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HOW TO MAKE OILS
There are four common methods used for making oils.
Each of these methods is highly effective and is used professionally as well as for home use.
Solar Infusion Method Using the simplers' measure, place the desired amount of
herbs and oil in a glass jar. Cover tightly. Place the jar in a warm, sunny spot.
In Europe and the Mediterranean the jars are placed in sandboxes to attract
greater amounts of heat. Let the oil/herb mixture infuse for two weeks.
People always ask why the oil doesn't go rancid sitting out in the hot sun.
According to natural laws, it should. But for some magickal reason, it seldom does.
I believe it's because of the alchemical fusion of the sun, the herbs, and the oil.
But once strained, the oil will definitely go rancid very quickly if left in the hot sun.
At the end of two weeks, strain the herbs, rebottle your beautiful herbal oil, and store it
in a cool dark area. If you wish a stronger oil, add a fresh batch of herbs to the oil, and
infuse for two more weeks. This will double the potency of your medicinal oil.
OVEN EXTRACTION METHOD
Place the oil/herb mixture in a pan with a tight-fitting lid or in glass canning jars.
Put the pan and/or jars in a larger pan with sufficient water to cover up the bottom half of the
container. Turn the oven on the lowest temperature possible and allow the herbs and oil to
infuse for several hours. Check frequently to prevent the oil from overheating and burning.
DOUBLE BOILER METHOD
Place the herbs and oil in a double boiler, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and bring to a low simmer.
Slowly heat for one-half to one hour, checking frequently to be sure the oil is not overheating.
Then lower the heat, and the longer the infusion, the better the oil.
This is a quick and simple method that appeals to many modern-day herbalists.
Oil heats up very quickly. Be mindful of the temperature.
Your preparation can quickly go from a nice herbal oil infusion to deep-fried Comfrey leaves.
CROCKPOT AND ELECTRIC OVEN ROASTER METHOD
Both Crockpots and electric oven roasters allow for a long, slow cooking process.
The roaster is most often used by small professional companies making quality herbal products.
The herbs can macerate in the oil for a long period of time (two to four weeks) and the resulting
oil is of a superior quality. Electric roasters can often be found quite inexpensively at bargain
shops and second-hand stores.
Place the herbs and oil in the Crockpot or roaster and turn to the lowest heat. Place the lid
on and let the mixture steep for the desired length of time. The heat is generally higher in the
Crockpot and usually two to four hours is sufficient to prepare good-quality herbal oils.
Check frequently to protect against overheating and burning. In the roaster, the herb/oil mixture
can steep for two to four weeks. It gives a superior, dark-green herbal oil.
There are several approaches to creating a magickal herbal oil. One, the most difficult, is to use
an extractor and extract the pure essential oils yourself It involves complex equipment, but is
rewarding for the serious practitioner. The results are pure, essential oil. There are several
approaches to creating a magickal herbal oil. One, the most difficult, is to use an extractor and
extract the pure essential oils yourself. It involves complex equipment, but is rewarding for the
serious practitioner. The results are pure, essential oils which can be used in a variety of ways.
Pure oils of an essential, volatile nature may also be purchased commercially. It is important to
know that many of these are too strong to use directly upon the skin, but make excellent incense
by merely placing a couple drops upon a burning piece of charcoal. These oils may also be used
with a fixative, or carrier, such as olive, sunflower, or other oils.
FIXATIVE OIL
The simplest means of making your own oil is to begin with a fixative oil. This is placed in a sturdy
pan, and to it are added herbaceous parts which have a high content of natural oil within the
cellular structure. You may wish to use the flowering parts, or leaves, and in some cases the root.
Gently bring this to warmth, stirring carefully. Never allow it to boil, and you may accomplish
excellent results by avoiding even a "hot" temperature. This process may be repeated several
times over a day or more.
Thus, the natural oils within the herb are released into solution with the fixative, as they are soluble in oil.
There are many recipes for oils. The herbs are chosen according to their meaning and attributes.
A personal mixture may be made by combining equal parts of three herbs: one for the
Sun sign, one for the Moon sign, and one or the ascendant, or rising sign.
One might also make a protective oil, by combining several herbs known for their ability to
give protection, the individual choices made by preferences of scent. It is important to
experiment. One means of trial and error for finding compatible scents is to take small
amounts of the dried herbs and grind them together. Smell deeply of the aroma, and feel
how it suits you. To make these, fill a jar to within ½ inch from the top with almond oil.
Then add crushed herbs till it is full. Steep in a sunny window for 1 moon cycle, rotating each day.
Strain out the herb and bottle. These can be added to bath salts, soaps or used for anointing candles.

OILS
Aromatic oils and rectified alcohol can be combined. The oils seep into the alcohol to produce
an essence. Oils may be captured by evaporation from flower petals. Vegetable, nut, or fruit
oils can be used as a medium for steeping aromatic plants to extract volatile oils. Aromatic oils
can also be steeped in alcohol to extract essence.
To make an oil, pick your own fresh herbs or purchase dried herbs form a reputable source.
Pack a large jar with the chosen herb and pour in any favorite mono unsaturated or
polyunsaturated oil. Use enough to cover the herb. Close tightly. Label the jar and place in
a sunny place for several weeks. Strain out the herb by pouring through cheesecloth into a fresh jar.
Hold the cheesecloth over the opening of the jar containing the herbs and secure with a rubber band.
Invert the jar and pour the infused oil through the cheesecloth.
Before discarding the herbs, squeeze all the oil out of them. Repeat the entire procedure.
Repack a clean jar with more of the same herb. Add the infused oil, plus enough additional
oil to cover the herbs. Store again in sunlight. Strain again through cheesecloth. Pour the oil
into a labeled jar and store until needed.

DISTILLING OIL
The most important production method for Essential oils is distillation.
The basic principle of distillation is the same but it is carried out in different ways
depending on the botanical material and the condition of the material.
Three types of distillation are used:
1. Water
2. Water and steam
3. Direct steam
Distillation is basically, producing steam. The steam is passed through the herbal material.
The steam carries the Essential oil from the plant in suspension which means the droplets of
essential oils are not dissolved in the steam but remain separate as droplets of oil.
When the steam is cooled it reverts to the liquid state which is water and in most cases the
oil floats on the surface of the water. The oil is then separated from the water by dripping or pouring.
1. Water distillation is used when the plant material has been dried and will not be damaged by boiling.
It is also used for powdered materials such as powdered almond, and flowers, such as orange
and rose, that need to float freely as they tend to lump together when just steam is passed
through them. The material comes into direct contact with the boiling water and much care
needs to be taken that the water does not boil away and cause the plant material to burn.
Another example of an oil prepared by this method is turpentine gum. Turpentine gum is
collected from a species of Pine (Pinus palustris) and the gum, wood chips and pine needles
are placed in the distilling chamber with rain water. This mixture is heated until the plant
and oil are condensed in the condensing chamber. Turpentine oil is not affected by very excessive heat.
2. The second method of distillation is water and steam.
This is used for either fresh or dried plant material that would be damaged by boiling.
The plant material is supported on a perforated grid.
The water level is below the grid and low pressure, wet steam passes through the plant material.
The most important aspect of this method is that the steam is never really hot and always at low
pressure. Cinnamon and clove oils are prepared by this method.
3. Direct steam distillation is similar to the second method but the steam is hotter and passed
through the plant material at a higher pressure. This method is used for fresh plant material
that has a high boiling point such as seeds, roots and wood. It is also used for fresh plant
material such as peppermint and spearmint.
The crop is cut and placed in a metal distilling tank on a truck.
Steam is forced through the fresh herbs and the oil droplets are carried by the steam
through a vapor pipe at the top of the tank onto a cool condensing chamber.
Cold Pressing or Expression:
This method is mainly used to prepare citrus oils such as orange, lemon and tangerine.
One method involves puncturing the oil glands by rolling the fruit over sharp projections that
actually pierce the oil glands. The fruit is then pressed which removes the oil from the glands.
It is then washed off with a fine spray of water. The juice is extracted by another tube.
The oil is then separated from the water by rotating it at a very high speed.
Another method involves separating the peel from the fruits and then cold pressing them.
The Essential oil is collected along with small amounts of juice, which is separated.
Enfleurage:
This is an old method which was used in the production of perfumes and pomade extracts for perfumery.
Flower petals such as rose or jasmine are layered onto warm oils, cold fat or wax.
This process is repeated each day until the base is saturated with the Essential oil.
The resulting waxes or pastes contain up to 1 percent of Essential oil.
The Essential oil is then extracted from the wax with a volatile liquid such as ethyl alcohol.
In the final step the ethyl alcohol is evaporated at low temperatures and reduced
pressure so that the pure Essential oil remains as a fairly thick liquid. Cold enfleurage has
the advantage that even the most delicate components of the flower oils are preserved.
The disadvantages are that it is not very effective and it is very expensive.
Flower oils prepared with this method do not contain terpene-hydrocarbons, which indicates
that these compounds are not present as such in the flower, but form during distillation.
Solvent Extraction
This is the most widely used modern method to prepare oils from flowers.
The petals are mixed into a volatile solvent such as petroleum, ether or benzene,
until the Essential oil is completely dissolved in the solvent. The solution is then filtered
and the solvent is evaporated at reduced pressure. The result of solvent extraction is a concrete.
The solvent is removed from the concrete by vacuum pressure without the use of heat to avoid
any harmful effect to the oil. The concentrated essence that results is called an absolute.
Absolutes are highly concentrated flower products without the natural waxes.
The main advantage of extraction over distillation is that uniform temperatures are maintained
throughout the process. High temperatures during the distillation process can produce altered
chemical composition of the oil which alters the natural odor. However, this method is expensive
compared to distillation, and chemicals or solvents used in the process may still be present after evaporation.
'Glycerin will extract the following - sugars, enzymes (dilute), glucosides, bitter compounds,
saponins (dilute), and tannins. Absolute alcohol will extract the following - alkaloids (some),
glycosides, volatile oils, waxes, resins, fats, some tannins, balsam, sugars, and vitamins.'
you would use the solvent that will give you the healing properties that you need out of
the plant. And for those that don't like the alcohol taste, or bite, the tincture can be mixed
in hot water and left for a few minutes to evaporate most of the alcohol off.

HERBAL INFUSED OIL QUICK METHOD
2 - 3 oz. dried herbs or 3 - 4 oz. fresh
1 1/4 cups unblended vegetable oil (preferably sunflower or olive)
A heat-proof container with a tight-fitting lid (jam jars work well)
Chop the herb and put it in the container with all the oil. Put the container in a pan filled
with water to within 1 inch of the top of the container of oil. Simmer slowly for 2 hours.
After 2 hours, allow the oil to cool, and strain well. Discard the spent herbs (makes lovely
compost). Refill the canister with the remaining herbs and return to the water bath (remember
to replace the lid). Simmer for another 2 hours.
Be sure to check the water level occasionally so as to not burn the oil.
When the oil has cooled enough to work with, pour it through a jelly bag or sieve lined with
cheesecloth. If using fresh herbs, there may be a watery liquid at the bottom of the oil.
This must be separated and discarded, or else it will spoil the oil over time.
This oil can be used as a base for ointments, creams, or salves, or as a massage oil.

Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
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