| Essential oils are useful for a variety of | | | | ingredients are mixed thoroughly. Make sure the |
| purposes. They can be used for medicinal | | | | plant matter is saturated. The essential oil will |
| reasons or healing of the mind, for example. | | | | start to form. It takes some time for the |
| Most people buy their oils in small bottles ready to | | | | essential oils to be extracted from the plant |
| be used. However, you can sometimes make | | | | material in this manner. So, leave your jar in a |
| your own essential oils. | | | | warm place for the rest of the day. This will |
| Sweet almond oil can be used as a base for | | | | give the natural oils time to permeate the sweet |
| essential oils. It is best if combined with vitamin | | | | almond oil. |
| E, because this is a natural preservative. To | | | | On the second day, put some cheesecloth over |
| make a small amount of essential oil, use one half | | | | the mouth of a second wide mouthed jar and |
| cup of the sweet almond oil with vitamin E. | | | | pour the mixture from the first jar through it and |
| Choose the type of essential oil you want to | | | | into the second jar. At this point, you don't need |
| make. This will usually depend upon what plant | | | | the first batch of plant matter you gathered. |
| materials you have at hand. If you have a rose | | | | Throw it away along with the cheesecloth. |
| garden, you might want to make rose oil. With | | | | For the next three days, repeat the same |
| an herb garden, you could make oil of thyme or | | | | procedure, using another cup of flowers or a |
| oil of oregano. If you are making essential oils in | | | | quarter cup of fresh herbs or chopped fruit. |
| winter, you could use citrus peels, such as lemon | | | | Always strain the mixture from the previous day |
| or grapefruit. To get started making essential | | | | through cheesecloth into a clean jar. This will |
| oils, take your plant material and put it in plastic | | | | assure that your essential oils are pure. |
| bag. Start with a cup of tightly packed flowers. | | | | When all these steps are completed, you have |
| Or, use a quarter cup of packed herbs or | | | | made your essential oil. You only need to bottle |
| chopped fruit peel. Close the bag. | | | | it and it will be good for six to twelve months |
| Tap the bag with a hammer or a kitchen mallet | | | | whenever you need it. To bottle it, strain it |
| to slightly bruise the material. Do this gently so | | | | through cheesecloth a final time. Then pour it |
| as not to turn your plant matter into mush. You | | | | through a funnel into small, dark bottles. Close |
| want the oils of the plant substance to be | | | | the tops with stoppers. |
| brought out ever so slightly. This is the basis for | | | | If you do any flower or herb gardening at all, you |
| your essential oils. | | | | might be surprised at how many different |
| Next, it's time to put the contents of the bag in a | | | | essential oils you can make. You can put them |
| wide mouthed jar with the sweet almond oil. Put | | | | together from ingredients in your own back yard. |
| a top on the jar and shake it gently until all the | | | | |