X
This article was co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 84% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 88,418 times.
Essential oils and infused oils are both aromatic oils created using the scents of various plants. Essential oils are extracted, making these oils more potent, concentrated, and expensive. Infused oils are created when plant matter is soaked (or infused) within an inexpensive oil base. Both oils can be used for health, aromatherapy, and cooking.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Noticing Differences Between Essential Oils and Infused Oils
-
1Notice differences in cost. Infused oils tend to be a lot cheaper than essential oils because they don't require the same extraction processes. (They don't require a hard-to-extract oil to make up the bulk of the product.) If the oil you are buying seems very cheap, it is probably infused rather than essential oil.
- Essential oils will typically cost $8-15 for 0.5 ounces (15 ml).
- Infused oils will typically cost $4-15 per ounce (30 ml).
-
2Observe differences in concentration. Essential oils are highly concentrated, while infused oils are much more mild. Essential oils are so powerful that they should almost never be applied directly to the skin, but rather diluted in a carrier oil. Infused oils, on the other hand, are gentle enough to be used on bare skin.[1]Advertisement
-
3Recognize differences in packaging. Essential oils must always be packaged in dark glass bottles, as they can be easily damaged by bright sunlight.[2] Infused oils are not damaged in the same way, and as such, may be packaged in either dark or light containers.[3]
- Essential oils are generally packaged in 0.5 ounce (15 ml) dark glass bottles. (An extremely popular oil, such as lavender oil will sometimes be available in 1 ounce bottles).
- Infused oils are generally packaged in 1 ounce (30 ml) bottle or larger. These bottles may be either dark or clear glass.
-
4Recognize popular essential oils and infused oils. If you are familiar with popular types of both essential and infused oils, you will be able to identify each more easily. Be aware that some plants can be used to create either type of oil.
- Popular essential oils include: lavender, oregano, patchouli, peppermint, and lemon.[4]
- Popular infused oils include: calendula, st. johns wort, mullein, and comfrey.
-
5Use essential oils and infused oils in combination. You may choose to use essential oils and infused oils in combination. If you want to create a massage oil for example, you may begin with lavender infused in jojoba oil (for stress relief). Later you may choose to add a few drops of tea tree oil (for antiseptic purposes), citrus (for boosting mood), or oregano (for immune function). In this way, the already infused oil serves as your carrier oil, carrying with it many additional health benefits.[5]
Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Recognizing Essential Oils
-
1Learn about essential oils. Essential oils are aromatic compounds housed within plants. Essential oils may be located in bark, seeds, flowers, stems, roots, and other parts of plants. These oils are extracted using a variety of methods and can be used for medicinal, beauty, or culinary purposes.[6]
- Common essential oils include tea tree oil, lavender, peppermint, patchouli, and lemon.
-
2Study the properties of various essential oils. Essential oils are very useful for a wide variety of health, beauty, and mood-boosting applications. In order to understand essential oils, it is important to get a sense of some uses of different essential oils.[7]
- Essential lavender oil has excellent calming properties. [8]
- Essential geranium oil is a good oil for balancing emotions.
- Essential rosemary oil is great for inhaling when you have a cough or cold.
- Essential lemon or grapefruit oils are ideal as air fresheners, leaving a fresh aroma in a room.
-
3Diffuse essential oils. The most popular way to utilize essential oils is called “diffusing.” This is when you use an appliance called an “essential oil diffuser” to release the essence of various essential oils into the air. Similar to a humidifier, the diffuser heats up the oil and turns it into vapor. This creates a wonderful scent and depending on your choice of oil, can have additional health benefits.[9]
- Diffusers run from $20-100 and can be purchased online or at most health food stores.
- You can also heat water on your stove with a few drops of essential oil to achieve a similar effect.
-
4Use essential oils topically. Another prominent use of essential oils involves topical application. This is when you apply 1-2 drops of oil to an area of your body for medicinal purposes, or as perfume. As essential oils are highly concentrated and very strong, it is recommended that you use a “carrier oil,” like coconut oil or avocado oil. Mix one drop of essential oil with three drops of carrier oil and apply to your skin.[10]
- Try applying essential oils to your neck, the bottoms of your feet, or the backs of your wrists.
- Patchouli, lavender, and cedarwood oils are commonly used topically as a perfume.
-
5Consume essential oils. Essential oils can have medicinal benefits when taken orally. You can use very small amounts of essential oils to replace herbs and spices in cooking, take essential oils as supplements in a veggie capsule (or added to applesauce), or add small drops to smoothies, tea, or other drinks.[11]
- Peppermint oil can be used to give smoothies or baked good a minty taste, while also being extremely soothing to your tummy.
- Oregano oil can be used in place of dried oregano, while simultaneously boosting your immune function.
Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Understanding Infused Oils
-
1Learn about infused oils. An infused oil (also known as a macerated oil) is a basic vegetable oil (such as, sweet almond oil, olive oil, grape seed oil) that has been infused with the flavor of a different plant. This is usually done by steeping leaves, flowers, stems, roots, or other parts of a plant, either with heat or for a long period of time.[12]
- Common infused oils include arnica, comfrey, mullein, and St. Johns Wort.
-
2Study the properties of different infused oils. The most popular types of infused oils include Calendula oil (made from marigold flowers) and St. Johns Wort. Calendula is known for its soothing properties and is used in a variety of beauty products. St. Johns Wort infused oil can be used to treat an array of ailments, including sunburn, nerve pain, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids.[13]
- Oil infusions are often made from a mix of herbs and flowers.
-
3Make your own infused oils. One benefit of infused oils is that, unlike essential oils, they can be created at home. Doing so is easy. All you need is a “carrier oil” (olive oil, coconut oil, or jojoba oil are all good choices), dried herbs, spices, or flowers, and a clean, transparent, airtight container (ideally glass). Simply chop your plant matter as finely as possible. Then place your carrier oil and plant mater in your airtight jar, and place the jar in a sunny location for 2-3 weeks.[14]
- Adding a few drops of either Vitamin E oil or Wheat Germ oil to your infusion can help prevent any bacteria from growing in your oil.
- You can speed up the process by infusing your oil in a slow cooker on low heat overnight.
-
4Understand hydrosols. Hydrosols are not technically “oil infusions,” but hydrosols, essential oils, and infused oils are often grouped together, and all can be used for aromatherapy. Hydrosols are substances like rose water or lavender water. They are created as a byproduct of distillation. These fragrances can be used as perfumes, as air fresheners, in cooking (as with orange essence), or in cosmetics.[15]
-
5Create infused oils for cooking. One popular way to use infused oils is for cooking. These oils can be purchased at specialty grocery stores or created at home. Using olive, grapeseed, or avocado oil as your base, you can add a variety of herbs, spices, citrus, and/or nuts to create any flavor you desire. Infused cooking oils also make excellent gifts.[16]
- Select your flavoring (whole or ground spices are fine). You will need approximately 2 Tbs. of flavorings for every 1 cup of oil.
- Heat your oil and flavorings in a saucepan over medium heat for about 5 minutes (until the liquid is bubbling).
- Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Strain your oil using cheesecloth or a fine sieve.
- Bottle your oil in a glass, airtight container.
- Store your infused oil in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
-
QuestionCan I consume oregano oil?
Zora Degrandpre, NDDr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
Natural Health DoctorYou can ingest oregano oil in very small amounts and diluted in a carrier oil that is also safe to ingest. Use 1-2 drops of oregano oil in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, coconut oil or sunflower oil. Don't use oregano oil if you are pregnant or may be pregnant. If you are taking any prescription medication, talk to your doctor and/or pharmacist before using oregano oil. -
QuestionIs tea tree oil the same as tea tree essential oil?Zora Degrandpre, NDDr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
Natural Health DoctorIn general, yes, it is the same thing. Read the label carefully: somewhere on the label, it should say "essential oil."
Advertisement
References
- ↑ http://doterra.com/US/en/using-essential-oils
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25438994/
- ↑ https://theherbalacademy.com/how-to-choose-high-quality-essential-oils/
- ↑ https://aromatalking.com/most-popular-essential-oils/
- ↑ http://www.quinessence.com/blog/using-infused-oils-aromatherapy
- ↑ http://doterra.com/US/en/using-essential-oils
- ↑ http://www.aromaweb.com/essentialoils/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612440/
- ↑ http://doterra.com/US/en/using-essential-oils
- ↑ http://doterra.com/US/en/using-essential-oils
- ↑ http://doterra.com/US/en/using-essential-oils
- ↑ http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/whatinfu.asp
- ↑ http://www.quinessence.com/blog/using-infused-oils-aromatherapy
- ↑ https://formulabotanica.com/how-to-make-macerated-oils/
- ↑ https://www.wikihow.com/Buy-Essential-Oils
- ↑ http://www.epicurious.com/archive/holidays/hanukkah/flavored-oils
About This Article
Advertisement
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
Read More...