HOMEMADE
ESSENTIAL OILS
Author: Bella du Toit The essential oil of a plant is the most concentrated form of the plant's nutrients, scent, colour, and essence. Since these oils preserve the natural characteristics of the plant, they offer multiple benefits. Here are a few essential oil benefits. The medicinal properties of essential oils include balancing hormones and fighting harmful bacteria and fungi. As a result, they are excellent medicines.
Aside from giving your hair shine, oils such as rosehip and tea tree can also rejuvenate your skin.

Adding seasonings to your dishes is easy with essential oils, such as peppermint oil and lavender oil, which are healthy DIY crucial oils at home and add rich flavour to your words.

A dash of essential oil can keep pests and insects away from your crops when gardening. It's as simple as gently spraying lemon or palm oil on the infestation.

To make Essential oils at home, use the following ingredients and items.
  • A moderately sized teapot
  • Oil can be made from plants, herbs, shrubs, fruits, etc. Rose petals, for example, are needed to make rosehip oil.
  • The pigments will be extracted with carrier oil. Use coconut oil for best results.
  • Containers are made of non-metallic materials as they will not release toxins when in contact with the oil compounds.
Below are the steps for making essential oils and what you should expect.
  • Use containers made of non-metallic materials, mix the carrier oil with the herbs you want to use. Stir and blend well.
  • Let this mixture sit for two days.
  • Using another non-metal container, strain the mixture to remove the solids.
  • Add more herbs to the liquid solution.
  • Allow it to soak for an additional two days.
  • Again, strain
After two weeks of this process, you should have enough essential oil to use.
However, it is crucial to remember that this process, though time-consuming, does not involve heat or chemicals; therefore, it is the most natural method for making essential oils. In addition, oil obtained from this process may contain solid particles so that it won't be the purest quality.

Most essential oils, however, are too dense and voluminous to be applied directly to the skin. Dilute them with a less potent and more neutral oil like coconut oil or almond oil before applying them directly to the skin.

Homemade essential oil can also be made by heating and the same ingredients can be used. You would, however, need to tie the herbs, shrubs or vegetables into linen bags and soak them in a mixture of water and carrier oil.
After placing the solution in a bag for hours, heat it. Doing this will allow the linen enough time to absorb the oil. A more soaked mixture inside the bag, results in the oil dissipating more readily.

In addition, boil the solution constantly for two hours while the bag stays inside. Take the solution off the stove as soon as it begins to bubble since it gets piping hot, and let it simmer for seven more hours. When the linen bag is squeezed, you can collect the oil.