essential oils

How to Make Essential Oils, By Yourself, For Almost No Money

Essential oils! Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve heard about them.

More than 200 or so essential oils are used all around the world and the US is a huge part of the market. 

Have you used essential oils to cure what ails you? Maybe you use a calming essential oil to relax or keep anxiety at bay? Maybe you use lavender essential oil to help you sleep? 

Essential oils have so many wonderful, therapeutic uses! 

If you’ve seen the benefits of essential oils and have a thrifty side, stick around to learn how to make essential oils at home. 

What are Essential Oils? 

Essential oils are the natural compounds that are extracted from the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits of certain plants. Not all plants produce essential oils. 

A Guide on How to Make Essential Oils

If you are familiar with Essential Oils, you know the good ones can get a little pricey. And…you don’t want to skimp and buy the cheap imposters. What are your options? Well, for one, you can learn how to make your own essential oils. 

DIY Essential Oil

There are a couple of different methods for making essential oils. You can extract oils using alcohol or oil. You can also purchase a still (which is expensive) or you can learn how to make essential oils at home without a still. 

Alcohol Extraction Method

When using this method, DO NOT use rubbing alcohol. Use either undenatured ethyl alcohol or vodka. 

With this method, we will be using a ceramic crock. Note: Never use metal.

1. Pour the alcohol over the botanicals that you have chosen. Some suggestions: basil, lavender, lilac or peppermint. 

2. Completely cover the botanicals with the alcohol to ensure that the oils will be extracted. 

3. Cover the crock with cheesecloth to allow it to breathe. Have the mixture sit for a day or two.  

4. Next, strain the mixture with a wire strainer into another container. Gently press on the botanicals to express any remaining oils. 

5. Now add some fresh botanicals, more of the ones with which you began. Cover again completely with the alcohol. 

6. Wait another day or two. Strain and press the botanicals a second time. 

7. At this point, your DIY essential oil should be ready. If you find that it doesn’t have the potency you desire, you can repeat the process. 

8. Place your mixture in the freezer. The oil will congeal on top and you’ll be able to scrape it off the top. 

9. After making the essential oils, you can put them in cute little glass bottles to store in a cool, dark place. 

Oil Extraction Method

You will use pure olive oil with this method. This method is very similar to the alcohol extraction method but with fewer steps. 

Follow the steps above, starting with placing your botanicals in a ceramic crock, but skip the freezing step. 

Be sure to keep your finished product in a cool, dark place to keep your essential oils fresh. 

Is There An Advantage to Homemade Oils?

Now that you’ve learned how to make essential oils, you might be wondering if there’s an advantage to homemade vs. store bought oils. There’s really no advantage other than knowing exactly what’s in it and the money that you’ll save. Visit us for advice on being thrifty in all aspects of your life.

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