If you are fortunate enough to have an herb and/or flower garden, or have access to fresh cut herbs and flowers, you can make your own essential oils quite easily.

Sweet almond oil with Vitamin E will be the base of all your essential oils. Vitamin E will act as a natural preservative. You essential oils will last 6 to 12 months if kept in a dark, dry, and cool place.

Remember to sterilize your containers and start with clean utensils.

Supplies Needed:

Plastic Zip Lock Bags (the ones that have the zipper across to secure the contents)
Hammer or wooden kitchen mallet
Two wide mouth glass jars, sterilized
1 small bottle with stopper for final oil
Funnel
Cheesecloth or cotton gauze for straining

Ingredients: Day 1, Repeat for days 2 through 4

Cup Sweet Almond Oil with Vitamin E
1 Cup packed fresh herbs OR
1/4 Cup chopped fruit peel, such as orange, grapefruit, lime, lemon, etc.
1 Cups freshly cut flowers
Rinse herbs, fruit or flower petals thoroughly.

Every day for four days place 1 cup of flowers or cup herbs or chopped fruit peel in the plastic bag. Close the bag securely and lightly tap the materials in the bag. Do not beat them to a pulp, as this is a gentle process.

Add the sweet almond oil and the flowers, herbs or citrus peel into one wide mouth glass jar. Close and shake gently to distribute the almond oil thoroughly. Place bottle in warm place.

Day 2:
Transfer the materials in the jar into a cheesecloth or gauze and strain the oil into the second glass jar. Squeeze as much as possible to extract all the oils. Discard material.

Day 3, Repeat Day 1
Day 4, Repeat Day 2

On the 4th day, when all oils have been extracted into jar 2, strain the oil one last time. Pour into pretty bottle and cap.

Learn more about this author, Carol Belanger.
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