Dried herb infusions and essential oils make great gifts and can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from culinary to cosmetic. An infusion is a preparation created by allowing herbs to sit in oil or water where they release their scent, taste and other properties. Essential oils contain the concentrated aroma or flavor of a plant. Pure essential oils can only be created through a steam or water distillation process, but you can easily create a less concentrated, homemade version using a method known as enfleurage.
Instructions
1. Pour one-quarter cup of boiling water over dried herbs of your choice and place into a jar. Cover the combination and allow it to steep for 15-20 minutes. The resulting mixture, which will resemble a tea, is a water-based infusion that can be used in the bath or for foot soaks.
2. Place a pint of oil in a jar and then add one-half cup of your dried herbs. Stir well, cover, and allow it to sit in a sunny spot, ensuring you shake it every 12 hours or so.
3. Make an infused oil by allowing your mixture to sit for 10 days and then pouring it into a bottle. Infused oils make great salad dressings or bread dips.
4. Create an essential oil by allowing your mixture to sit in the sun for 48 hours and then positioning a piece of muslin or cheesecloth over the jar and straining your oil. Make sure you squeeze your material well after straining to collect every bit of the oil. Add more dried herbs to the jar and pour the oil over it. Repeat this enfleurage process six times or until the mixture has the aroma you want.
5. Speed up the enfleurage process by placing your jar of essential oil into a saucepan of cold water. Heat the water until it becomes just mildly hot to the touch. Maintain this temperature for 10 minutes before removing the jar. Perform this routine daily for a week.
6. Pour your finished oil into a dark glass bottle. You can use your homemade essential oil to perfume soap, baths or lotions.
Tags: dried herbs, allowing your, allowing your mixture, enfleurage process, essential oils