How to Make Lavender Oil

Two methods for making lavender oil at home

The cold infusion method and the warm infusion method both produce skin-safe lavender infused oil using dried lavender flowers and a carrier oil. Cold infusion takes 4–6 weeks but requires no heat. The warm method takes 2–4 hours using a double boiler or slow cooker.

Neither method produces true essential oil. Essential oil requires steam distillation equipment and approximately 10–15 pounds of fresh lavender flowers to yield a single fluid ounce of oil—not practical for most home gardeners. Infused oil is a different product: the aromatic compounds of lavender dissolve into a carrier oil, producing a gentler, skin-ready product without the high concentration of a distilled essential oil.

Both methods require the same starting materials, but differ in time and equipment. Choosing between them comes down to how much time you want to spend versus how quickly you need the oil.

What you need to get started

The only required materials are dried lavender flowers and a carrier oil. Everything else—jars, cheesecloth, and storage bottles—is available in US grocery or craft stores for under $20 total.

Lavender flowers: Use dried flowers stripped from the stems. If you grow lavender in your garden, harvest when flower spikes are 50–75% open—this is when volatile oil content is highest. If buying dried lavender, look for culinary-grade or herb-quality dried lavender from US sources (many US lavender farms sell direct online). Avoid potpourri lavender, which may be dyed or treated with fragrance oil.

Carrier oil options:

Other materials:

• Wide-mouth glass jar (pint or quart)
• Fine cheesecloth or a coffee filter for straining
• Dark glass bottle with a tight lid for storage (amber or cobalt blue 2–4 oz bottles; available online for $1–2 each)
• Labels and marker for dating

Drying lavender correctly before infusing

This step is the most important and the most skipped. Oil infusion with undried lavender introduces water into the oil, which creates conditions for mold growth that will ruin the oil within days to weeks.

To dry lavender before infusing:

1. Harvest stems when flower spikes are 50–75% open (more open flowers = more fragrance).
2. Tie stems in small bundles of 5–10 stems with a rubber band.
3. Hang upside down in a warm, dry location with good airflow—a garage, pantry, or shed works well. Avoid direct sunlight, which fades the color and degrades aromatic compounds.
4. Dry for 2–4 weeks. The flowers are fully dry when they feel crisp and papery and snap off the stem cleanly.
5. Strip the dried flowers from the stems. One stem yields approximately 1 tablespoon of dried flowers.

Testing for dryness: Place a pinch of flowers between your thumb and forefinger and press firmly. Fully dried flowers will crumble slightly and produce no moisture when pressed. If you feel any stickiness or see any dampness, dry longer.

Our how to dry herbs guide covers drying technique for all culinary and aromatic herbs, including lavender, with zone-specific timing recommendations.

Cold infusion method (4–6 weeks)

Cold infusion is the simplest method: dried lavender flowers and carrier oil in a sealed jar, left in a cool, dark place for 4–6 weeks until the oil takes on the lavender color and scent.

Step-by-step:

1. Fill a clean, dry pint jar halfway with dried lavender flowers (approximately 1 cup loosely packed).
2. Pour carrier oil over the flowers until the jar is full, leaving about 1 inch of headspace. Make sure all flowers are submerged—floating flowers are exposed to air and may mold.
3. Seal the jar and label it with the date and the carrier oil used.
4. Place in a cool, dark location (a cabinet away from the stove, or a shelf in a basement). Do not refrigerate—the cold slows the infusion.
5. Gently shake or stir the jar every 2–3 days.
6. After 4 weeks, check the oil. It should be pale golden-green and smell noticeably of lavender. If it still smells mostly of the carrier oil, let it infuse another 1–2 weeks.
7. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bowl. Squeeze the flowers in the cheesecloth to extract the remaining oil.
8. Pour strained oil into dark glass bottles and seal. Label with the date.

Starting ratio: 1 cup dried lavender flowers to 1 cup carrier oil. For a stronger infusion, add more flowers; for a lighter scent, use fewer.

Warm infusion method (2–4 hours)

The warm method uses gentle heat to speed up the transfer of aromatic compounds from lavender to oil. Keep temperature below 120°F—higher temperatures degrade aromatic compounds and can cause the carrier oil to oxidize faster.

Two equipment options:

Double boiler method:

1. Place dried lavender flowers and carrier oil in the top pot of a double boiler at a 1:1 ratio.
2. Add water to the bottom pot; bring to a very low simmer.
3. Keep the oil temperature at 100–110°F. A kitchen thermometer is the only reliable way to verify this—the oil should be warm but never simmering or smoking.
4. Maintain temperature for 2–4 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. Cool completely, then strain and bottle as described in the cold method.

Slow cooker method:

1. Place lavender and oil in a heat-safe glass jar.
2. Place the jar inside the slow cooker with water surrounding it to the level of the oil.
3. Set the slow cooker to “warm” or “low” (most slow cooker warm settings hover around 145–165°F—monitor with a thermometer and adjust).
4. Infuse for 2–4 hours.
5. Cool, strain, and bottle.

Signs of overheating: If the oil begins to smell toasted, cooked, or nutty rather than floral, it has gotten too hot. Remove from heat immediately—the oil can still be used but the lavender scent will be weaker.

Storing homemade lavender oil

Store finished lavender oil in sealed dark glass bottles in a cool, dark location. Heat and light are the two primary causes of rancidity in carrier oils, and both degrade the lavender fragrance along with the oil.

Storage guidelines:

• Use amber or cobalt blue glass bottles. Clear glass allows light in and shortens shelf life.
• Store away from the stove, windowsills, and heating vents.
• A dedicated cabinet shelf or a cool basement is ideal.
• Label every bottle with the carrier oil used and the date made.
• Check oil periodically for rancidity: rancid oil smells sharp, sour, or crayon-like. If you detect this, discard and make a fresh batch.

Shelf life by carrier oil:

• Jojoba: 12–18 months
• Fractionated coconut: 12–24 months
• Sweet almond: 6–12 months
• Olive (extra light): 6–9 months

Refrigeration extends shelf life but is not required. If you refrigerate, expect the oil to become slightly cloudy when cold and clarify when it warms back to room temperature—this is normal and does not indicate a problem.

Uses for homemade lavender oil

Lavender infused oil is versatile and ready to use directly from the bottle. Common US household uses:

• Dry skin care: Apply a few drops to dry elbows, heels, and cuticles.
• Massage: Works directly as a massage oil; the lavender adds calming aromatherapy to the application.
• Hair care: A few drops warmed in the palm and worked through dry ends reduces frizz in humidity-affected climates.
• After-sun care: Cooled lavender oil applied to mild sunburn provides relief, though for serious burns consult a healthcare provider.
• Insect repellent: Applied to skin before outdoor exposure, lavender infused oil provides minor deterrence to mosquitoes (far lower efficacy than DEET-based products, but useful for short outdoor periods).

Growing your own lavender for oil

Growing lavender to supply your own oil harvest is practical for gardeners in Zones 5–8. A mature lavender plant (3–4 years old) produces 10–20 stems per harvest, and multiple plants provide enough dried material for several batches of oil per season.

For variety selection, English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) produces the most fragrant oil and is the most cold-hardy (Zones 5–8). French lavender (Lavandula dentata) is less cold-hardy but produces earlier in the season in Zones 7–9.

Our lavender care guide covers variety selection, growing conditions, and the specific harvest timing window for maximum aromatic oil content. Our lavender companion plants guide covers what to plant alongside lavender in the garden to extend its growing season and maximize harvest.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) provides evidence-reviewed information on lavender use, safety, and what research supports for US consumers interested in home aromatherapy products.