Candles, Oils, Teas and Tinctures....OH MY!!!

Candles

Candles give us light, they set the mood even give us warmth. But they also help give our spells power! We can go out and buy them anywhere in any store in all shapes and sizes but there is something to actually making your own candles as they hold an integral part in our everyday life and in making your own can give them more power and energy then one mass made and handled by countless people. Now the question is how do I do that and how does this fit into my herb lessons….shouldn’t this be in that…..yes and no….I’m going to give you a quick idea how to make them so that you can understand how they fit into herbs. Candles are easy and hard to make at the same time depending on the kind basically you need a double boiler, the wax, a wick, food coloring and either herbs you wish you add to the candle or an essential oil. This is where Candles come in you can add dried herbs to your candle or an essential oil and doing this will not only give the candle a pleasant sent when you burn it but also will help you with any spells you have designated it to be used for because rather than burn your herbs needed for your spell in your cauldron or an oil burner you can burn them in the candle when used and have them last longer. To add herbs or oils to your candles simply add them to the hot wax and as the wax cools and forms the candle your candle holds the herbs or oil.

Oils

Extracting Oils with Oil

Oil attracts oil, bringing it out of the leaves and flowers. Therefore, one relatively easy way of extracting essential oils is to soak them in oil.

1. Use a non-metal container – a ceramic crock works well – and pour in enough pure olive oil or safflower oil to cover the botanicals.
2. Set aside for 24 to 48 hours.
3. Strain the mixture, gently pressing the leaves or flowers to release more oils.
4. Add more fresh flowers or leaves to the already fragrant oil and repeat steps 2 and 3.
5. Continue to repeat this process an additional six to eight times or until your essential oil is of the desired strength.
6. Store tightly sealed bottles in a cool, dark place. You can add the oil to baths, lotions, potpourris, aromatic waters, soaps, or candles.

Extracting Oils with Alcohol

Another easy method of obtaining herbal fragrances is to soak botanicals in alcohol. You should use undenatured ethyl alcohol. If you can’t find this, using vodka is acceptable, but do not use rubbing alcohol.

The process is the same as extracting with oils. The fragrant alcohol you create can be used as is, or it can be diluted with some water. These extracts also make a great base for perfumes. Most perfumes contain a large amount of alcohol because it evaporates from the skin quickly, thus giving you a blast of fragrance.

To remove the oil from the alcohol, place the container in the freezer. The oil will congeal on top of the alcohol – which won’t freeze – and can be scraped off.

This method is very good for delicate flowers like jasmine, as it won’t burn the petals like steam distillation does.

Pure Essential Oils

This most useful of herbal oils can be added to perfumes, bath soaps, lotions, and used with other fragrant items. These are extracted by steam distillation. Using the right equipment, an incredible amount of botanicals, and much persistence, you can distill pure essential oils. However, it is much easier to buy them, and there are many reputable sources, both locally and online.

Perfumes, Colognes, and Toilet Water

For making simple perfumes, colognes, and toilet water, all you will need are essential oils, alcohol (undenatured or vodka), and a fixative (storax oil, sandalwood oil, or orris root).

Keep in mind the basic principles of blending. Create the perfume around a central scent, and then add complimentary or contrasting fragrances to build and enhance it. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

The following recipes are created by combining all ingredients in a glass bottle, shaking well, and setting in a cool dark place for several weeks to allow the fragrances to blend and fix.

Teas

Teas are probably the easiest things you can make with herbs and require the least explanation. What you need for tea is simply to dry your herbs and keep them in a cool dry place and when you want to make a tea simply put them in a tea ball steep the herbs in a warm cup of water and enjoy the best part about growing your own herbs and making your own tea is that you can experiment with the flavors! And don’t forget the honey and a nice book to go with it!

Tinctures:

A tincture is one of many methods of extracting and preserving the medicinal essence of herbs. Tinctures are a form of naturalistic medicine, which promotes a holistic approach to health with minimal use of surgeries and drugs. A tincture contains a base liquid, usually a mixture of food-grade alcohol and water, although glycerin or vinegar may serve as the base liquid if alcohol is undesirable. The other ingredient in a tincture is the vital extract of the herb of choice.

How to make a Tincture

What you’ll need!

Lavender  (You can use other herbs )

Glycerin

Crockpot

Cheese Cloth  

Rubber Band

Glass Dropper Bottle

1.Pour your glycerin in the crock-pot

2. Mix in Lavender material.

3. Stir - you will need to stir periodically during the process, every hour or so. You can leave it over night, but the first thing you should do is stir it the next day.

4. Cover, turn pot on low

5. Leave in pot for several hours, however long is up to you, overnight is probably best, but a good 8 hour cure is all you really need.

6. When you decide the time is right, turn off the pot and let the mixture cool, but don't let it get cold, it will be easier to pour if it's warm.

7. Once the mixture is cooler, take your cheese cloth and RUBBER BAND it over your pouring container. I made the mistake of forgetting this step at first, very dumb.

8. Strain your mixture through the cheese cloth, once it drains squeeze out as much of the liquid as you can, you can really get a lot out of it.

9. BOTTLE!