One of the most well-liked and practical plants grown in gardens is lavender. The lavender essential oil can be used in a variety of ways, and gardeners frequently ask me how to make it. However, lavender grown at home has so many wonderful uses.
In this post, I will show you my recipe for how to make lavender oil.
What Is Lavender Oil?
Dry lavender flowers are steeped in a chosen carrier oil for a minimum of one week and a maximum of several weeks to produce lavender oil. Lavender’s natural essential oils are drawn out of the dried flowers and into the carrier oil as they infuse. Extra virgin olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, and a variety of others are popular choices for carrier oils. We will quickly go over the distinctive qualities and advantages of roughly a dozen different carrier oils in order to aid you in determining what kind of oil to use.
This type of homemade lavender oil is distinct from concentrated lavender essential oils, which are created through a distillation extraction procedure rather than infusion. While some small “stills” for the home or for hobbies are available, distillation is most frequently carried out on an extensive industrial scale. In addition, only a small amount of oil can be made from a large quantity of lavender flower material. However, the technique we’re going to use in this tutorial allows us to make a lot more lavender oil using a lot fewer flowers!
What Is The Purpose Of Lavender Essential Oil?
There are numerous applications for lavender essential oil. It works wonders on insect stings or bites. Significant anti-inflammatory properties can be found in lavender oil. On bee stings, fire ant bites, and spider bites, directly apply the cream. Pain and itching are naturally reduced by it.
Bee stings and mosquito bites can be treated with lavender essential oil to reduce the pain and itching they cause. Aromatherapy, which uses organic plant extracts to improve wellbeing, frequently employs lavender essential oil. The lavender plant species Lavandula angustifolia is used to produce the oil, which is used to treat nausea, insomnia, and other conditions.
Lavender oil can help you fall asleep and have a more restful sleep, according to scientific studies. If you don’t have a diffuser, you can put a few drops of essential oil on a tissue and place it under your pillow to enjoy the scent all night. Before bed, add a few drops to a warm bath to promote sleep.
Benefits Of Homemade Lavender Oil
Lavender is native to the warm Mediterranean and the Middle East, where it has been grown for at least 2500 years. We are aware that the ancient Egyptians used it, probably for ceremonial purposes but also for medicine and fragrance. It was also used by the Romans, who introduced it to England when they conquered the north of Europe. However, in recent centuries, lavender has primarily been grown in France for use in perfumery. Due to a rash choice, a chemist by the name of René-Maurice Gattefossé invented aromatherapy there in 1910. He severely burned his hand and, lacking access to water, submerged it in lavender essential oil. If anything else, things might have gone horribly wrong! But thanks to a fortunate accident, lavender oil is now frequently used in complementary medicine because his skin recovered quickly and without any scars.
Many active ingredients found in lavender have positive effects on our skin and general health. The flowers contain up to 3% volatile oils that are made up of more than forty different plant chemicals, such as linalyl acetate, cineole, and linalool. According to the Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, lavender also contains flavonoids, tannins, and coumarins. The lovely scent and therapeutic properties of lavender are a result of the balance and combination of its active ingredients. Insect bites, stings, and burns can all benefit from lavender oil’s strong antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It is gentle as an essential oil or an infused oil, and it also lessens pain and muscle tension. It’s also a calming herb that can be used in skincare products to treat rashes and inflamed skin. Additionally, lavender has an impact on your mood and mental health. While camphor-rich lavender varieties can be energizing, English lavender is calming.
What Variety Of Lavender Makes The Best Lavender Oil?
When making lavender oil at home, not all lavender is created equal. English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is the best variety to use and is widely available. I cultivate the lovely English lavender varieties “Hidcote” and “Munstead,” which yield sweet lavender oil. However, because it is a large plant with flowers that contain more oil than other varieties of lavender, a hybrid lavender variety known as “Grosso” is used to make the majority of lavender essential oils. The high camphor content in Grosso, like other hybrid lavenders, can alter the scent. I believe that when people claim that lavender gives them headaches, they are actually smelling hybrid lavender with a camphor scent rather than actual English lavender.
Which Carrier Oil Should You Use?
Depending on the skin type and the comedogenic qualities of the oil, different carrier oils have different effects on the skin. Before you find the oil that benefits your skin and hair the most, you might need to experiment with a few different kinds. If you have sensitive skin, avoid using certain oils as they can irritate your skin and scalp.
You can make your own lavender oil using a variety of carrier oils. The kind of oil you select will depend on the benefits you’re looking for and the type of skin or hair you have. The best oils to use for cosmetic purposes are those that have been cold-pressed and have no additives or preservatives.
Lightweight and excellent for skin treatments is sweet almond oil. It is rich in vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids.
Vitamin B, C, and E-rich jojoba oil can help moisturize both skin and hair. It easily absorbs and does not clog pores.
How To Make Homemade Lavender Oil
Materials
- Glass pint jar with lid
- Nut milk bag or cheesecloth
- Medium bowl
- Medium saucepan
- Measuring cups
Ingredients
- 1 cup carrier oil (any type)
- 2 cups dried lavender buds or dried flowers (organic is preferable)
Instructions
Heat Your Carrier Oil
Your chosen carrier oil should be added to the saucepan using a measuring cup before it is set on a burner. Until it starts to barely bubble, heat the carrier oil on medium. To avoid the oil sputtering, take care not to add moisture to it.
Add the Lavender
The carrier oil in the pan should be stirred after you add the dried lavender. 30 minutes of simmering should be done with the lid off (low heat may be necessary).
until the mixture is at room temperature.
Strain
Pour the cooled mixture into a cheesecloth or nut bag over a medium bowl to strain the lavender flowers. Depending on how many particles you want in the oil, you might need to strain it twice.
In the pint-sized glass container, keep your oil in a cool, dark location.
Ways To Use Homemade Lavender Oil
There are many more uses for lavender oil in skincare than the ones I’ve already mentioned. It works wonders as a massage oil to ease sore muscles and ease tension. To help treat chapped lips and cold sores, you can use it in lip balm recipes. Many products can be made with lavender-infused oil, including foods like salad dressings and butter-replacing lavender cookies.
Conclusion
Already able to smell it? I hope you have plenty of suggestions and motivation to begin producing your own therapeutic lavender oil at home after reading this. It is quite simple to do, as you can see! To ensure that your plant’s health and oil quality are at their highest, be sure to read our guide on how to harvest, prune, and dry lavender. Please think about leaving a review or sharing this article on social media if you liked it. Thank you for listening, as always!
