I’m Kayla. I love the smell of lavender. It makes my tiny kitchen feel like a calm garden. So I tried three ways to make lavender oil at home. I used real tools. I messed up a few times. I learned a lot. You know what? It was fun.
If you want the photo-heavy, step-by-step version of this adventure, I laid everything out in this companion post.
Quick note before we start: when I say “lavender oil,” I mean two things. One is infused oil (it’s just lavender soaked in a carrier oil). The other is true essential oil (that’s the strong stuff from steam). Both are great, but they’re very different.
For a comprehensive guide on making lavender oil at home, including both infused and essential oil methods, you can refer to this resource.
First Try, Big Oops
My first batch went bad. I used fresh flowers from my yard. They were still a little wet. The oil turned cloudy, then funky. I had to toss it. I felt silly. But now I dry the blooms first. Problem solved.
Method 1: The Easy Jar Infusion (My Sunday Ritual)
This is the “set it and forget it” way. No fancy gear. It smells soft and warm. It’s great for body oil and bath oil.
What I used:
- Ball wide-mouth quart jar
- Dried lavender buds (I used English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia)
- Sweet almond oil (NOW Solutions) and jojoba oil (Desert Essence)
- Cheesecloth and a small funnel
- A sticky label and a Sharpie
To level-up the presentation, I printed charming waterproof labels using CoverMaker, and suddenly my pantry looked like a boutique apothecary.
How I do it:
- I dry the lavender first. I use my dehydrator at low heat overnight, or I hang it for a week. It should feel papery.
- I fill the jar about halfway with dried buds.
- I pour in oil to cover the buds by at least an inch. I like jojoba for face stuff. I use sweet almond oil for body oil. Grape seed is nice too.
- I cap it, shake it, and set it on a shelf out of direct sun. I flip the jar once a day.
- I wait 2 to 3 weeks. Then I strain through cheesecloth. I press the buds to get the last drops.
- I pour it into amber bottles and label the date.
Real results:
- From 8 oz of sweet almond oil, I got about 7 oz back after straining. The flowers soak up a little.
- The scent was gentle, like a clean linen drawer. My neighbor said my hallway smelled like a spa. I’ll take that.
- Jojoba felt lighter on my skin, but the scent held a bit better with sweet almond.
Good stuff:
- Cheap. No stress. Easy to repeat.
- Nice golden color. No burnt smell.
Not so great:
- It won’t smell super strong. It’s calm. Think “hug,” not “blast.”
Little tip:
- Want a stronger scent? I do a second round. I take the strained oil and pour it over a fresh half-jar of dry buds. I wait one more week. That bumped the scent up a lot for me.
For detailed instructions on creating lavender-infused oil, this article provides step-by-step guidance: link.
Method 2: The Slow Cooker Warm Infusion (Fast-ish and Cozy)
I used my small Crock-Pot (2-quart) on the “Warm” setting. I also used a ThermoPro kitchen thermometer because my slow cooker runs hot.
What I did:
- I set a folded towel in the bottom of the slow cooker. Jar goes on top.
- I filled a jar halfway with dried buds. I covered with oil by an inch.
- I left the jar lid loose, not tight.
- I poured warm water around the jar in the cooker, about halfway up.
- I kept the water temp around 120–140°F for 4 to 6 hours. I used the thermometer and nudged the lid as needed.
- Important: I put a clean tea towel under the slow cooker lid to catch drips. Water in your oil is not a friend.
- I cooled, strained, and bottled.
Real results:
- Time saver. I did it on a rainy afternoon.
- Scent was a touch lighter than the jar method, but still very nice.
- No mold, no cloudiness. Clean finish.
Good stuff:
- Quicker than waiting weeks.
- Great if you need gifts by the weekend. I used it for Mother’s Day with cute labels.
Not so great:
- If the cooker gets too hot, the oil can smell a bit “cooked.” Keep it low and steady.
Method 3: True Essential Oil by Steam (The Serious Route)
I wanted that tiny bottle of strong lavender. So I used a small copper alembic still (2-liter) from Copper Pro. It’s pretty, but heavy, and it takes space. I ran it on a portable gas burner near a window. I used a bucket with ice for the condenser. Please be safe if you try this. Hot metal and steam are no joke.
My setup:
- 200 grams of dried buds (I used ‘Grosso’ for a bold, classic scent)
- Distilled water in the pot
- Ice for the condenser
- A glass separator to collect the oil and hydrosol
What happened:
- It took about 90 minutes from warm-up to finish.
- I got about 1.5 to 2.5 ml of essential oil from 200 g of buds. That’s barely half a teaspoon. Tiny but mighty.
- I also got around 900 ml of lavender hydrosol. I use it as a room spray and in linen water.
For anyone curious about extracting other botanicals, I borrowed a few tricks from my broader essential-oil experiments outlined in this deep dive.
Good stuff:
- The scent is bright and sharp. A little goes a long way.
- The hydrosol is a sweet bonus.
Not so great:
- The yield is small. The gear isn’t cheap. Cleanup took me 30 minutes.
- It’s not a kid-around project. I plan my time and keep pets out.
Was it worth it? For me, yes—once in a while. That little bottle feels special.
My Favorite Gear (That Actually Helped)
- Ball wide-mouth quart jars: easy to fill and clean.
- NOW Solutions Sweet Almond Oil: soft feel, fair price.
- Desert Essence Jojoba Oil: longer shelf life, light on the skin.
- ThermoPro digital thermometer: keeps me from overheating the oil.
- Cheesecloth and a fine mesh strainer: no bits left behind.
- Amber glass dropper bottles, 2 oz: the oil lasts longer in dark glass.
Optional but nice:
- LEVO II infuser: I ran a 3-hour cycle at low heat with dried buds. Clean, tidy, and no babysitting. Small batches only, though.
Two Simple Recipes I Actually Use
Gentle Body Oil (infused):
- Dried lavender buds: fill a jar halfway
- Sweet almond oil: pour to cover by 1 inch
- Infuse 2 to 3 weeks (or slow cooker for 4 to 6 hours at low heat)
- Strain and bottle
- I add 1 teaspoon vitamin E per 8 oz to help it last
Linen Spray (with hydrosol):
- Lavender hydrosol: 1 cup
- Vodka: 1 teaspoon (helps it keep)
- Pour into a spray bottle
- Shake before use; spray on sheets or curtains
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Want another herbal DIY? I tested a wildly popular hair-care trend and shared the full results in my rosemary water guide.
Safety Notes I Follow
- I patch test every new oil on my wrist.
- I keep essential oil very low if it touches skin. I stay at 1% to 2% max in a carrier.
- I store oils in a cool, dark spot. I label the date. If it smells off, I toss it.
- I keep oils away from pets and babies.