Essential oils

[Vinga]

I have a lilac tree that will be in bloom in a couple of weeks and I'd love to try to make my own essential oil. What oil should i use as 'base'? I have a book that says olive oil, is that true? I'm just looking at my store bought oils and they sure don't look like olive oil to me.
Any better suggestions?

[Earth Walker]

In a clean, sterilized glass jar, add 1/8 cup of one of the following
vegetable oils:

Safflower Almond
Sunflower Hazelnut
Coconut Grapeseed
Apricot Kernel
Jojoba

I've found jojoba is the best to use. Because it isn't truly an oil
but a liquid from of wax, it never becomes rancid and can be
kept for longer periods of time.
*Using an eye dropper or the convenient single-drop dispensers which are included in virtually every bottle of true
essential oil, add the essential oils in the proportions
recommended in your recipes.
*Swirl the essential oils into the base oil, don't stir.
Gently rotate the oil clockwise.
* Finally, store all oils away from heat, light and moisture(not
in the bathroom)in airtight, opaque or dark-colored bottles.
Label and keep for use.


So you're scared and you're thinking
That maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night.
---Bruce Springstreen - "Thunder Road"

[Mariposa De La Luna]

My understanding is that essential oil is a pure oil of a plant. Large quantities are sqeezed, or something, and the oil that results is the essential oil. If you want to make a medicinal oil from plants, thats different.

For ear infections fill a glass jar with mullien flowers and then fill it with olive oil. Place it on a sunny windowsill for 4 weeks. Then express the oil and store it in a dark place.

I don't know any others though.

[Vinga]

Originally posted by SAHM
My understanding is that essential oil is a pure oil of a plant. Large quantities are sqeezed, or something, and the oil that results is the essential oil. If you want to make a medicinal oil from plants, thats different.

Ahhh! Didn't know that...well I was thinking more for aromatherapy use. At least that's what my book is about.

It says to soak fresh petals in olive, safflower or ben oil for a day or two, then strain...sounds a bit simple to me?

[Lavender]

Originally posted by Vinga


Ahhh! Didn't know that...well I was thinking more for aromatherapy use. At least that's what my book is about.

It says to soak fresh petals in olive, safflower or ben oil for a day or two, then strain...sounds a bit simple to me?

Pure essential oils are distilled from a billion pounds of plant material (ok, I exagerate but A LOT of plant material). There are several ways of distilling this precious oil. One way is to build a still. But I don't think this is what you have in mind. I think what you're referring to is an oil infussion of herbs.

There's two ways to do this...

Decide what kind of carrier oil you what to use. Carrier oil is just an oil that carries the essential oils or plant "goodness". Mystique has listed the basic carrier oils. The choice depends on what you want to do with the finished product. Grapeseed oil is a good all-round hypoallergenic oil. Jojoba is very good too but quite expensive.

There was another thread that asked something similar. I'll see if I can find it.

[Lavender]

Hi Vinga,

I found the thread...Making your own oil.

[Vinga]

Thanx I found it too :)! D'uh, maybe I should have looked a little harder before posting a new thread ;)

[Lilu]

My aromatherapy book said that the best oils to use for making essential oils are either Jojoba oil or Almond Oil.

I like the jojoba myself, and almond is nice too - both are nice to use. I have made some anointing oils using olive oil before and wasn't as impressed as when I used either jojoba or almond.

Bright Blessings
Lilu

[moonmagick4]

Where do you find those types of oils??Please let me know.Thanks!

[Vinga]

Originally posted by moonmagick4
Where do you find those types of oils??Please let me know.Thanks!

Yeah????

[Lavender]

Check out the oil section at your local supermarket or ethnic food stores. Another good place is the internet. I'll bump the "Making your own oil" thread up.

[moonmagick4]

Thank you!!Blessed Be!!

[Silver Venus]

Thanks for bringing this into the light ~
Good luck all on your Aromatherapy Journeys ~ Im still on mine (will never go back now) and loving it!
They really do work and make a difference in yours and others lifes ~ get blending and massaging ~ its the best fun ;)

[Hestia]

Originally posted by moonmagick4
Where do you find those types of oils??Please let me know.Thanks!

Hi! Another place you can get these oils is at a natural foods or health food store. Good luck to you :)

[Emy]

And you can also find thease oils on the internet, you know at "witchstores" on the net. =)

However when I 've made my own oil I've used olive oil and actually it works rather nicely. You just fill a jar with flowers or whatnot and then you pour the oil, and leave it for a week or two... and thats about it...

blessings

[idusty88]

If you don't have a health food store or new age type store in your town, then you could try www.allherb.com . I buy my lotion from them (no one in town here carries 'Beauty Without Cruelty's fragrance free lotion), and several flavors of Traditional Medicinal's tea that aren't available locally. They have a flat rate shipping fee which I like too (3.95 last time I ordered). Good Luck!

[idusty88]

Well, I just clicked on the allherb link to be sure it worked and it sent me to vitacost.com. So, I guess allherb has gone the way of many other internet start-ups. Too bad, I liked their site and was never disappointed with my orders. Oh well, maybe vitacost is OK, hope they carry my lotion, I'm allergic to almost everything else out there.