I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article. Full Disclosure
Herb infused oils are amazing for medicinal purposes! There many different remedies to make but all infused oils use the same basic methods when being made. Learn how to make herb infused oils.
Are you ready to start getting into the real natural remedy realm?
Don’t get me wrong, drinking teas, making elderberry syrup, and using essential oils are definitely a part of the natural remedy world but I didn’t feel like I was really into natural remedies until I made my first herbal infused oil!
There’s something about working with herbs in a medicinal way that makes you feel like a real natural remedy pro! Even if you are just making something as simple as an arnica salve.
Maybe it’s just simply because you get to work with all kinds of cool herbs with their awesome names… you’ll feel so wise when you are telling your friends that you need to buy more calendula, arnica, blessed thistle, mugwort.
I mean come on, how could you not want to say all those fun names?!
Infusing oils are a great way to use herbs for cooking but they are amazing for medicinal purposes. The types of herbs you use will naturally result in a different infused oil.
This opens up so many possibilities and many different remedies can be made but all infused oils use the same basic methods when being made.
How to Make Herb Infused Oils
- Use dried herbs so that they do not cause spoilage issues.
- Many herbs can be used: popular choices are arnica, lavender, calendula, or chamomile.
- Many oils can be used but olive oil and coconut oil are two popular choices.
- Use clean jars with tight fitting lids.
- Vitamin E can be added to the oils after they are infused to increase shelf life.
Solar Method
1 part herb 2 parts oil
In a glass jar, cover herbs with oil, top with a lid, and place in a warm spot for 3-6 weeks. Check the jar every few days and gently roll it around to mix up the herbs. Strain, label, use.
Hot Plate Method
1 part herb 2 parts oil
In a glass jar, cover herbs with oil. Cover with lid. Place jar on a hot plate or radiator (anything that can keep the a temperature of about 125 degrees) for 7-10 days. Strain, label, use.
Crockpot Method
1 part herb 2 parts oil
In a glass jar, cover herbs with oil. Cover with lid. Place a washcloth in the crockpot and place the oil jar on the washcloth (the washcloth acts as a buffer between the oil and heat source). Add water to crockpot so that water is just below the lid of the jar. Turn on warm and let sit for 4-8 hours. (If your crockpot does not have a warm setting, you can also place the oil jar on top of the lid while you are cooking something inside the crockpot). Strain, label, use.
Double Boiler Method
1 part herb 2 parts oil
Cover herbs with oil in a double boiler (herbs and oil go in the top part). Simmer for 30-60 minutes. Be careful to not over heat the oil; you do not want to cook the oil just heat it. Strain, pour into a jar, label, use.
Do you know if it’s ok to leave them in the oil longer than 3-6 weeks? I have s few jars infusing that I completely forgot about & it’s been like 4 months😬
I think you should be ok if it’s for topical use. For culinary use, it’s recommended to discard after a month or so. But as long as things look and smell ok, you should be ok.
I like the idea of leaving it on the radiator for a few days (keep checking that it smells and looks okay)
In New York in January there is plenty of this wonderful resource (for drying clothes, adding moisture to the air and now to infuse oils)
Is the 1/2 parts ratio by weight?
No, it’s by mass. The real key being to just make sure you have the herbs fully submerged in oil.
Hi. Can the herb inside tea bag be used to make oils? Thanks. Blue
Yes, you can use loose leaf herbs or you can use a tea bag to make the oils (you’d want enough tea bags to equal about the same about as you’d use in loose leaf herbs). Just “steep” the tea bag in oil and remove when infused.