Summer has always been my favorite season. I just love the warmth of the sun, the gardens that comealive, the meadows that fill with wild flowers, birds, and butterflies, and the farmers markets that offerthe best of the summer growing season.
I enjoy tending my herb gardens as well as the perennial and cut flower gardens.My favorite garden is the one in the front of my house where I have lots of lavender and other beautifulplants.
I spend ten minutes sitting near this garden each morning admiring the lavender and the other plantsbefore heading off to anywhere. Their sweet, heavenly smells and beautiful colors bring a pleasantgreeting to my day. There’s usually always a hummingbird that whisks by for a quick hello and to enjoy abreakfast of sweet nectar.
Making Plant Infused Oils
During the summer months, I find myself busy picking flowers and herbs to make tinctures and infused plant oils.I try to mix things up each year and pick different plants for my oils and tinctures. This gives me anopportunity to experiment with different plant infused oils and to keep a good sampling of tincturesin my herbal medicine cabinet.
There is one exception to this however, and that is my favorite infusedoil that I make year after year, which is a lavender infused oil I call “Heaven in a Bottle” because thesmell is so, well, heavenly. It smells just like the plant itself and surprisingly much like the essentialoil.
Once the infused oil is ready I use it by itself after a refreshing summer shower when I come home fromthe beach or I use it as a base for other beautiful skin care products such as body scrubs, salves, and lipbalms. Lavender infused oil is also great to use on bug bites, sunburnt skin, and other skin rashes, so Ilove having it around the house in summertime.
Since lavender is a sociable plant, it lends itself to blending nicely with essential oils, such as lemon essential oil for a nice uplifting après sun and beach oil for your skin.Rose essential oil is another good choice for a beautiful and relaxing treat.The sweet and delicate essence of rose makes it a nice choice for moisturizing the skin and for itsrelaxing, mood enhancing qualities. If you have trouble sleeping, try adding rose essential oil to thelavender infused oil before you head off to bed.
There’s nothing like creating a beautiful, “Heaven in a Bottle” plant infused oil for pampering yourself! If it isn’t the right time of year for fresh lavender, try it with dried lavender flowers.
Lavender-Infused Oil (Heaven in a Bottle)
Ingredients
Base oil such as extra virgin olive oil, apricot kernel oil, or sweet almond oil
Fresh lavender flowers just about to open
Directions
- Pick lavender flowers just before they’re about to open and place them in a sterile, dry, clean jar.
- Cover the flowers entirely with the base oil of your choice.
- Make sure no flowers or stems are sticking out of the oil as this may lead to mold.
- Cover and leave in a sunny window for up to two weeks (use a dark colored bottle or place in a paper bag).
- Decant by placing some cheesecloth into a funnel and pouring the infused oil into either a glassmeasuring cup or directly into a glass bottle, either amber, blue, or clear. I usually use a dropper as thecover because there’s less spilling as you use it.
Lavender Heavenly Body Sugar Scrub
I have made this body scrub to give as gifts with my lavender tincture along with it. The presentation of the scrub in a jar with the scallop shell is a huge hit and is followed by many requests for more!
Ingredients
1 cup of turbinado sugar
6 tablespoons of your Heaven in a Bottle or other plant infused oil
10 drops of lemon essential oil or other essential oil of your choice, or combine a few (optional).
Directions
- Mix together ingredients in a bowl then transfer to a nice jar.
- Add a bit more oil if needed.
- For a scoop, I use a nice scallop shell or another pretty shell from the beach.
- When you’re ready to use your scrub, scoop some onto the scallop shell and bring this into the showerwith you. This prevents extra water from getting into your scrub jar and extra oil spilling onto theshower floor.
What will your “Heaven in a Bottle” be? Have a look in your yard and allow yourself to be drawn to aflower and enjoy the experience!
This article was written by Donna Onacki, who has been working with herbs for most of her life and is a Clinical Herbal Apprentice and Certified in Aromatherapy. She has taught many workshops on aromatherapy and enjoys sharing what she knows and has learned with others. Donna is the treasurer for theHerbal Community of Central Massachusettsand is a Financial Recovery Counselor and Coach atPot of Gold.
