection.
Also – I read that people use olive oil because it doesn’t go rancid – but I wonder how well coconut oil absorbs things (they use coconut oil in the above link). I recently made a mixture of a different ointment that used half of each. I think I’ll just use olive oil if I’m storing it for a while.
Heather, I am so glad to have found your blog with so many helpful comments! My neighbour clipped a bunch of lavender for me with just a few flower sprigs (8-9) a couple of weeks ago. I have tied them up with an elastic and had them hanging in my kitchen since. My only worry is that since it was dried in a sunlit area, that it might not be as potent as using lavender dried in a dark place. Nonetheless, loved reading your blog and hope to make this oil any day now. The olive oil I have and planned to use is SOLON extra virgin olive oil, first cold pressed. It isn’t light in colour though, in fact it is greenish (and delicious LOL). Do you think this will be a problem?
Barbara,
I’m glad you found me too! 🙂
Thanks so much for reading.
I don’t think that oil will be a problem at all; the oil I got to use was slightly greenish, and it feels just as good to my skin!
Good luck with making your lavender oil, and please let us know how it turns out!
Hi Heather, Just checking back in to let you know that my Lavender oil turned out superb. I used the dried Lavender and simmered it in my double boiler bowl method, using organic extra virgin olive oil, for three hours. Then I strained it out with cheese cloth, and Wa La! It smells wonderful. I bought bees wax so I can also make a balm. The balm will be for wounds, bites, and burns. Since Lavender is an Antiseptic and Antibacterial it can be used for more then just an aroma therapy. The oil itself is also good for muscle tension and cramping.
I will take my bees wax and grate it right into some of the oil that I have already prepared and heat it in my double boiler bowl until I get the right consistency and then I should have a balm.
Hope your Lavender oil turned out as well as mine. 🙂
Does it matter if the oil is cold pressed or not?
I don’t think it mentioned that on the bottle of olive oil I used.
Oh – i didn’t read all the last comments.
So, I did two things to test –
I simmered lavender on a stove, and I am immersing some in a jar that I’ll set aside for a month.
When I simmered, it smoked. What did I do wrong? Or is that normal?
My apologies Heather. My first post I mentioned that I would be using the cold pressed oil for the Lavender. As it turned out I had several projects going at the same time so I used the cold pressed for fresh plantain and placed the jar directly in the sun. The cold pressed may work better for fresh herb in the sun, I’m not sure at this point since I’m learning as I go. But the plantain oil turned out just fine too. Took longer, but it worked.
Diane, Thank you for your recommendations regarding the lotion and salve! I will try them soon!
Hello Heather!
How has your oil turned out? Just a quick note to let you know how mine went. I sieved it today into a cute spray bottle. It was not as fragrant as I had hoped. 🙁 But still makes a lovely gift for my sister. The properties in the olive oil and the lavender will be fantastic for the fall and winter when her rheumatism kicks in. Oh! AND!!! I bundled the remaining oily lavender into cheesecloth “bathballs”! 🙂 Those definitely kept a stronger fragrance and will make for a good night’s rest! Thanks again for this fantastic blog!
Barbara,
I’m happy you’re oil turned out, even if it’s not super smelly with fragrance! And those “bathballs” are a great idea!
Mine is the same way! I ended up using the greenish olive oil for cooking (YUM!) and the oil I ended up using for the base is a super light olive oil (which didn’t have any “olive oil” fragrance). But, my oil still doesn’t have a strong lavender scent. But, I can still smell it slightly when it first put it on. Although, I didn’t sun soak the oil, so that might have something to do it with it.
I love the olive oil base, however! It makes my skin feel divine. Definitely the “lotion of choice” I’ll be using for my dry skin from now on.
I have been harvesting the rest of my lavender like a madwoman. I’ve got six of seven good sized bunches drying in my basement alcove (it actually looks quite pretty!). I think I’m going to make several more bottles of oil for the wintertime, and give some away as gifts.
Thanks so much for letting me know of your success, and thanks for reading!
Heather,
Just remember that I’m keeping an eye on you. I catch you hanging Lavendar, I’m gonna have her press charges! 🙂
I’ve also heard lately that olive oil makes you smarter… Perhaps I should rub some on my head?
“Lavendar hanging in Basement! Madwoman caught… Film at 11…”
Love lavender. I have projects going. Needed to learn how to infuse. Glad I found you. will let you know how things go. Think I will try the cold recipe.
I may try a salve or two.
Thank you for this.
I have a Lavender spritz that I have been using for a few years to help cool off when it gets hot. Want to make my own lavender to make the spritz. I have a few lavender plants growing and hope to get creative this year.
I was looking for a lavender linen type spray, or i heard a lavender spritz in the summer instantly cools and refreshes you. this website calls it lavender water says to mix lavender with vodka and infuse it as you would lavender and oil. then when your ready to use it dilute it with water depending on what you want to use it for. i cant wait to try it.
http://tipnut.com/homemade-lavender-water-recipes/
this other website gives you a few different ideas on how to use the lavender water\nhttp://www.allfreecrafts.com/nature/lavender-water.shtml
sorry i dont know why this link didnt work
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/nature/lavender-water.shtml
@ann/ heather. When I was little I was visiting california and saw an magnolia tree, being from the middle of know where nevada I was in awe at this tree, I picked a bunch of the flowers and put them away for the 8 hour drive. When I got home, curious of what to do with the flower I took it and boiled the petals in water, put it in some plastic bottles and then decided to wash my hair with it just to see what it would do. I was probably eleven when I did this, anyway, it was probably the best my hair has ever felt it was so silky and smooth and soft, my whole family used it until we ran out, obviously it would go bad being just water and the flower, but it lasted for a week or so before we ran out. Maybe you can do the same with lavender, just boil it whenever you want to use it, if it works that is.
Hi everyone! I am loving the information exchange here!
To the person looking for a cream base, to add lavender to. Google shea butter, you may like it.
Great input, have loved reading through it all. I have rows of lavender growing in my Nelson, New Zealand garden and have been thinking of making lavender soap. Do you think or have any of you tried making soap from infused lavender oil? Thanks in advance.
I’d like to say that this is a wonderful post and thread of comments and information. I have been making soap for many years, and yes you can use lavender oil in your recipe. To intensify the scent in your oil you can strain it and then add it to more herbs and let it sit longer. When I learned to make infused oils, I was taught to warm the oil and slightly crush the herbs before combining them, thus allowing more of the essentials from the plant to be absorbed. Olive oil is primarily used for skin preparations because it is similar in make up to our own body oils, thus making it easily absorbed. I absolutely love Shea butter, and make a body butter from Shea and Olive oils that is divine. It doesn’t really matter what type of olive oil you use, unless you are wanting to add color to it, pomace olive oil is relatively inexpensive and works just as well as the more expensive types and is lighter in color.
I hope that helps answer some of the questions
I thought it was going to be some boring old site, but I’m glad I visited. I will post a link to this site on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful.It is really nice and valuable blog
Bravo to you Ronin!
I have NEVER tried anything like this, I am over run with Russian Sage, do you fill your container with the stems and purple flowers or what after they dfy, I know the tiny little flowers fall off as they dry. I have access to lavender as well and was thinking of trying the Russian sage and lavender together in witch hazel. What can you tell me to direct me?
After you have strained the lavender for the oil, what do you do with the oiled lavender?
I totally agree with judy. You have to crush it a little bit, to break open the oil pockets. I do it in the oil I’m using. I want to try and put some lavender in CS for survival storage. The black salve recipe I have will also contain dried lavender that I crushed. Here on the farm in south africa we need to be prepared for unexpected wounds cuts bruises and insect or snake bites. Lovely info. Ill visit again. Greetings. Alette RSA.
You can use the oiled Lavender in an old cloth to wipe down wooden furniture then throw it on an open fire or wood burner, if you have one
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