Re: Beginning Projects Gone Awry

[Guest guest]

> Hello everyone!

>

> As something to help get me started with experimenting I have been trying to

make oil infusions. I chose oil infusions over tinctures so that I may make

lotions from them eventually. I read the How-To in the database, but somehow I

still don't think I'm doing it right. The first one smelled rancid, so I tried

it again in a much smaller batch, it was then determined that that definitely

was not the way to get the scent from honeysuckle. The second batch I'm trying

with roses. Last night I put in the 4th round of petals, but before I did the

oil didn't smell rosy at all.

>

> I'm wondering if there is a step I'm missing? Or perhaps the oil isn't getting

warm enough? Am I supposed to chop or bruise the petals before adding them to

the oil? What are the most common errors when first trying to infuse?

>

> Thank you so much for your time,

>

> *newbie

>

Hi ,

I haven't much experience with oil infusions, I prefure alcoholic tinctures

because I think it's more fool proof. alcohol acts as a preserver, I don't have

to fear too much water being assimilated from the not completely dry plants i

put in to develope mold (although I may have read that this can happen in

alcohol too, but much less frequently)still I will try to help

Do you allow your plants to wilt before puting them in the oil? it is ideal to

pick them on a dry morning and hand them upside down, or spread them out in the

shade for a few hours/a day. with oil, I would actualy go about drying the plant

-which means hanging it for a few days, because when hung upside down as i have

described (most plants) will maintain thier smell very well, and all you'll be

losing is some of the water, which you don't want in your oil anyway.

maybe you should not be placing the infusion in the heat? maybe these are more

delicate flowers, and they will do better in a cool place?

with simply more refills of plant material,

maybe you are leaving the flowers in for too long?

I am now making a viburnum tincture, and the flowers need to be replaced (or at

least removed, if i have no refill) every day. otherwise they give off something

smelly into the tincture.

You should deffinitly experiment in small batches...

and a more clear step to step explination of what you do would also help maybe

to point out what might be the source of the problem

Good Night

Hemla

[Guest guest]

On Wed, May 2, 2012 at 3:53 AM, prettyweirdbird

wrote:

> As something to help get me started with experimenting I have been trying

> to make oil infusions. I chose oil infusions over tinctures so that I may

> make lotions from them eventually. I read the How-To in the database, but

> somehow I still don't think I'm doing it right. The first one smelled

> rancid, so I tried it again in a much smaller batch, it was then determined

> that that definitely was not the way to get the scent from honeysuckle. The

> second batch I'm trying with roses. Last night I put in the 4th round of

> petals, but before I did the oil didn't smell rosy at all.

>

What oil are you using? Some oils seem to extract better scents than

others. For example I've never managed to make a really good smelling oil

with fractionated coconut oil. I've tried rose, orris powder, and scented

geranium in it. It might be just the brand I was using, but it took on a

horrible, musky (in an unpleasant way) scent.

Best

Johanna

[Guest guest]

> Hi ,

> I haven't much experience with oil infusions, I prefure alcoholic tinctures

because I think it's more fool proof. alcohol acts as a preserver, I don't have

to fear too much water being assimilated from the not completely dry plants i

put in to develope mold (although I may have read that this can happen in

alcohol too, but much less frequently)still I will try to help

> Do you allow your plants to wilt before puting them in the oil? it is ideal to

pick them on a dry morning and hand them upside down, or spread them out in the

shade for a few hours/a day. with oil, I would actualy go about drying the plant

-which means hanging it for a few days, because when hung upside down as i have

described (most plants) will maintain thier smell very well, and all you'll be

losing is some of the water, which you don't want in your oil anyway.

> maybe you should not be placing the infusion in the heat? maybe these are more

delicate flowers, and they will do better in a cool place?

> with simply more refills of plant material,

> maybe you are leaving the flowers in for too long?

> I am now making a viburnum tincture, and the flowers need to be replaced (or

at least removed, if i have no refill) every day. otherwise they give off

something smelly into the tincture.

> You should deffinitly experiment in small batches...

> and a more clear step to step explination of what you do would also help maybe

to point out what might be the source of the problem

> Good Night

> Hemla

>

Hello again,

I lay the petals out to wilt for a few hours before I put them into the oil. I

have been using fractionated coconut oil for this since I read that it has the

best shelf life for things like this. I drain the oil every other day (at night

when it's had time to cool off) and I have been using roses from a local seller

here in town. I thought it would be an inexpensive experiment to try considering

a dozen of the roses is only $2.50.

Perhaps I should let them dry completely before trying again?