How to make homemade lavender flavored oil and get its benefits

Lavender is an aromatic and medicinal plant with multiple effects: it relaxes, is good for the skin and even helps against rheumatism. An essential oil is extracted from it, which is a powerful natural medicine and a cosmetic ingredient.

Lavender-flavored oil is another more accessible possibility to take advantage of its extensive properties. This oil can be prepared at home very easily. Below we explain how to prepare it and what you can use it for.

Lavender oil properties

Relaxation: the aroma of lavender oil relaxes, calms and harmonises. Therefore, it reduces the feeling of stress and inner restlessness. This effect is achieved in external applications and consumed as an infusionGastrointestinal disorders: it is effective with digestive discomforts such as bloating and flatulence.Insomnia: if you have trouble falling asleep, lavender can work wonders. It also calms nervousness during the day.Skin changes: a cream or oil with a few drops of lavender oil added improves dry, sensitive, or blemished skin. Acne, psoriasis, dermatitis and fungal infections are reduced.Healing of wounds: Lavender contains antiseptic active ingredients, so scratches or small wounds, as well as sunburns, heal better thanks to products for external use with lavender essential oil.Insect bites: lavender oil reduces itching and inflammation.Stretch marks: massage with lavender essential oil can prevent its appearance.Rheumatic ailments: the application of lavender oil acts against rheumatic pain.

People allergic to the natural fragrance linalool should be careful with products that contain lavender. In this case, it is recommended to do a sensitization test by putting a few drops on the forearm to see if it causes any reaction.

Lavender Oil Uses

Lavender essential oil can be used neat, as a flavoring element in products such as air fresheners or can be added to cleaning products. A few drops of pure lavender oil provide a spring aroma to creams, body lotions or homemade bath salts. The essential oil is also excellent as a fragrance and germicide in homemade soap for hands or in household hygiene products. It can also be used as a fragrance when washing clothes with household detergents made from soap nuts, birch or ivy leaves, and chestnuts. You can also use the oil for re-scent a lavender pillow it has lost its scent. The essential oil ensures a pleasant fragrance and therefore a restful sleep.

Lavender essential oil is not suitable for internal use. Lavender oil has an intense healing effect, but it is only used for external applications. In the kitchen, the dried or fresh flowers of real lavender (Lavandula angustifolia).

But those of any plant do not work. Many lavenders that you can buy in a garden are treated with fungicides. You can ask the seller if the plant has been treated or not. If they do not offer you security, it is advisable to wait a year before using the flowers in infusions, cooking dishes or to make oil flavored with lavender, as we will explain.

Purchased lavender oil versus homemade lavender oil

If you make your own lavender oil it will not be identical (in terms of intensity and effect) to the essential oil you purchased.

The essential oil is steam distilled, which means more active ingredients are extracted from the flowers. But homemade lavender oil is sufficient for many uses.

Aromatic plant oils are very easy to make at home, including lavender oil. A neutral oil such as sweet almond or jojoba oil are suitable as a basis for a quality preparation.

The oil will have more aroma if you prepare it with fresh flowers, but you can also do it with dried lavender. In both cases the properties are similar.

How to prepare homemade lavender flavored oil

Crush the flowers with a mortar to promote the release of aromatic compounds:

Put organically grown fresh or dried lavender flowers (a small bouquet or 50-100 grams) in a glass container with a screw-top lid. Pour enough oil until the flowers are completely covered. Close it tightly and let it rest for three to six weeks in a warm place and shake it from time to time. After the time, pour the oil through a cheesecloth or coffee filter. Finally, fill a glass bottle (if possible dark) with the oil already ready. It keeps for about six months in a dark and dry place.