Infusing your favorite oils is one of the easiest ways to add a little extra!
Did you know you can add a muscle-healing cooling effect to your massage oil, make an oil into a burn salve, or even add a rosemary flavor to your cooking oil? Whether trying to add skin-healing benefits to your first aid kit or a little flavor to your cooking, there’s an easy way to do it!
While there are many methods to infuse oils, my favorite is the “set it and forget it” method of solar infusion. In this post, we will discuss how to make solar-infused herb oil and give you some ideas on which oils and herbs or flowers you can combine. Here we go!
How To Do Solar Infusion
As mentioned earlier, solar infusion is as easy as “set it and forget it.” It’s basically adding one part dried herbs or flowers into five parts carrier oil and placing it on a sunny area (like your windowsill) for at least two weeks until the herbs’ medicinal or soothing properties are infused in the oil. You get the same benefits as essential oils but in a milder and safer formula.
Also, I should reiterate that you should only add thoroughly dried herbs to extend your recipe’s shelf life. Undried herbs quickly spoil and form mold. To dry your herbs, leave them in a cool, dry place for 3-10 days.
Solar Infused Oil for First Aid
Best Oils
- Olive Oil
- Avocado Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Almond Oil
- Fractionated Coconut Oil
Best Herbs/ Flowers
Arnica
Arnica is an herb with tons of topical uses! Made into an infused oil, arnica can help soothe muscle pain, heal bruises, reduce swelling and inflammation, and treat insect bites and stings.
Calendula
Calendula, or pot marigold, is an easy-to-grow herb with many uses. Its skin-healing and antimicrobial properties make it perfect for creating a salve or infused oil to soothe minor burns, cuts, and abrasions. It can also reduce scarring. Calendula is wonderfully nourishing on dry skin and can even treat acne!
Plantain
Plantain is a natural anti-inflammatory, which makes it fabulous for treating skin irritations, minor cuts and abrasions, insect bites, and bruises. It can also relieve minor burns and diaper rash.
Rosemary
In addition to tasting great, rosemary is a natural pain reliever. It can help improve circulation, aiding everything from digestion to wound healing to relieving sore muscles. Rosemary’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help treat arthritis symptoms.
St. John’s Wort
An infused oil using St. John’s Wort can help treat wounds. It has also been shown to help treat mild to moderate depression, trouble sleeping, nervousness, and other mood-related troubles.
Ask a doctor before using St. John’s wort, as it can interfere with some medications. The infused oil is also quite phototoxic, which can increase your risk of sunburn.
Solar Infused Oil for Skincare & Massage
Best Oils
- Avocado Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Almond Oil
- Fractionated Coconut Oil
- Meadowfoam Seed Oil
- Camellia Seed Oil
Best Herbs/ Flowers
Rose
Roses are rich in vitamins and minerals that reduce signs of aging, improve complexion, balance the oils in your skin, and more! Infuse your favorite facial oil with rose petals or buds for next-level benefits.
Eucalyptus
Naturally antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral, eucalyptus is amazing at treating skin conditions like acne. Its natural cooling effect on the skin is similar to peppermint and can help improve circulation, even out skin tone, and reduce signs of aging.
Lavender
Lavender is naturally antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and skin-healing, making it great for treating acne. It can also reduce signs of aging, soothe eczema, heal wounds, and treat sunburn.
Chamomile
Chamomile isn’t just a relaxing tea; its sedative effect can be helpful around bedtime! It can be used to treat everything from hay fever to hemorrhoids. In skincare, it is lovely for acne-prone skin. It is rich in antioxidants, making it ideal for treating acne, acne scars, inflammation, and more. Got sunburn? Your chamomile-infused oil can also help soothe sunburned skin.
Mint
This is another herb that is wonderful for naturally treating and controlling acne. It also improves circulation, which improves complexion and reduces signs of aging. The cooling effect of mint can be very soothing on sunburn and inflamed skin.
Solar-Infused Oil for Culinary Use
Best Oils
- Olive Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Avocado Oil
- Peanut Oil
- Canola Oil
Best Herbs/ Flowers
We love infusing oils for skincare and first-aid use. But the sky is truly the limit once you get into the kitchen! Almost any herb you love adding to your food can be infused into oil.
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Sage
- Garlic
- Bay Leaf
- Lemongrass
- Mint
- Thyme
- Marjoram
- Peppercorn (black pepper)
- Red pepper
- Chives
- Dill
- Oregano
- Tarragon
General Solar-Infused Oil Recipe
General Solar-Infused Oil Recipe
Ingredients
1 part Dried Herb or Flower (1/5 cup or 1.6 oz)
5 parts Carrier Oil (1 cup or 8 oz)
Cheese Cloth or Fine Mesh Sieve
8 oz Clear Glass Jar
Directions
- Add the dried herbs or flowers to a clean and dry clear glass jar and add the carrier oil. Seal the jar and place it in a sunny window for 2-4 weeks, giving the jar a shake every few days.
- Strain the herbs or flowers out of the oil by pouring the oil through a cheese cloth or fine mesh strainer into a separate small bowl. Discard the plant matter. Pour the remaining oil into a clean amber bottle and store in a cool, dark place.
- To use topically, you can use it as is or as an ingredient in other Simply Earth skincare recipes. For culinary use, simply substitute this oil for the plain oils used in your favorite recipes.