How to make herb infused oils with the alcohol intermediary method

[@jamieromar6168]

Be careful using those types of blenders for extended periods of time because the friction builds up the heat, and there have been cases of those blenders busting and people being really hurt. I personally have one and I stop every 30 to 45 seconds or so just to crack the seal and let out any pressure and I’ll hear a hiss sometimes with things that do not have any kind of gas buildup. It’s just the heat that is trying to expand.

[@SmallSeeds]

Thank you for this!! Good to know.

[@jamieromar6168]

@@SmallSeeds No problem! Thank you for the video tutorials, they are helpful!

[@Damselfly54315]

I have a ninja small and large instead of the bullet style, works very well!

[@jamieromar6168]

@@Damselfly54315 they do work very well I was just saying there have been instances where some have busted and people were very badly hurt. But it is rare.. and some of the people said they had them many years before it happened. I’m not saying they don’t work well I just was trying to let anyone know to be careful. I would just hate for anyone to get hurt.

[@Damselfly54315]

@@jamieromar6168 I wasn't discounting that...I was just stating I don't have that kind, not the kind you have to hold down for 5 minutes

[@SmallSeeds]

Directions: 1. Weigh out 1 oz. of dried herbs 2. Chop herbs in a blender to increase surface area and then place herbs into a sterilized jar 3. Measure 1/2 to 1 liquid oz. of high proof alcohol (190 proof is best but it can be lower) I use everclear. 4. Add the alcohol to dried herbs (Enough to moisten herbs but not enough to make them soggy or soaking in alcohol. Sometimes fluffier herbs require the full liquid ounce) 5. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours 6. Add 8 ounces of your oil of choice to the mixture and blend for 5 minutes or until the blender is warm (it can be olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil etc..) 7. Strain your oil into a sterilized bottle for storage, label & store in a cool dark place

[@erinmilam2577]

Have a tip, use 100% white cotton handkerchief to strain off your, they are washable and therefore reusable. I use mine for straining off everything, they do get stained especially from elderberry fruit, it leaves a sticky green mess, they wash nicely, I also use them to cover my vinegar jars the apples fermentation to keep the gnats and flies out.

[@SmallSeeds]

Great tip! Thank you 😊

[@kingg697]

Lovely apothecary spot! Beautiful and cozy!

[@AnnieSimsie]

such a lovely video. Little things that you do and how you react on things makes it fun and playful 😆

[@SmallSeeds]

Thanks so much! ☺️

[@ENEMA_AND_YOGA_CHANNEL]

I also have been using herbal oil enemas since 1995.

[@sethjacksonanimation8407]

im starting out on my foraging adventure and your channel is really lovely :) Not only are the recipe's really interesting looking but the videos are really well put together and fun to watch!

[@SmallSeeds]

Oh my thank you so much! I am excited to hear that you are excited to try some of them out. Best wishes to you on your foraging journeys ❤

[@danielasare2742]

Wow . Thank you soo much for this wonderful video and the head thing lol. Your video has just answered a long searching I have been making on this subject. Thank you very much. Gid bless you for sharing.

[@SmallSeeds]

You are so welcome. I was looking for something like this for a long time as well. I’m happy you were able to find it now too!

[@Busybee1117]

Thank you very much

[@jasonmarkson3773]

Beautiful inside and outside and highly articulate. Thank you.

[@SmallSeeds]

Thank you so much!

[@ladytiedi]

Wonderfully informative AND delightfully entertaining!

[@SmallSeeds]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@HalfLatinaJoy86]

THANK YOU! I'm not going to blend mine, but just let it sit and infuse. I'll do an initial pulse blend though. I'm trying to learn as much as I can because I want to use healthy natural products and natural medicines that I can make instead of spending money on chemicals. I feel so much better now that I am going as natural with what I can these days.

[@SmallSeeds]

So glad to hear! It’s amazing when you realize your own products work better and you know they are healthier for you. 🌿💚🥰

[@karimabenamaouche193]

I would like to make my own hair growth oil and your technique is just perfect for me. Maybe I’ll see more results from now on. Thank you so much ! Quick question : is it possible to use regular medicinal alcohol from the pharmacy ? ❤❤❤❤

[@SmallSeeds]

Like Isopropyl alcohol? If so then yes! Just make sure it’s only for topical use like with your hair oil. I hope it works well for you 😊

[@kde2011]

I'm here to know the exact same thing. I made some oil with this method except I didn't blend it with oil because I forgot but its been sitting for almost two weeks and today I about to strain it and try it out for a couple months. I hope your oil works too!

[@mirandabaugher1436]

I'm going to try this gotu kola dried herbs, as a mom with scaring I want to find a natural way to help with stretch marks. Thank you for your informative video

[@SmallSeeds]

I hope it works very well for you! Rose hip seed oil is also great for stretch marks. It can be a little pricey from some places but may be great for an infused oil made for stretch marks. There are a lot of other great oils to consider as well for infusing the gotu kola in. Thanks for sharing! I didn’t know gotu kola was good for stretch marks.

[@RestorationAustralia]

Looks easy to make, thanks for sharing.

[@dogomogo4577]

Love your videos! 😍

[@SmallSeeds]

Thank you! Glad to hear 😁

[@maureenfernando4033]

Thank you for sharing this valuable information. Can we.use fresh leaves this way?

[@40andfabb]

Thank you for this! What is the point in mixing it with the blender for 5 minutes? Would the heat from the blender comporomise/destroy the properties in the herbs? Just wondering. I know certain herbs shouldn't be heated at all but maybe the heat from the blender is different. I have a vitamix and after mixing for so long, it gets hot.

[@chantalduplessis5149]

Can you give advice on what oils you use as bases and why

[@rosepearsun]

So wonderful :) thank you

[@michellecook1892]

The apothecary closet is adorable. Where did you get it, because I need a place to put my herbal oils. Thank you!

[@7moonJen]

500th in your likes! ⭐💕🌀 Really cool video shorter, to the point and packed with info! I loved it! Thank you!

[@SmallSeeds]

Glad to hear!! Thank you!

[@999_finesse]

I was wondering if using isopropyl alcohol would damage the properties of the infusion

[@SmallSeeds]

So I have never done this but from what I’ve read you can use isopropyl alcohol for tincturing. They are only meant for topical use but I’ve never seen anything about how this type of alcohol would do any damage to the properties. I’m assuming that it shouldn’t be any different when using it to make this type of infused oil. I think it should be fine 😊

[@Vsor]

So Does the alcohol evaporate out? Or is it still in the infusion.

[@SmallSeeds]

Some of it will during the process. It didn't show up on the camera too well but when took the lid off of the blender container you could see some of it evaporating off. I assumed it was the alcohol. Either way a bit of it will still remain in the infusion which I really don't have a problem with.

[@SmallSeeds]

Thanks for asking this! It really got me thinking a lot more about it because I really don't have the most accurate answer. I wish I could somehow measure the alcohol content of a finished oil.

[@Vsor]

@@SmallSeeds I think you could mix in a carefully measured amount of water, then the alcohol should then mix with the water making it seem like you gained water. That gain should represent the amount of alcohol that was in the solution. I would do it in a test solutions though, it may ruin the tincture if it pulls out the stuff that was dissolved in the alcohol.

[@Vsor]

@@SmallSeeds here is someone doing it with gas watch?v=d8pV-x9uLiE

[@SmallSeeds]

@@Vsor Thank you! I will have to do some experiments in the future.

[@Lucythelightbearer]

Best video. Thank you

[@SmallSeeds]

Thank you so much!

[@Nightshade-333]

I like the look of a few herbs floating around in the oil. Can add a few whole herbs after draining out the ground ones? Also, can a spray be made with some of the oil or just herbs in vodka?

[@SmallSeeds]

You could but you’d have to make sure to use it quicker as it may not be as shelf stable. Make sure they are completely covered in the oil as well. I haven’t tried making a spray with the oils so I couldn’t say for sure. I imagine the thickness of the oil would make it harder to spray.

[@cmulford11]

Does the alcohol evaporate out with heat? Or over time? Does it smell like alcohol in the finished product?

[@Nightshade-333]

Is it recommended that the Alcohol Intermediary Method be used for resins/gums such as frankincense, myrrh, dragons blood, etc? How is it beneficial or not? Does it enhance or interfere with the properties of the resins?

[@barbmiracle]

So if you blend for five minutes that takes the place of letting it sit for a few days, and the AIM plus the blending makes it so you don't have to let it sit for four to six weeks? Is that correct?

[@jeffmeyers3837]

I was wondering the same thing

[@SmallSeeds]

Pretty much! I will say that I don’t blend that long anymore. Probably only about 1 minute. Sometimes I do let it continue infusing overnight or for a couple days if I don’t need the finished oil right away. The four to six weeks are definitely not necessary with this method though!

[@barbmiracle]

@@SmallSeeds Thank you so much for the reply!

[@biteyfloofmomma7279]

I just found your channel and I love your videos! I’m sorry if you mentioned it in the video and I missed it, can this be done with all herbs and how long does the oil last?

[@SmallSeeds]

Thank you! And yes it can be done with any herb you’d use topically on the skin. I try to use the oils within a year or so but have had them last up to two years. Hope that helps!

[@viennabella4591]

Cool! Questions if u use alcohol but don’t want the alcohol in finish product can u distill the alcohol out ?!?! 😊

[@SmallSeeds]

I have before by gently heating the oil in a double boiler. It seems to help evaporate almost all of it out, but there may still be trace amounts. It’s very hard to notice it in there if you take this extra step though!

[@asadadam2947]

Please can i use this same process to make fragrance oil? And get my Unique scent?

[@danatavares2038]

My arnica flowers turn to fluff when the dry. So I usually just let them dry for a day. Does this method work as well for St Johns Wort? Thanks for doing the video.

[@SmallSeeds]

Sorry for the late response but this method should work with most herbs you would normally infuse into oil. 😊 I always wondered why arnica is so fluffy whenever I purchase it. Have to give growing it and drying it myself a try soon!

[@danatavares2038]

@@SmallSeeds my this year arnica harvest is turning out to be the best. I’ve been picking a jar full of flowers the last several days. I leave them spread on a plate on the counter for a day then put in coconut oil in the windows for a couple weeks. The oil is looking great. The first few days I leave cheesecloth on the jar to allow any remaining moisture out. Then cover and shake every day. I think I’ll try the alcohol method on the remaining harvest.

[@MLBLrawbeliever]

Question, how are you measuring the potency of the oil compared to the folk method?

[@SmallSeeds]

That is a great question! I wish I could give a more technical answer but for me it’s mostly about the color. Usually, with the folk method you get almost no color from the plant in the finished oil. With this method the color is always there which shows it does a much better job at extracting the plant matter into the oil. The small amount of alcohol helps draw out plant constituents that aren’t oil soluble into the finished oil.

[@tonymckinney1355]

Can you use this oil in your hair and scalp ?

[@patriciasanon7696]

Hi, thank you for sharing that method. I was wondering if we could use isopropyl alcohol for that method and if so, do we need less alcohol?

[@blueandbanana]

Buy 80 proof vodka. Cheap.

[@aleshiagray7486]

What is the preferred method to infuse oils for ingestion? I am wanting to use alcohol and then oil for a stronger product if it's ok to ingest. I dont see why it wouldn't, but tips welcome!

[@SmallSeeds]

Usually people prefer to use other methods for ingesting like the folk method or some type of “hot” method for infusing. These are the methods typically used for culinary herbal infusions. However, you could absolutely ingest these oils for a more potent product. They may just have residual alcohol which would effect the taste and smell. Gently heating the oil in a double boiler will help to evaporate out more of the alcohol if that’s something you’d like to try. There is no problem ingesting these oils! (If the herbs you use are meant for ingesting of course) People just mainly prefer the other methods because of the taste and smell. You could always look into just tincturing herbs too if you want something very potent and don’t mind the alcohol! Hope this helps ☺️🌿💚

[@ad-wk2sc]

Love this video! Is it possible to evaporate the alcohol by warming the final result in a warm water bath, maybe for a few hours? I'm thinking that if I apply Calendule infused oil for instance, to cuts and scratches, it could sting a little due to the alcohol.

[@SmallSeeds]

Doing that would definitely help to evaporate the alcohol off. There will probably still be a slight alcohol scent left behind however. Most of the time I will add these oils into salves for first aid and I haven't had any problems with stinging so far. Plus I have found once they are in salve form I can barely notice that lingering alcohol scent. However, I think I have used a plantain oil made with this method on a small cut and I think it did sting a bit. If you find this happening with your oil you could also make it into a salve! Happy crafting!

[@ad-wk2sc]

@@SmallSeeds Okay. Thanks for sharing your valuable knowledge and experience! I really aporeciate it! 😘😘 Although I love the idea of a more stable and last longer oil, I'm not too fond of the alcohol content. But I love the potency of the result! So I guess I'll try the warm water bath to evaporate some of the alcohol. Thanks again!

[@SmallSeeds]

@@ad-wk2sc You're welcome. It's totally understandable! I am not too fond of it myself but I do think it's worth it because of the results. I hope it all works out well for you! Take care!

[@ad-wk2sc]

​​@@SmallSeeds just made Plantain and Calendula infused oil with this method. The plantain oil is now dark green, yay! The calendula is ... not as dark yellow as I expected. I might let the alcohol sit too short, just 8 hours 😅. Btw, is it okay to use this method with comfrey and gotu kola? I read somewhere that not all herbs should use this method. Hoping for your advice. Thanks!

[@yvonnetatlock717]

Just come across your video. I have so much comfrey growing really close to my home. Their still small young leaves 🍃 but I have been told they can be used as they are more potent??? Your video was fun to watch. I’ll will be looking at more after this comment. Also I have lots of common ramping fumitory. I believe it has many uses. Have you any good advice and tips on this please ❤

[@SmallSeeds]

Oh yes! The small leaves can absolutely be used and are more potent at this point. They would be great to dry out for oils and salves! I am glad you enjoyed the video 😊 to be honest I don’t have experience utilizing ramping fumitory.

[@yvonnetatlock717]

@@SmallSeeds cool and thanks for the advice, I won’t mess about with anything I’m not familiar with just in case 😉

[@lindacano394]

Thank you for your video. Can this infused oil be used to make salves?

[@SmallSeeds]

Absolutely! That is usually what I use them for. It helps to make a more potent salve and they usually have a beautiful color to them as well.

[@kajolgolchha1326]

I have a doubt sis what kind of alcohol should be added in this method can you answer me sis . really it was new method loved it.

[@SmallSeeds]

Hey! So I have been using everclear which has been working great for the past two years. It is recommended to use a high proof grain alcohol like 190 proof. It can be less than that though. I haven’t experimented much with other alcohols so I would recommend everclear or something close to it. If this answer doesn’t help much please let me know!

[@viennabella4591]

How do you extract the alcohol from the oil I don’t want perfume just the oil

[@theresastrickland2937]

Can you take more than one herb that you normally do the folk way, and add all three in here a cover with alcohol, and then follow the rest of your steps??

[@SmallSeeds]

Yes! I often use multiple herbs for this method.

[@vanessadahlberg5117]

Thank you for teaching this. One question, if I’d like to store this to make a batch of salves much later is it better to store in the alcohol stage or the oil stage?

[@SmallSeeds]

I would suggest storing it once the oil is completely finished and strained. In the alcohol stage there isn't enough alcohol to actually preserve the herbs like there would be when making a tincture. Sometimes I make salves out of oils that I made a few months back and haven't had any problems! Also if you like to use essential oils you could add some into the finished oil and sometimes that helps extend the shelf life as well. Some people also use vitamin e oil for shelf life extension. It all really comes down to proper storage and making sure everything you use for the process is sterilized or cleaned very well & dried before use. Hope this helps!

[@vanessadahlberg5117]

@@SmallSeeds That does help. Thank you.

[@jmwwalker6684]

Can this be done as well when making hair oil?

[@VirginiaFruitGrower]

You're so entertaining and funny which makes your videos cool to watch! This is interesting to me to get a glimpse at how these oils and other things are made. What microphone do you use? The audio sounds very good.

[@SmallSeeds]

Wow thank you so much! The microphone is a SM58 SHURE? lol. Just read that from it. It's actually pretty old and beat up. My husband used to use it for his band like 9 years ago and now I use it for voice overs haha.

[@VirginiaFruitGrower]

@@SmallSeeds thanks for the 🎤info!

[@DreadlockPatriot]

Thank you so much for your videos! Just found you and subscribed today🌿 When using the alcohol method, you said instead of blending it for 5 min you could also gently heat the oils. What temp would you suggest for the heat method? And for how long? I’ve heard people suggest ~120° for a couple hours, or ~100° for a couple days. Is one better than the other? I don’t have a glass blender and I really don’t like the idea of blending my oils for 5min in plastic. Thanks for your beautiful videos and all your help! 🙏🌿

[@SmallSeeds]

To be completely honest I don’t even do the blending for five minutes anymore. I just blend the herbs for about 20-30 seconds and feel like it has the same effect. I have also made oils by just blending the herbs dry, adding the alcohol, and then once I add the oil I will let it sit for a couple of days to infuse without heat or additional blending. It all depends on how quickly I need the oil. I can’t say whether or not one of the heating temp/times is better for sure but I think both are great suggestions. I think a lot of it has to do with the equipment you have and how quickly you want your oil infused! Sorry if this answer wasn’t super helpful. Glad you have been enjoying the videos ☺️

[@DreadlockPatriot]

@@SmallSeeds no that’s super helpful! Thank you 🙏

[@ihuomachiboka8714]

Can I use this for fenugreek, fennel, coriander or seeds like bitter kola?

[@BlessingAnthonia-v8v]

Pls is this infusion safe for use on the skin. What safe alcohol is recommended?

[@SmallSeeds]

Personally, I only use this on my skin. The alcohol I use is everclear but I am sure you can find other organic alcohols with a high alcohol content that would work great too. By the time you are using it on your skin most of the alcohol has evaporated out. Hope this helps!

[@matthewmurdock6593]

Great video! Can you use isopropyl?

[@sarahbryant5516]

No. It cannot be consumed.

[@thiscouldbeagarden]

Isopropyl alcohol is methanol, the alcohol we drink is ethanol. Methanol is highly toxic and can cause blindness if consumed!

[@samihage1223]

Can I use juice extractor

[@samihage1223]

Hello what is the type of alcohol? Percentage? Can I use ethanol 70 or 95 degree or better to use vodka? Can I use the infused oil result in soap making?

[@KrysM606]

I find your video very helpful. Do you think using immersion blender with open jar would work?

[@SmallSeeds]

That should work just fine! ☺️

[@KrysM606]

Thank you, this will make it much easier. Appreciate your advice.

[@wwstop2050]

Hello, i was wondering if its safe to use it on face as a moisturizer. Or is the alcohol to strong

[@SmallSeeds]

I use it on my face all the time and haven't had any problems!

[@wwstop2050]

@@SmallSeeds thanks I’ll give it a try

[@SmallSeeds]

@@wwstop2050 Hope it works well for you!

[@Suthrngal]

Does the alcohol make it difficult to create a salve. Im wanting to do this with Comfrey and Castor Oil.

[@SmallSeeds]

Not at all! In fact, this is the method I use most for creating oils for salve making.

[@yolette13]

Hi! Love this method. Do you find that the oil tint your skin? I tried this method before and the oils came out super dark. I’m darker skin but since I plan to sell it I was wondering if it might tint someone with a lighter complexion. Thank you 😊

[@SmallSeeds]

Great question! So when I use fresh comfrey it tints my skin a bit but when I've made it into oils with this method I didn't have any problems. Now it may depend on the herbs being infused but so far out of all of the oils I have made with this method I haven't had any problems. Thanks for asking! Do you sell any of your products online?!

[@mariaqtiturrino4641]

Can I make basil oil for eat?

[@Dade-xo9xt]

Hey, thank you for providing this very illuminating video. One question, some people like to let the herbs soak in the oil for up to three weeks. Your method is obviously shorter than that, so how do you know that you've extracted enough using your method? I see so many different methods being used and I can't seem to find an answer to how long you're supposed to extract something.

[@SmallSeeds]

The alcohol & blending helps pull a lot of the herb into the oil which is why it really only requires a day. Honestly the color of the oil produced from this method is enough to show me that the extraction went well. That’s probably not the best indicator haha but for me it’s a good sign. For the methods where it is just dried herb in oil, 4-6 weeks is usually best because it is just a slower process. These are usually the cold infusion methods. Hot infusions (when you heat the oil/herbs) are generally shorter because the extraction is also quicker compared to a cold infusion. The amount of time just depends on how you are extracting. It also seems like people’s timing will vary even using the same method, and that just usually depends on how they learned. I wish there was a way for me to actually measure the amount of herbal constituents in each oil but for now the deep color is enough for me lol. Sorry if this isn’t the best answer but I hope it helps!

[@Dade-xo9xt]

​@@SmallSeeds Thank you for such a quick response. Very helpful indeed. Intuition goes a long way. I think coloration is a good enough indication to judge whether something is potent or not. I did some research, and it seems that 24 hours is long enough to have the herbs soaking in alcohol. I also found different methods, but I like this method a lot. It seems very effective =) Thank you for enriching our lives with your videos. I just started experimenting with herbs. I live in Norway, and there are hundreds of herbs growing right outside my house. I just finished picking nettles, dandelions, pine and birch leafs. I also found a bunch of chaga. I am going to use this method and create some good oils =)

[@HiddenBlessingsHomestead]

Have you ever used glycerine to make extracts instead of alcohol? We don't drink alcohol so I generally make teas or would use oil to infuse but for St. John's wart I want to make an extract and I would like to use glycerine if I can, but I want to make a product that will still be effective. I would love to know your thoughts on this and if you have a video on this subject please guide me to it.

[@SmallSeeds]

Hello! I have actually just become interested in doing so recently but am not very experienced with it. However, it is probably one of the best alternatives to using alcohol especially for St. John’s Wort. Typically St. John’s Wort should be extracted fresh so glycerine or even a vinegar extract may be the way to go! I will say alcohol extracts are typically stronger and last longer but glycerine is definitely a great alcohol free alternative. Especially for extracting fresh herbs. Sorry I can’t be of more help but there are a lot of great resources online for making glycerites!

[@mamao823]

Thank you for asking that! I’m allergic to alcohol & was wondering about an alternative. Glycerin it is for me!

[@hmartin751]

​@mamao823 glycerin is not as strong as alcohol, I too am allergic to alcohol but you add the tincture to hot water so the alcohol dissolves so your not really getting any alcohol because it's safe for kids if that makes sense I use alcohol instead because it's more potent..and that is coming from Rosemary Gladstar hope that helps

[@SmallSeeds]

Super helpful! Thank you 🙏

[@tomtaox4]

Thank you for the very informative video :) I don't have everclear here, if I use ethanol 99% would that be ok or would it ruin the herbs?

[@SmallSeeds]

Glad you found it informative! You should be fine to use the 99%. It won't destroy ruin the herbs 🙂 Perhaps you could just use a smaller amount.

[@tomtaox4]

@@SmallSeeds Great. Thank you :)

[@HerHealthyHome]

I will definitely try this with some of my Comfrey or Yarrow. I tried asking for your email previously but I think it automatically goes to spam. If you get this week you send me one. Thanks

[@SmallSeeds]

Yes! Give it a try! I didn't see that so it must have. My email is [e-mail]. Feel free to send me an email whenever!

[@HerHealthyHome]

@@SmallSeeds thanks so much 😊

[@matthewmurdock6593]

I've heard this method doesn't work with all herbs. I would like to try it though. Any idea if the internediary method can work with Goldenrod? Great vid. Thanks

[@SmallSeeds]

I have only ever read that it is meant for dried herbs. I will definitely look into that now so thanks for bringing it up! I have yet to use it with goldenrod myself but it should do very well. I use this method with most of my herbs now and am very pleased with the results. Thank you and happy crafting!

[@ryanwyrick6947]

So you don't actually evaporate the alcohol off? I hope you don't mind me asking about cannabis infused oil but I'm using a Crock-Pot to infuse some grape seed oil because it has a high smoke point and then after I infuse it I intend to put a couple pounds of dairy butter and about a pound of kokum butter to make it solid for a decent baking butter. When are the ideas I had was to put alcohol in the crock pot while I did it but it's too late to do it beforehand because I put the rest of the planets I had from last year's harvest about eight plants just small ones. It all fit in the Crock-Pot but I was wondering even if I have my oil already in it having cooked on low for a couple hours, I was still wondering if I could put some everclear in there and somehow get more out of the leaf and flower. I have much better Bud used for a Rick Simpson oil and technically this will be kind of like that but just infused into a cooking oil because it will already be activated. Do you or maybe anyone reading this maybe have some experience with the crock pot method? I do plan on doing exactly what you just demonstrated with some nettles in a couple of months. I'm in Washington state Western Washington actually and we are loaded with nettles. Anyway my main concern was the alcohol left in the oil. That might present a problem in me trying to keep a solid butter and I was wondering if anyone has experience warming up the oil in alcohol to burn off the alcohol and evaporated out of the oil. Thanks guys sorry for the long version I just wanted to be clear.

[@SmallSeeds]

Hello! I have been able to evaporate most of the alcohol out by gently heating the oil before straining it. The trace amounts of alcohol have never bothered me too much since I use the oils topically. However, it does leave behind a slight smell and taste so I could see it being an issue if you are making the oil for eating. To be honest I have never used the crockpot method in fear of the oil getting too hot and destroying some of the medicinal properties of the plants I use. I can’t say for sure whether or not adding the alcohol in after the herbs are already infusing in the oil would work. It’s best to do this beforehand to draw out any constituents that are not oil soluble. Sorry if this wasn’t very helpful. I hope your oil/butter making process is still successful!

[@SmallSeeds]

Also, I believe if you are using butter and put it in the refrigerator it will solidify just fine. The alcohol does tend to keep it from solidifying at room temperature but putting it in the fridge should help to keep it solid!

[@mayyoke6101]

May I know the minimal % of alcohol needed for the infusion? Thank you! Is it alright, if I use liquor, like vodka, 35% alcohol?

[@SeedKreations]

i like you and your videos. a small seed can become a huge tree. this one helped me in clarifying some technique. im thinking on buying some herbs and doing this, however i use perfumers alcohol cause perfumery is my specialty. im a rookie into herb infusion stuff :). PA is 200 proof alcohol and i want to use fractionated coconut oil, would FCO be a worthy choice? what u think , thanks.

[@SmallSeeds]

Thank you! I would love to get into perfume making with my roses 🌹 Good to know there is a specific alcohol to be used. Fractionated coconut oil would be fine! I personally use extra virgin coconut oil for most of my products. It works pretty well as long as it stays in its liquid state while infusing. Fractionated would be great since you won't have to worry about it solidifying while infusing, it has less of a greasy feel to it, is absorbed into the skin quicker and is odorless. The only drawback I can see with it is that fractionated doesn't contain as many fatty acids and can be more expensive. Overall it does seem to be the better option for skincare products/topical preparations. I think it has a longer shelf life as well.

[@SeedKreations]

@@SmallSeeds thanks. i bought some powders and sunflower oil. gonna try it and let u know how it went. what rose oils u have? do u live in us?

[@jayhassan9665]

Hi how you saperate oil and alcohol after extraction process?

[@SmallSeeds]

You can evaporate most of it out by gently heating the oil for a few hours with the lid off. It’s best to use a double boiler on the lowest setting so you don’t end up cooking the beneficial properties out. However, there may still be trace amounts of alcohol and a slight alcohol scent.

[@samihage1223]

Can I use fresh geranium, gardenia, jasmine, laurel leaves? I guess that dried herbs don’t need alcohol

[@kenycewescott1295]

Hi ! I'm going to try this method for my candles.. what's the purpose of doing doing the cheesecloth and then muslin cloth followed by the coffee filter? Could I just do the mudlin cloth then filter instead? Or either cheesecloth of muslin cloth?

[@SmallSeeds]

Oh sorry if that was confusing! I just showed the straining with cheesecloth in the beginning to show what you would need for the process. For this oil in the video I ended up only using the coffee filter to strain. I prefer to use cheesecloth but only had coffee filters at the time of making this one. So yes you would only need to use one to strain effectively!

[@kenycewescott1295]

@@SmallSeeds great bc I just bought cheesecloth and was tempted to buy muslin cloth 😊 also do you used unbleached coffee filters?

[@SmallSeeds]

Yes! Happy crafting, Kenyce! 🙂

[@sammyrose7355]

Can I use isopropyl instead of liquor from the liquor store?

[@SmallSeeds]

This is something I have been wondering myself lately.. I can’t say for sure but I believe it would work! Perhaps just use less alcohol since is it so much stronger. I will have to look into it a bit more… Thanks for asking!

[@spiritbyesha5861]

Could I use 100% rubbing alcohol for a cheaper option?

[@hmartin751]

No

[@MemoryPallace]

Is it safe to use the infused oil for a balm even though it has alcohol? I’m new to herbalism and heard alcohol could be bad for the skin. Thank ya!

[@SmallSeeds]

I personally have never had any issues with it. By the time your oil is finished a good amount of the alcohol is evaporated out but small amounts do remain. I can see someone with very sensitive skin possibly having an issue. I do know alcohol can be drying but like I said I don’t have any problems with that. Maybe because it’s in small amounts and it’s combined with oils/herbs that are great for skin. This is a method that many herbalists use but there are other methods that don’t include using alcohol if that’s what you prefer 😊

[@MemoryPallace]

@@SmallSeeds hmm I wonder if it’s possible to evaporate all the alcohol. I saw you talk about the folk method as well! I also wonder if an essential oil mix would be as strong or just a strong.

[@SmallSeeds]

@@MemoryPallace If you gently heat the oil in a double boiler this helps with that. A lot of it does evaporate out during the process as well. When I use the blender and open it a I can see it happening. I really do need to experiment with evaporating the alcohol out for this method more. Essential oils are very strong and do work well for a lot of homemade herbal products when diluted in a carrier oil. That’s actually what got me started. There really are so many possibilities!! I hope you enjoy your learning process and craft lots of lovely things! ☺️

[@MemoryPallace]

@@SmallSeeds bless you

[@celiavictoriaarteyblog6833]

What if you dont have herbs? Just esential oils? Can you make the same mix for a mosquito repelent?

[@SmallSeeds]

With essential oils all you’d have to do is add them into a carrier oil. I am sure there are lots of great essential oil mosquito repellent recipes online that have the correct proportions of essential oil to carrier oil. I started off just using essential oils when I got into this and made some pretty great products with just diluting them in a carrier oil. Best of luck! 😊

[@kankledmanee3548]

Can it be used in cooking? 🙂

[@SmallSeeds]

It is usually not recommended because even though a good amount of alcohol is lost through the process it still leaves behind a bit of a taste/smell. However I use coconut oil infused with different herbs on my teeth sometimes and I mostly taste the herbs. It was used making this method and I barely notice the alcohol. I don't see why you couldn't give it a try for cooking though! If not you could always go with a different method of infusion.

[@Damselfly54315]

How LONG is it shelf stable?

[@SmallSeeds]

For about a year! I’ve had them last way longer but typically a year with this method.

[@lova368]

Hi, Is there any shortcoming if i let the herbs sit and not filter them?i thought they can get more thicker if the residue is there.... Do you have any experience with oil having less aroma after some weeks?is exposure to light and heat contribute to that?

[@SmallSeeds]

Letting the herbs sit in the oil may decrease the shelf life. Exposure to light and heat may cause the oil to lose some of its beneficial properties as well as shortening the shelf life. I can't say I've had many problems with aroma loss after a few weeks but the alcohol smell definitely lessens over time with these oils which is nice. The herbal aromas tend to stay consistent from my experience with some loss after a year or so. I guess it really depends on the herbs you use and how the finished product is stored. The best storage practices include storing in a cool dark place and using a colored glass bottle for your oil. Hope this helps!

[@TheReagDawg]

Does the final infusion smell like alcohol though ?

[@TanyaKnoth]

Rt

[@SmallSeeds]

It is noticeable at first but not overpowering. If you infuse herbs with a strong scent it’s much less noticeable. I’ve also found if you gently heat the infusion in a double boiler it evaporates most of the alcohol out.

[@cyanoxicrose]

Instead of using the blender, once the herb/alcohol mixture has sat for 24 hours, can I add oil, put the mixture in a yogurt maker and let it sit for a day or so, and then strain it?

[@SmallSeeds]

Yes! Absolutely. I’ve done it like that before but instead of the yogurt maker I gently heated it in a double boiler. Still haven’t tried a yogurt maker for infused oils but have heard great things!

[@cyanoxicrose]

@@SmallSeeds thanks for the response! Yes, I have heard great things as well. I have tried the double boiler method, and it works great, but because I want to make multiple oils for skin and hair, I though a yogurt make would be great to make multiple oils at the same time. Doing this with the double boiler would just take too many days (I'm a bit impatient). I will definitely look into this. Thanks again for the response.

[@kellyszymanowski5715]

"Herbatory," "apothecaria," LOL. Anyways, love the instructions. Easy to follow. And love the headbanging music 🤣 thanks for sharing your magic ✨

[@SmallSeeds]

Thank you! ❤

[@melissapacheco1774]

Can I use 190 proof Organic Sugarcane alcohol (ethyl alcohol) instead?

[@SmallSeeds]

Yes! In fact that sounds much better than the everclear I use 😅

[@JaneMills14]

What about the fact that oil and water don’t mix?

[@gigih7094]

Can powdered herbs be used?

[@SmallSeeds]

Absolutely! Happy crafting! 😊

[@gigih7094]

@@SmallSeeds Thank you!

[@kenycewescott1295]

Can this oil be applied to the skin?

[@SmallSeeds]

Yep! This is the main way I use oils created with this method.

[@kenycewescott1295]

@@SmallSeeds interesting! I was told doing it this way, applied to the skin could cause dryness overtime bc of the alcohol that's still lefted behind. This is great news

[@SmallSeeds]

@@kenycewescott1295 I have personally never had any problems with dryness because of the oil and addition of herbs that are usually great for skin. I can see why some people would say this though. Perhaps it could depend on skin type. I will look into it a bit more though so thanks for bringing this up! Hope all is well :)

[@nildayonson9130]

IS THIS READY TO DIFFUSE?

[@SmallSeeds]

I have personally only ever used essential oils in diffusers but if you already use herb infused oils like that this should work too!

[@naturallytoun]

can the infused oils from this method be used on the natural hair?

[@SmallSeeds]

So if you like to use coconut oil on your hair or have another favorite oil already and want to mix some of your favorite herbs in with this method I don't see why not. But to be honest I can't say for sure. There are small amounts of alcohol left in the finished product. I have only ever used it for skin care but have never had a problem with the alcohol being too strong or drying to the skin. I wish I could give you a better answer! I would just hate to say yes without truly knowing and then it not work out for you. Thank you for asking though! You got me thinking 🤔

[@ggl3825]

I’m not 100% but I’m thinking if skip the blending for 5 mins part and put it in a slow cooker instead that should make the alcohol evaporate

[@SmallSeeds]

@@ggl3825 You could absolutely do that! Just making sure not to overheat the oil. I have done it in a double boiler on low. It did help to evaporate the alcohol out however there is still somewhat of a noticeable scent/taste. However after some time it seems to be less and less. Adding aromatic herbs also helps to mask any bit of scent left behind. Happy Crafting!

[@Chillin.McVillian]

How long of a shelf life does this have?

[@SmallSeeds]

About 1 year! I’ve had them last longer than this but it’s best to use it within a year for maximum freshness and benefits.

[@Chillin.McVillian]

@@SmallSeeds oh wow! Thanks!

[@ggl3825]

What would the shelf life on this be please

[@SmallSeeds]

So it is hard to give an exact shelf life but oils made with other methods are said to usually last about a year. I have made oils using the folk infusion method that have lasted much longer than that. This oil is supposed to have a longer shelf life compared to others however nobody ever says how much longer. The first oil I made like this was about ten months ago and is still very nice! And all oils made after that with this method are still great as well. I would say they should definitely last at least a year if properly stored but probably longer than that to be honest.

[@alanday5255]

Build a small still for your alcohol.

[@SmallSeeds]

That would be very cool! Definitely something I should look into doing. Thanks!

[@lova368]

Is 70% alcohol good?

[@SmallSeeds]

That should be fine! The everclear I use is 75.5% alcohol and always makes a great, long lasting oil.

[@daisyfryberger7746]

❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍

[@foragedbyfairies]

Because of the alcohol, is this oil safe to add to your scalp and hair? Thank you so much. I’ve been wanting to try this method for a while!🙏🏼🤍