How to Infuse Oils

Infusing oils is a far more simple process than one would think. It's basically just transferring flavor, scent and beneficial properties of herbs and spices to oils for usage in various products. These can be cooking oils, massage oils, soaps, lotions and even scent oils for aroma therapy.

The process is simple; you can use a double boiler, crock pot or an airtight mason jar that sits in the sun allowing the more volatile oils to transfer into the skin friendly and/or edible carrier oil that you have chosen to infuse. The one's I have chosen for this particular project are coffee and coconut oil. 

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Because coconut oil solidifies at lower temperatures, I had to put the coffee in a tea bag and leave it sitting in coconut oil inside a double boiler. Put that on medium-low heat and I let that stay on the stove for about 4 hours. Afterward it was necessary to strain the coconut oil and I placed it in the fridge in an airtight container. Now I have coffee infused coconut oil to use in my lip balms and lotions. Awesome. When infusing the oil, if you want to get the beneficial properties, it is important to keep the heat low because you can burn out all the good stuff and nobody wants that. Also, I advise using 1 part herb to 2 parts carrier oil to ensure a good consistency, smell and benefits for skin. 


If you are using the method of covering plant material in a mason jar and allowing it to sit in the sun, I'd suggest using an oil that stay liquid at room temperature like vitamin E oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Olive Oil etc.. When covering plant material with the oil, you want to fill to the brim to avoid air and bacteria from collecting and mold growing in your oils. This will absolutely RUIN everything. Instead, leave sitting for 3-4 days in the sun. If the oil doesn't have the scent desired, strain the oil and replace plant material with newly harvested plants. Repeat the process until you have the scent desired. Now you have infused oils and can use them in whatever you like. Have fun!

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