These are not recipes for essential oils. These are infused oils. They are not as strong as essential oils, but you can make them yourself. You CAN make essential oils, but the procedure is best left to the professionals - which I am not.
First of all, essential oils should NEVER be applied undiluted. Always cut them with a base oil. You can use olive, safflower, sunflower or any type of vegetable oil. I don't use olive oil as a rule because it has a strong scent of its own.
Infused oils don't need to be cut. The oil itself has the scent of the herbs and can be applied directly to the skin or hair.
Always work with thouroughly dried plant materials. The tiniest bit of moisture can mold up an entire batch.
NOTE: An exception to this rule is St. John's Wort. Use only the fresh blossoms - why? I don't know. But the dried ones won't work.
The first thing to do is choose your plant material. This can be anything. I've made rose, sandalwood, rosemary, and several others. Grind your herbs to a powder. Place them in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Add your oil to the jar until the herbs are saturated and barely covered. Place the jar in a sunny window. Shake daily for 1 to 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, open the jar. Take a whiff. If you can smell the herb, you're done. If not, strain off the oil. Discard the plant material and replace with a fresh batch. Pour the oil back in. Some plant take longer than others to infuse the oil. Strain off the oil and store in a dark glass bottle or jar with a tight fitting lid.
If you have a gas oven, put the jar in the oven with the heat off. The warmth from the pilot light is gentle enough to warm the oil without burning. This procedure can cut your time in half.
VANILLA SPICE MASSAGE OIL
2 cups light vegetable oil 2 tablespoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean (split) 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Place your herbs in a jar and add the oil. If using vanilla extract, this takes about 2 weeks. If using vanilla bean, it takes about 3 weeks. I prefer the vanilla bean - it makes a clearer and more subtle smelling oil.
HEADACHE/STRESS RELIEF OIL
1 cup light vegetable oil 2 tablespoons lavender buds 1 tablespon chamomile flowers 1 tablespoons hops
This takes about 2 weeks. This makes a great massage for those times when you are too stressed to relax and get some sleep. Massage into the temples, neck, and shoulders.
SIMPLE HAIR OIL
1 teaspoons rosemary infused olive oil (more or less, depending on hair length)
Take the oil and warm it in the microwave or on the stove. Apply to hair and comb through. Wrap your hair in a towel for 30 minutes. Wash out with a very mild shampoo. This can also be used as a leave-in conditioner for those with thick hair.
Olive oil is a centuries old treatment for healthy hair. Rosemary adds shine and can promote hair growth.
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