Macerated Oils

Macerated oils are produced when a dried herb or plant is macerated, or steeped into a base oil. They’re also called infused oils.

Simply take your preferred carrier oil and your dried, therapeutic herbs or plants, then mix them together in an airtight container. Next, sit them somewhere warm for a few weeks, or in a Bain Marie for an hour. Stir and replace the herbs or plants regularly to increase potency. Once macerated, strain out the remnants and use within a year.

You can macerate any herb or flower you like; the key is to make sure your additions are dry before adding to the oil. This helps increase their potency and makes the absorption of the therapeutic benefits easier as there’s less moisture to contaminate the mix.

Some popular macerated oils are:

• Calendula oil: good for healing and inflammation.
• Carrot: good for itchy skin
• St. John’s Wort: good for bruising and healing.

Both Sunflower oil and Olive oils are good for macerated oils as they have a minimal scent and have a good consistency for skincare.