How to Make Lilac Essential Oil
Lilac essential oil has become popular because of its healing properties and it has been several centuries. It’s perfect for improving your skin, helping with hair loss, and even treating inflammatory situations.
While it’s a great essential oil, it’s not always easy to get your hands on it. For example, it might not be on the shelf at your local Bath & Body Works. Thankfully, you can make lilac essential oil yourself if you have the lilac flower and a carrier oil. Learn more about how to make lilac essential oil in this article.
What Is Lilac Essential Oil?
Lilac essential oil comes from the Syringa vulgaris plant. It’s native to Eastern European regions and it has a light purple cover to it – similar to lavender. When used in an aroma diffuser or if you smell the flower, it has a floral scent. That scent makes it popular for fragrances but it’s also been used for centuries because of its medicinal properties.
That said, lilac essential oil is usually made with synthetic materials because the flowers to make lilac oil aren’t available all year round. However, you can make lilac oil yourself with the right materials.
What Is Lilac Essential Oil Used For?
Lilac essential oil has many uses. It’s been used for many centuries in holistic medicine and you can still experience many of those benefits when you have a high-quality lilac essential oil. Some of the benefits you can expect include:
- Inflammation reduction
- Functioning as an antioxidant
- Helping with infections and fighting harmful microbes
- Treating skin conditions
- Helping with hair growth, scalp health, and hair loss
- Aromatherapy
- Spiritual connection and emotional balance
- Fragrances
These are only some of the benefits of lilac essential oil and you may find more when you apply it on your skin or use it in an aroma diffuser. That said, make sure you consult with your doctor before swapping out any of your other treatment methods.
How to Make Lilac Essential Oil
There are a few ways to make lilac essential oil. The first method is to cook the lilac flowers in a pan to force the oil out of the flower. You can also infuse the lilac flower with a carrier oil, like olive oil or sunflower oil, which can be more rewarding. Learn more about the steps below.
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
The first step is to gather your lilac flowers once they bloom. To make true lilac essential oil, you’ll have to grab these leaves during the two-week period that they bloom. Try and gather enough to fill most of a mason jar. Then, remove any excess material (like stems) from the lilac flowers.
Step 2: Dry the Flowers
Next, it’s time to dry the flowers. You need to dry them for about a week or two to ensure that they are brittle and ready for infusion. Make sure you remove the stems and anything you couldn’t find beforehand.
Step 3: Begin the Infusion Process
The next step is to begin the infusion process. You can do this with a slow cooker to speed up the results.
To use a slow cooker, place a folded towel in the bottom of a slow cooker and fill it with a few inches of water. You’ll know you have the right amount of water when the water covers most of the flowers in the jar. Then, turn the slow cooker on its lowest setting for around 4 hours to complete the infusion process.
Step 4: Strain the Lilac Oil
The last step is to strain the lilac oil. To do so, open the jar and pour the oil through a fine strainer to remove any leaves from the oil. This will leave you with lilac essential oil. Make sure you store the oil in a dark and warm environment to preserve the oil.
Get the Best Lilac Essential Oil
Homemade lilac oil is a good place to start to see if you like it. However, getting homemade lilac oil that has a good potency can take up to six weeks and you might not have time to wait.
In these cases, we recommend ordering a high-quality lilac essential oil from a reputable brand like Wholesale Botanics. The lilac oil is second-to-none, and it can help you with your skincare routine, reduce inflammation, and much more.
That said, if you do have the time and access to fresh lilac leaves, making your own oil can be a fun experience that yields some impressive results. Regardless of how you get it, everyone should experience its benefits at least once.
