How do you make oils?

[Arinya]

How do you make oils, either essential oils or massage oils...or both! Are they the same? I know somewhat of the infused way (where you put the herbs in a jar with the oil) because I read that on a recent thread in here somewhere, but I heard there is also a way to steam them or something like that? Any and all help is appreiciated!

Thankyou!

[morrigen]

Wow. It's one hell of a process...actually, depending on what you want oil *of*, there's a few different processes...it often takes several tonnes, yep, tonnes of product to make a few mls of oil....violet comes to mind...

It's something I've always wanted to do myself, as I make perfume as a hobby, but I currently buy my oils already done.

If you're really interested in this, there's a great fictional book called "Perfume" that tells the ntale of a murder in historical France, from the perspective of scents...

There should be some websites that take you through the various processes for oil extraction. Have a poke through google. :)

[Faery-Wings]

To make real essential oils, you would need to make a still. Then get a *lot* of the plant material you want to disitill. You should make sure the plants have been orgainically grown, or at least not have pesticides or car exhuast near them. And if you are lucky, you might get a half oz or so of eo. So much more cost effective to buy them. :money: :lol:
If you really want to get into still making them, this book, The Aromatherapy Book: Applications & Inhalations, by Jeanne Rose has some information on it.

If you do this, don't toss the water that is left behind- that is floral water or hydrosols which are great to use in their own right.

If you go for it, let me know. I'd be very interested in hearing your progress. :)

[Rowan103]

A few years ago after looking into this very thing I realized that it was way over my head and I headed in a different direction. Infused Oils. This was more my speed. Here is the link. Essential oils I buy. I use both. Doing the infused gives me a sense of putting more of myself into things. I like to make and do more than I like to buy pre-made.

Infused oils (http://www.lehigh.edu/~jahb/herbs/preparations.html)

[Arinya]

Uh oh maybe this was a mistake!
I was hoping to be able to sell oils...hmm. This might cost more then I'm going to make unless I only make infused oils...hmm.

[fireswimmer]

I am working on selling my oils. I use essential oils and good carrier oils to dilute them. Essential oils and massage oils are NOT the same. Most essential oils should not be used as neat applications. That means undiluted on the skin. The exceptions are tea tree oil, lavendar, and one other that I can nto think of. You use very little essential oil per ounce of base oil.

There are many web sites and books on the subject. I would suggest a google search.

Fireswimmer

[WynterSpirit]

You're not supposed to put essentials oils straight on the bare skin? Hmmmm....I didn't know that. I've been wearing patchoulli oil, directly on my skin, for many years with no problems.