How To: Strawberry Glycerine Extract
It's summer and it's strawberry season around these parts of Scandinavia. I've been waiting for the ripest, plumpest, freshest strawberries to be available so I could make this glycerine extract.
And here they are - fresh picked and deliciously aromatic.
Shall we get busy?
Glycerine Extract Ingredients
This is a very simple process and requires only- fresh strawberries
- glycerine
- preservative
Water to Glycerine Amounts
Glycerine extracts are commonly made with dried plant materials that are reconstituted with water, then added to the glycerine.The usual ratio of water-content to glycerine for an extract is 50/50.
For this batch I used
49.8 % Glycerine49.7 % Strawberry
0,5 % Preservative (I used benzyl alcohol)
Even though fresh strawberry is 'only' about 92% water, I went with a 50/50 ratio of strawberry to glycerine..
Aroma Zone's glycerine extract how-to recommends adding 0,6% broad spectrum preservative, storing the final extract cool, and using within 6 months.
A few of you have asked me about this, and I'll be answering your questions about glycerine as a preservative in an upcoming post.
Meantime, here's a peek at the process of my strawberry glycerine ecxtract.
(those extra strawberries in the bowl in the background? What a shame they wouldn't fit into the jar. We simply had to eat them for dessert)
Method
Making a strawberry glycerine extract is easy peasy.- Sanitize the jar and your equipment
- Slice the strawberry
- Weigh the strawberry
- Weigh and add glycerine
- Add preservative
- Place lid on jar
- Keep jar in a dark and not too warm area
- Agitate the jar daily for 7-10 days
Tip: Always always measure your ingredients by weight - this is the only accurate way to be sure of your amounts in any formula.
When it's Time to Strain
Here's what you need to strain- Bottle for your extract
- Funnel
- Filter
- Receptacle to strain into
As soon as the liquid has run through the filter, transfer the extract to a bottle, put on a label with a date and enjoy your fabulous extract!
What to Use it For
You can use this extract in place of glycerine in any formula. It adds a delicious scent of fresh strawberry. I've been adding it to skin tonic made on a rose hydrosol base, tried it in a light cream, and in a shower gel.
Comments
20% extract to dilute in distilled water and preserve accordingly.
No alcohol, funny scent and lovely for this summer, for boys and girls
Enjoy!
Thank you,
Marie
1.Glycerites are usually considered as a substitute to avoid alcohol based ingredients right,so i see you have used benzyl alcohol as preservative.Any other alcohol free alternatives to help preserve a glycerite?
2.Is the preservative needs to be added as i read glycerine itself is a preservative?
Kindly guide,as i have just started with glycerites and you have been an inspiration to start with it!
Thank you so much for all this wonderful information. What about mango can we make a glycerine out of it. We have organic mangos that smell heavenly at the moment.
I was wondering, why are you just cutting the strawberries in half and not mash them up? There probably is a reason, I was just wondering as to what is it :)
Thank you for your reply,
Olja
I just made my strawberry glycerite yesterday. I cut the strawberries as you recommended. When I mixed everything, some parts of the strawberries floated. Is that ok I’m afraid that they will grow fungus. Although there was a space at the bottom! Is that ok? This was my first glycerite ever.
Thank
Hi Lisa, if I want to make glycerite from dried roses, should I wet them first, how?
Or should use them dry, and how much glycerine should I add? Thanks that will be my second try after the strawberries.
Thanks
I recommend checking out my book The Art of Making Glycerites for Cosmetics which is available at LisaLise.com in the shop. It has calculation charts for making glycerites with all kinds of materials and tells you exactly how much water (if any) should be added for the different materials. :)