Healthy for us

How to Make Lavender Oil


Lavender has long been regarded for its splendour and uniquely breathtaking fragrance. It is more than just a flower that gives an exquisite view to its surroundings. It also has the power to heal, not only for muscle spasms and physical injuries, but also for emotional stress.

Lavender essential oil is excellent for the skin. Adding its extract to soaps and bathwater gives off a fresh fragrance. It also helps repair skin problems while making the skin feel invigorated.

Steps

1. Pour the oil into the jar and stir in the lavender flowers. Cover tightly and leave the mixture to steep for 48 hours in a sunny windowsill, shaking every 12 hours.
2. Lay a piece of muslin over the bowl and strain the oil. Gather up the muslin and squeeze the material to extract as much as you can.
3. Put the oil back into the jar and add fresh flowers. Place on windowsill again. Repeat this process until you get the aroma you want.
4. If the weather is cold and dull, you can place the jar in a saucepan of cold water. Slowly heat it until the water becomes just hand-hot. Maintain that temperature for 10 minutes. Remove the jar. Do this once a day.
5. After final straining, you can pour the oil into a dark glass bottle. The shelf life for your essential oil is 6 - 12 months if kept in a dry, dark, cool place.

Tips

* You can mix lavender with other plants such as peppermint or lemon/orange peel.
* For base oil, use a refined oil to attract the essential oils of the plant. Choose one that has pale color and mild scent. Olive oil, safflower oil and light sesame oil all work well. Or you can use almond oil for cosmetics, safflower or canola for general purposes, and olive oil for cooking.
* Use witch hazel for an incredibly strong, rich scent.


Things You'll Need

* A 600ml wide-necked jar with tight-fitting lid
* 300 ml oil ( see tips for more information)
* Glass mixing bowl
* Muslin ( to cover the top of the bowl)
* Dark glass bottle with tight-fitting lid or stopper
* 8 tablespoons of lavender flower for each steeping