How to Make an Herbal Infused Oil With Dried Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide
If you've been learning how to grow, harvest, and preserve herbs, eventually you'll probably come across something called an herbal infused oil.
Calendula oil.
Comfrey oil.
Plantain oil.
Arnica oil.
You may see herbal oils used on their own or as ingredients in salves, balms, soaps, and other topical herbal preparations.
But what exactly is an herbal infused oil?
And can you make one at home?
Yes—with the right herbs, proper preparation, and careful attention to moisture, making a simple oil infusion from fully dried herbs can be an approachable next step in learning about herbal preparations.
Here's how it works.
What Is an Herbal Infused Oil?
An herbal infused oil is made by allowing plant material to steep in a carrier oil so oil-soluble constituents from the plant move into the oil.
Depending on the herb and intended use, common carrier oils might include:
- Olive oil
- Sunflower oil
- Jojoba
- Sweet almond oil
- Other skin-appropriate oils
The finished infused oil can sometimes be used on its own or incorporated into topical products.
Herbal Infused Oil vs. Essential Oil
These are completely different products.
An herbal infused oil is made by placing plant material into a carrier oil.
An essential oil is a highly concentrated aromatic product typically obtained through processes such as steam distillation or expression.
For example:
Lavender infused oil = lavender plant material infused into a carrier oil.
Lavender essential oil = concentrated volatile aromatic compounds obtained from lavender.
They aren't interchangeable.
An infused oil is already mostly carrier oil.
An essential oil is highly concentrated and generally requires appropriate dilution before topical use.
Why Use Dried Herbs for Beginner Oil Infusions?
Here's the big issue:
Water and oil don't mix.
Fresh plants naturally contain water.
When fresh plant material is submerged in oil, that moisture can create additional spoilage and microbial-safety concerns.
For beginners, using properly and thoroughly dried herbs is a simpler approach for many traditional topical oil infusions.
That doesn't mean every dried plant belongs in oil.
You still need to research the individual herb, its safety, and its appropriate use.
But starting with thoroughly dried plant material removes a major variable: plant moisture.
Choose the Right Herb
Don't start by grabbing a random jar from your herb collection.
First ask:
Is this herb traditionally and appropriately prepared as an infused oil?
Common examples of herbs used in topical infused oils include plants such as:
- Calendula
- Comfrey
- Plantain
- Arnica
- Lavender
Each herb has its own safety considerations.
For example, an herb appropriate for external use isn't automatically appropriate for internal use.
Some herbs shouldn't be used on broken skin.
Some may interact with medications or be inappropriate during pregnancy.
Research the individual plant before using it.
Proper Identification Matters
You should know exactly what herb you're working with.
Ideally, your label includes:
- Common name
- Botanical name
- Plant part
- Harvest or purchase date
For example:
Calendula
Calendula officinalis
Flower
September 2026
Don't make an herbal preparation from a mystery jar.
If you can't confidently identify the plant, don't use it.
Make Sure the Herb Is Completely Dry
This is critical.
The herb should be thoroughly dried before you add it to oil.
Check for:
- Softness
- Dampness
- Condensation
- Mold
- Musty odors
If anything seems questionable, don't use it.
You spent all that time drying your herbs properly.
This is where that work pays off.
Choose Your Carrier Oil
Your carrier oil affects the finished product.
Olive oil is a popular choice because it's widely available and relatively stable.
Other oils may offer a lighter skin feel or different properties.
When choosing an oil, consider:
- Intended use
- Shelf stability
- Skin feel
- Allergies
- Cost
- Availability
Start with a fresh, good-quality oil.
If the carrier oil already smells rancid, putting herbs into it isn't going to improve it.
What You'll Need
For a simple dried-herb oil infusion, gather:
- Fully dried herb
- Carrier oil
- Clean, completely dry glass jar
- Clean, dry utensil
- Label
- Fine strainer or cheesecloth for later
- Clean, dry storage bottle or jar
Notice how often the word dry appears.
That's intentional.
Basic Dried-Herb Infused Oil Method
There are different herbal traditions and formulas for making infused oils. For home use, one simple approach is a room-temperature infusion.
Step 1: Prepare Your Jar
Start with a clean glass jar.
Make absolutely sure it's dry.
Water droplets inside the jar are not something you want to introduce into an oil preparation.
Step 2: Add Your Dried Herb
Place the dried plant material into the jar.
Don't pack it down into a solid brick.
Leave enough room for oil to completely surround the herb.
Step 3: Add the Carrier Oil
Pour the oil over the herbs.
The plant material should remain completely covered by oil.
Use a clean, dry utensil to gently stir and release trapped air pockets.
Add additional oil as needed.
Step 4: Check the Herb Level
Dried herbs can absorb oil.
Check your jar after it has been sitting for a while.
If plant material has expanded above the oil level, add more carrier oil so the herbs remain covered.
Step 5: Label Immediately
Don't tell yourself you'll remember.
Write down:
- Herb
- Botanical name if known
- Plant part
- Carrier oil
- Date started
For example:
Calendula Flower
Calendula officinalis
Olive Oil
Started September 15, 2026
Now you know exactly what's in the jar.
How Long Should Dried Herbs Infuse in Oil?
Traditional room-temperature infusions are often allowed to steep for several weeks.
A common home method is around 4–6 weeks, although methods vary by herb and herbal tradition.
During that time, keep the jar appropriately stored and inspect it regularly.
Don't simply put it in the back of a cupboard and rediscover it six months later.
Should Herbal Oil Infusions Sit in a Sunny Window?
You'll find conflicting traditional instructions about this.
Some traditional methods call for solar infusions.
However, prolonged light and heat can accelerate oxidation in oils.
For a simple beginner method, a stable location away from excessive heat and strong direct sunlight is a practical choice.
Follow a reliable recipe appropriate to the specific herb and oil you're using.
Check the Infusion Regularly
Every few days, take a look.
Check for:
- Plant material sticking above the oil
- Unexpected moisture
- Unusual bubbling
- Mold
- Off odors
- Other changes
If something doesn't look or smell right, don't assume it's normal simply because it's an herbal preparation.
How to Strain an Herbal Infused Oil
When the infusion is finished, it's time to remove the plant material.
Place a fine strainer, cheesecloth, or appropriate filtering material over a clean, completely dry container.
Pour the oil through.
Allow the oil to drain thoroughly.
If squeezing the herbs, be careful not to introduce moisture or contaminants through wet hands or equipment.
Discard or compost the spent herbs when appropriate.
Let the Oil Settle
After straining, you may notice tiny bits of plant material settling toward the bottom.
You can allow the oil to sit and then carefully transfer it again if you'd like a cleaner finished product.
The goal is to remove as much spent plant material as practical.
Label the Finished Oil
Your finished oil needs a label too.
Include:
- Herb
- Botanical name if appropriate
- Plant part
- Carrier oil
- Date strained
For example:
Calendula Infused Oil
Calendula officinalis — Flower
Olive Oil
Strained October 2026
If you make multiple herbal oils, good labeling becomes essential.
How Should You Store Herbal Infused Oil?
Oil doesn't like:
- Heat
- Strong light
- Air exposure
Store your finished oil in a clean, tightly closed container according to the storage requirements of your chosen carrier oil and preparation.
Dark glass bottles can help protect oils from light.
A cool, dark storage location is generally preferable to a warm sunny shelf.
How Long Does Herbal Infused Oil Last?
The shelf life of an infused oil is influenced heavily by the shelf life and freshness of the carrier oil you used, as well as preparation and storage conditions.
Infusing herbs into an oil doesn't reset the oil's shelf life.
That's another reason to begin with fresh carrier oil.
Rather than assuming every homemade infused oil lasts a specific number of months, label your preparation and monitor its condition.
How Can You Tell If Herbal Oil Has Gone Bad?
Use your senses.
Watch for:
- Rancid or unpleasant odor
- Mold
- Unexpected moisture
- Unusual changes in appearance
- Other signs of spoilage
Rancid oil often develops a distinctly stale, sharp, crayon-like, or otherwise unpleasant smell.
If the oil smells wrong, don't use it.
When in doubt, discard the preparation.
Can You Add Essential Oils to an Herbal Infused Oil?
You can formulate some topical products using both infused carrier oils and appropriately diluted essential oils, but that's a separate formulation step.
Essential oils are concentrated substances with their own:
- Dermal limits
- Safety considerations
- Age restrictions
- Pregnancy considerations
- Sensitization risks
Don't casually add a large amount of essential oil because you want your infused oil to smell stronger.
Learn appropriate formulation and dilution first.
What Can You Make With Herbal Infused Oil?
Depending on the herb and its appropriate use, infused oils can become ingredients in projects such as:
- Herbal salves
- Balms
- Body oils
- Massage oils
- Soap
- Other topical preparations
A simple infused oil can therefore become a foundation skill for many other herbal projects.
Learn one technique well and suddenly several other projects begin making more sense.
Try a Single-Herb Infusion First
Beginners are often tempted to create something containing twelve herbs.
Resist the urge.
Start with one.
For example:
Calendula + carrier oil
That's it.
When you work with a single herb, you learn:
- How it looks
- How it smells
- How much oil it absorbs
- How the finished infusion changes
- How you like working with it
Once you understand individual herbs, blends become much easier to evaluate.
Keep an Herbal Project Notebook
If you think you might make more herbal preparations, start taking notes.
Record:
- Herb
- Botanical name
- Plant part
- Herb source
- Carrier oil
- Amounts used
- Date started
- Date strained
- Observations
- What you'd change next time
You don't need anything fancy.
A basic notebook works.
After a year or two, those notes become incredibly valuable.
A Simple Dried-Herb Oil Infusion Checklist
Before you start:
Identify your herb correctly.
Research its appropriate use and safety.
Use thoroughly dried plant material.
Start with fresh carrier oil.
Use clean, completely dry equipment.
Keep plant material covered with oil.
Label the infusion.
Inspect it regularly.
Strain thoroughly.
Label the finished oil.
Store appropriately.
Discard anything showing signs of spoilage.
That's the foundation.
From Dried Herb to Herbal Preparation
There's something exciting about reaching this point in learning herbs.
At first, you're simply trying to keep a basil plant alive.
Then you start growing more.
You learn when to harvest.
You learn how to dry the plants.
You fill a few jars.
And eventually you realize those jars aren't the end of the process.
They're ingredients.
A dried flower can become an infused oil.
An infused oil can become part of a salve.
And suddenly you're beginning to understand how a home herbal pantry actually works.
You don't have to learn everything at once.
Start with one plant.
Learn it well.
Then add another.
Continue the Fall Herb Harvesting & Preserving Series
Next we're going back to a fundamental question:
Fresh vs. Dried Herbs: When Should You Use Each?
We'll look at the differences between fresh and dried herbs for:
- Cooking
- Tea
- Herbal preparations
- Storage
- Flavor
- Measuring
- Oil infusions
- Garden harvests
Then we'll move deeper into our fall-specific content with harvesting roots, cleaning roots, drying roots, and building a winter herbal pantry.
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Recommended Products & Resources
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- Peterson Guide to Herbs & Plants
- Non-Gmo Seed Kit
- Herb Dehydrator
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- Seed Saving Bible
- Herb Harvesting Stripper
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