Herbal Infused Oil Calculator

Herb-to-oil ratios control the concentration of medicinal compounds in your finished oil. A 1:8 (mild) preparation is appropriate for daily facial skincare or when working with sensitive skin — the lower concentration reduces risk of irritation. A 1:2 (extra strong) preparation concentrates the plant's active compounds for targeted therapeutic use on small areas.

The ratio also affects the colour and aroma of your finished oil. A strong calendula oil will be a rich, deep amber-gold; a mild preparation will be a paler yellow. Both are valid — the right ratio depends on your intended use, not one being "better" than the other.

Fresh herbs contain significant moisture — up to 80–90% of their weight in water. When fresh plant material is submerged in oil, that water creates an environment where bacteria and mold can grow, dramatically reducing shelf life and potentially spoiling the oil before it's even finished.

Dried herbs have had most moisture removed, making them far safer for oil infusion. If you want to use fresh herbs, wilt them first — lay them out in a single layer for 24–48 hours until they feel papery and dry to the touch. This removes most of the surface moisture before they go into the oil.

• Fresh herb ratio adjustment: use twice the quantity of fresh vs dried (freshweight:oil = 1:3 standard)
• St John's Wort is one exception herbalists often infuse fresh for its distinct hypericin content

Delicate flowers like lavender, chamomile, and calendula contain volatile aromatic compounds — terpenes, esters, and alcohols — that begin to evaporate and degrade at relatively low temperatures. These are often the same compounds responsible for the herb's medicinal and sensory properties.

Lavender's linalool and linalyl acetate, for example, start to degrade meaningfully above 150–160°F. Extracting at 95–110°F preserves a broader, more complete spectrum of the plant's compounds. You'll notice the difference: a low-temperature lavender oil has a fuller, more complex fragrance than one made at high heat.

Roots and resins have the opposite profile — their active compounds are deeply bound in tough cell walls and require sustained heat (120–160°F) and longer extraction times to fully release.

Solar infusion — placing a sealed jar of herb and oil in a sunny window or outside for 4–6 weeks — is the most traditional method and remains beloved by many experienced herbalists for good reason.

The gentle, fluctuating warmth (typically 80–120°F in a sunny window) is particularly well suited to delicate flowering herbs. Some herbalists believe the daily light-dark cycle supports a different quality of extraction than constant artificial heat.

• Ideal for: calendula, St John's Wort, lavender, chamomile, rose petals
• Shake the jar gently daily to keep the herb in contact with fresh oil
• Strain after 4–6 weeks for a beautifully rich, slowly extracted oil
• Use a dark glass jar to protect from UV degradation of the oil

The Infuzium herbal infuser uses a microprocessor-controlled heating and agitation system to dramatically speed the extraction process. A preparation that takes 4–6 weeks in a solar jar takes 2–8 hours in the Infuzium, depending on the herb's plant part.

• Precision temperature control — set exact temperatures for each herb type, preventing the overheating that destroys delicate compounds
• Continuous agitation — the blade keeps herb in constant contact with fresh oil, improving extraction efficiency
• Built-in filtration — the mesh filter strains as you pour, eliminating a separate straining step
• Self-cleaning cycle — essential when working with thick, resinous oils

The Infuzium method is ideal for busy homesteaders who want consistent, high-quality results without managing weeks of slow infusion. This calculator includes specific Infuzium settings for every herb and plant part type.

Carrier oils are the base your herb's fat-soluble compounds extract into — and they contribute their own properties to the finished product. Choosing the right carrier affects texture, absorption rate, shelf life, and the final oil's compatibility with skin type.

• Olive oil: rich, long shelf life, traditional, excellent for salves with beeswax, slightly heavier feel
• Jojoba: technically a liquid wax, doesn't go rancid, ideal for facial oils, excellent for all skin types
• Sunflower: light, affordable, good general-use carrier, moderate shelf life
• Sweet almond: light-medium weight, excellent for massage, mild scent, good skin absorption
• Fractionated coconut: odorless, very light, longest shelf life, excellent for serums and dry oils
• Avocado: richest carrier, deeply nourishing, ideal for dry or mature skin, heavier texture