Clean Beauty Tips & Techniques How to Make Lavender Essential Oil in 3 Easy Steps By Emily Rhode Emily Rhode Writer Dickinson College Arcadia University Emily Rhode is a science writer, communicator, and educator with over 20 years of experience working with students, scientists, and government experts to help make science more accessible and engaging. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and an M.Ed. in Secondary Science Education. Learn about our editorial process Updated October 11, 2021 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Clean Beauty Products Tips & Techniques Overview Working Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour Total Time: 1 minute - 1 hour, 30 minutes Yield: 1.5-2 cups Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $10-20 Adding a little bit of lavender essential oil to your hair and skincare regimen is an easy way to put the power of natural plant compounds to work while avoiding harsh chemicals. And you can feel good about the environmental sustainability of lavender essential oil, as the plant does not rely on heavy amounts of fertilizers and pesticides. The benefits of lavender essential oil include its antimicrobial properties. Diluting lavender essential oil with a carrier oil and massaging it into hair may help to prevent scalp issues like dandruff. Lab studies have also shown that lavender essential oil may stimulate hair growth. The oils found in lavender may also help reduce inflammation and irritation on the skin. The light purple flower comes from a plant that belongs to the mint family. The most commonly grown species is Lavandula angustifolia, or English lavender, but there are many varieties that are grown around the world. Using it to make your own essential oil is super easy if you follow our basic recipe that just requires dried flowers and a carrier oil. Olive oil contains a variety of vitamins such as A, D, E, and K as well as fatty acids. It does tend to have a strong scent, so it might not be the best option if you’re looking to really have the lavender scent shine through. Though if your intention is to use the lavender oil in your cooking instead of beauty applications, olive oil is a wonderful option. Which Carrier Oil Should You Use? Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Unrefined coconut oil is not processed with chemicals. It has lauric acid which exhibits antibacterial and antimicrobial properties and beneficial fatty acids. Different carrier oils have different effects on the skin, depending on skin type and the comedogenic properties of the oil. It may be necessary to try out a few types of oil before you find one that works best for your skin and hair. Some oils can irritate the skin and scalp and should be avoided if you have sensitive skin. There are a number of carrier oils that you can use to make your lavender oil. The type of oil you choose will depend on what benefits you are looking to get and what type of skin or hair you have. Cold-pressed oils with no additives or preservatives are the best kind to use for beauty applications. Sweet almond oil is lightweight and a great option for skin treatments. It has lots of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. Jojoba oil is rich in vitamins B, C, and E and can help moisturize both hair and skin. It is not pore-clogging and absorbs easily. It's a good idea to look at the benefits and potential drawbacks of each carrier oil before buying one. Most can be purchased at a grocery store or specialty foods store. What You'll Need Tools/Supplies Glass pint jar with lid Nut milk bag or cheesecloth Medium bowl Medium saucepan Measuring cups Ingredients 1 cup carrier oil (any type) 2 cups dried lavender buds or dried flowers (organic is preferable) Instructions Heat Your Carrier Oil Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Use a measuring cup to add your chosen carrier oil to the saucepan and place the saucepan on a burner. Heat the carrier oil on medium until it begins to bubble slightly. Be careful not to introduce moisture into the oil, as the oil may splatter. Add the Lavender Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Add the dried lavender to the saucepan of carrier oil and stir. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes (you may need to turn down the heat to low). Cool mixture to room temperature. Strain Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Over a medium bowl, pour cooled mixture into a nut bag or cheesecloth to strain out the lavender flowers. You may need to strain twice if you want the oil to have fewer particles. Store your oil in the glass pint jar in a cool, dark place. Keep in Mind Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Always do a patch test to determine if an oil is right for you to use before applying a large amount of it to your skin. You can perform a patch test by applying a small amount of the oil in a discreet place like the inside of your wrist. Cover the oil and let it sit for 24 hours before checking for irritation. If any redness or sensitivity occurs, avoid using that oil as a carrier for your products. Frequently Asked Questions Why make your own essential oils? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the essential oil market, so store-bought versions can really contain anything—synthetic fragrance, chemical preservatives, etc. When you make it at home, you know it contains only two natural ingredients. What's the difference between lavender oil and lavender essential oil? Lavender oil is simply lavender-scented oil that doesn't even necessarily come from the plant like lavender essential oil does. How long does DIY essential oil keep? How long your lavender essential oil will last depends on the carrier oil and the conditions in which it's stored. Most carrier oils keep for a couple years in air-tight containers kept in cool, dry environments. View Article Sources "Lavender Production, Markets, and Agritourism." ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture. Puskarova, Andrea, et al. "The Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Six Essential Oils and Their Cyto/Genotoxicity to Human HEL 12469 Cells." Scientific Reports, vol. 7, 2017, pp. 8211., doi:10.1038/s41598-017-08673-9 Lee, Boo Hyeong, et al. "Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Lavender Oil in C57BL/6 Mice." Toxicological Research, vol. 32, 2016, pp. 103-108., doi:10.5487/TR.2016.32.2.103 Da Silva, Gabriela L., et al. "Antioxidant, Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Lavender Essential Oil." Anais De Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, vol. 87, no. 2, 2015, pp. 1397-1408., doi:10.1590/0001-3765201520150056 View Article Sources "Lavender Production, Markets, and Agritourism." ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture. Puskarova, Andrea, et al. "The Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Six Essential Oils and Their Cyto/Genotoxicity to Human HEL 12469 Cells." Scientific Reports, vol. 7, 2017, pp. 8211., doi:10.1038/s41598-017-08673-9 Lee, Boo Hyeong, et al. "Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Lavender Oil in C57BL/6 Mice." Toxicological Research, vol. 32, 2016, pp. 103-108., doi:10.5487/TR.2016.32.2.103 Da Silva, Gabriela L., et al. "Antioxidant, Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Lavender Essential Oil." Anais De Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, vol. 87, no. 2, 2015, pp. 1397-1408., doi:10.1590/0001-3765201520150056