Basil essential oil is a common and popular essential oil, long used in applications ranging from aromatherapy to natural and complementary medicine.
Basil leaves are easy to find at the grocery store or to grow at home. Dried, sweet basil leaves can add a warm, aromatic, and fragrant scent and flavor to all manner of dishes and teas. Basil is especially popular to help flavor cooked vegetables and fish, and is a favorite ingredient in tomato paste, pizza and other sauces. You will also find it used in the manufacturing of vinegar, mustards, and some sausages.
But like many essential oils, basil essential oil costs much more than buying basil from the grocer. If you find yourself using a lot of basil essential oil, and you are looking for ways to save more money, then consider making basil essential oil at home using the below home guide.
Making Basil Essential Oil at Home
Essential oils are the extracted volatile oils from plants or other sources. Commercial manufacturers extract essential oils from plants using a variety of methods.
Many of these methods are hard to replicate at home. It’s possible to purchase a still to steam distill at home if you’re serious about making essential oils. This may end up being a worthwhile investment over the years. Just keep in mind that a simple still will require an investment of several hundred dollars. Advanced stills will cost many times this.
But for beginners looking to see if they like making them at home, simply follow this DIY method:
Ingredients and Supplies
- A crockpot with a lid
- Distilled water
- At least 3-4 cups fresh, chopped, organic basil
- Small colored (such as blue or amber) glass bottles with lids for storage
Directions
- Place all of the fresh, chopped basil in your crockpot.
- Pour in enough distilled water that it just covers the basil. The crockpot should not be more than ¾ full.
- Place the crockpot lid on upside down (this helps any condensation that gathers to drip back down into the crockpot).
- Turn your crockpot on high.
- Once the water is hot enough to simmer, turn the crockpot back down to low and let the mixture simmer for 3-4 hours.
- The basil leaves should have cooked down. Turn off the crockpot, and let it cool.
- Once cooled, place the crockpot in the refrigerator overnight.
- The next day, remove the crockpot from the refrigerator. You should notice that a thin film of oil has formed and hardened on the top.
- Carefully and quickly work to remove this hardened layer of basil essential oil. Work quickly as this oil will start to melt and become harder to remove.
- Transfer your oil layer into your glass bottle. Cap the bottles and label them. Store away from light and heat.
There you are! You have made basil essential oil at home. As mentioned previously, this is one method of making it. After experimenting with this method, you may want to look into stills.
However, when you don’t have the time or resources to make your own basil essential oil at home, that’s okay. You can find high quality, 100% basil essential oil from Ayush Herbs, NOW Foods, Oregon’s Wild Harvest, and Dr. Mercola.
Basil Oil – Ayush Herbs
Ayush Herbs uses the standardized extracts from Ocimum sanctumto to make its Basil Oil. Its formula is set in a base of sesame oil and has soothing and moisturizing properties. Holy basil has been in use for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine and has adaptogenic and antioxidant properties. Because this basil oil is already in a carrier of sesame oil, it is safe and suitable for direct application to skin.
Basil Essential Oil – NOW Foods
Basil Essential Oil from NOW Foods is an aromatherapy essential oil that contains 100% pure basil oil for aromatherapy use. Use this steam-distilled basil essential oil when you’re looking for an essential oil that may energize, uplift, and purify naturally.
Holy Basil – Oregon’s Wild Harvest
If you prefer essential oil in capsule form, then consider Holy Basil from Oregon’s Wild Harvest. Holy Basil from Oregon’s Wild Harvest is an herbal supplement that seeks to support the normal aging process and a healthy immune system. Each Holy Basil capsule is made with 800 milligrams of pure and organic holy basil leaf.
Tulsi Holy Basil Organic Essential Oil – Dr. Mercola
Tulsi Holy Basil Organic Essential Oil from Dr. Mercola contains nothing but organic Tulsi Holy Basil Leaf Oil, which is steam-distilled from fresh holy basil leaves. This essential oil is recommended for aromatherapy use, particularly for its warming, clarifying, and uplifting effects, but it is suitable for other uses when diluted with a carrier oil such as jojoba, sunflower, or argan oil prior to use.
Do you make your own basil essential oils at home? What is your preferred method?
