"Witch" Crafts
 

Making Oils

There are many ways to make these oils. If you can find a true natural oil in your area, get it. Try to find someone reputable. You may have to pay a little more for a true essential oil, but it is worth it.

Alternatively, if you have the time, you may be able to make your own acceptible oils. Compression and distillation is the way to get the most true essential oil, but time can be your budgeted friend. The basic tools of a  Mortar and Pestle can grind down your herbs and flowers and then soaking  them in your favorite oil. I have used extra virgin olive oil in many of my mixtures, but sometimes the oil itself is too pungent and it hides the aromas of the herbs. Grape seed oil is better due to the lack of odor. There are  other oils so choose your own, but try to keep your base as pure as possible.

 I usually let the ground items sit in the mortar with the oil for a few days and then put the whole lot in a bottle. After about two weeks, the aromas start to come out beautifully. Keep in mind that when I am going through  the whole process, grinding to soaking and straining, I keep in my thoughts what I am trying to accomplish with this mixture. The better the concentration, the better the result.

Here is a basic recipe for making oils. Now keep in mind, these are not essential oils, and are NOT to be used internally for any reason. There primary purpose is for annointing .

Take a handful of the desired herb ( dried works well) and place it in a  mason jar ( or other empty glass jar). Now pour in olive, canola or safflower  oil to about 1/2 inch above the herb. Cover and place in a sunny window for 2 weeks- shake once a day.

After 2 weeks strain out the herb. If desired, add more herb and repeat. If  not , bottle and store. If you desire a scent, add a few drops of essential oil to the finished product.

You can use essential oils mixed with olive or any other carrier oil.  If you can't get an essential oil of the plant you want,  you can infuse  the dried herb into any carrier oil.  Do do this (the short way) take  about a cup of the dried plant--or seeds.  Place in bottom of crock pot.  Completely cover with light olive or oil of choice.  Turn it on,  and let it simmer on low for 8 hours.  then drain through a collendar, then through coffee filters.  Then squeeze the heck out of the dried herbs to get the oil that they're holding onto for dear life.  Then  filter again. Do this as often as you need to.