Infused Oil With Calendula


Making infused oil is as easy as you please. There are very few rules and very few ingredients involved.

This calendula oil infusion (also called a maceration) was started not long ago, so I thought I'd show you how super easy it is to start your first brew.

What are infused oils for? 

Infused oils offer the oil-soluble goodness of the herbs that have been brewing in it and, depending on the herb, can be soothing and nourishing for both skin and hair. You can use any dried herb you please, but we're going to start a calendula oil today.

Even if you don't make your own cosmetics and skin care products, a calendula-infused oil can be used as a soothing balm for irritated, sensitive, and damaged skin and to help calm an irritated scalp.

If you do make your own cosmetics and skin care products, you'll find infused oil a great addition to lotion bars, creams, face oils and more.


Let's Go!

You will need:
  • Oil (I used sweet almond for this batch)
  • Dried herbs (be sure they are completely dry and free of moisture)
  • Antioxidant (Vitamin E or Rosemary Antioxidant)
  • Sanitized jar (my jars were all preoccupied making tincture when I started this oil, so I opted for this wide-neck bottle)
  • muslin/cheesecloth (for straining)
  • Dark container for your finished product.


Place the dried herbs in the jar. Fill it about 3/4 full. (I didn't do that here as this bottle holds more than I needed for this portion). A general rule is 1 part herb to 10 parts oil with about 0.5% antioxidant added. (This helps extend the shelf life of your infusion)



Pour oil over the herbs until they are covered. Add the antioxidant. Leave a little room in the jar so you can agitate the mixture. It is important that the herbs are covered with oil.

That's it! You've started your first infused oil!

You are now going to keep an eye (and nose) on the mixture for the next 2-6 weeks while it brews (that's the correct term for infusing oils).

Some people like placing their infusing oil in a sunny spot, but you can also leave it in a dark cupboard at room temperature. There are pros and cons for both methods.

Once a day, give the jar a shake, checking that the contents are still completely covered by the oil. It's a good idea to do a nose test regularly (sniff it to be sure everything smells ok).

Have fun!



More Fun DIY Stuff

Calendula- the healing flower
Making an herbal tincture
Straining and bottling tincture
Making Lotion Bars
The LisaLise How To Page

Comments

María said…
I think the calendula infused oil I'd a must-have for those delicate skins, a baby's, sensitive skin, etc. I works so so good...
LisaLise said…
Mariá - I totally agree!
María said…
For a few time now I make a lavender + calendula + camomile infused oil that I find absolutely great as a post-epilation soothing oil. Being oil, it will help to remove those little lumps of wax here and there, it's nourishing, soothing and mild with skin leaving a very delicate smell of camomile and lavender (calendula oil for me smell quite neutral).
I think it could also work very well as a baby's massage oil :)
LisaLise said…
María I love your ideas! This sounds absolutely lovely and I am inspired to give this a try. Do you infuse all the herbs at once or do you make 3 separate oils and then mix the oils?
María said…
I have one calendula infused oil and also another oil ifused with the 3 herbs, depending on what I want.
I use calendula only oil (in olive oil normally) for some soaps and to add that soothing component without fragrance or the tiny amount of essential oil that lavender and camomile have (for extra-sensitive skin).
For myself I use the 3 herbs infused oil :) I like to use grapeseed oil, alone or mixed with fractionated coconunt oil.
FCO is great for infused oils: it's trasnparent, odorless, absorbed hyper-fast and is a little more polar that other oils, and that makes that oil great to extract a little bit more from the plants infused in it.
LisaLise said…
Hi María - as usual, inspirational input! I'm loving the idea of trying FCO for infusion!
Unknown said…
Hi Maria,

If we don't want to wait for 2-6 weeks while it brews can we place the jar in the oven for a while for a faster process?

Pat said…
Probably a silly question but is there any reason why you shouldn't use Extra Virgin Olive Oil for this infusion please?
LisaLise said…
Hi Pat - not a silly question at all! You could most definitely use olive oil for infusions — it is quite common and widely used. 😃