Many think dandelions are pesky weeds that litter the garden, but every part of these plants are very useful, with numerous benefits for your skin. Making homemade dandelion oil with the flower heads, is just one of the many uses of this great medicinal plant.

Homemade Dandelion Oil

Dandelion oil is made from soaking the flowers of the dandelion plant in oil. Traditionally, this plant has been used to make medicine for centuries, with its anti-inflammatory properties that can be beneficial for treating arthritis and gout. When used topically, it can also help to relieve achy, sore muscles and joints and tension.

Making Dandelion Oil

To make your own homemade dandelion oil, first you will need some dandelions, though make sure that the dandelions you pick haven’t been sprayed with pesticides.

When picking dandelions, it is best to pick them on a sunny day, after the morning dew has evaporated off the plants. Gather the healthy looking blossoms by cutting the flower heads from the plant, leaving some of the flowers behind for the bees. These flower heads will need to dry a little before using to make the oil, as they do contain a bit of water and if this is not removed, you could end up with mould in your oil.

Gently rinse off the flower heads, making sure to get off any bugs or dirt. Then, lay them on a towel to dry out over night.

In the morning, add some of the dried dandelion heads to a jar. How much you use, will depend on how much oil you want to make. Cover the dried dandelions with your carrier oil – sweet almond, coconut, apricot, jojoba, grapeseed or olive oils. Cover tightly with the lid.

Set the jar in a warm, sunny spot for 2 weeks to steep. Check the oil every few days, gently swirling it every now.

After two weeks, place a piece of cheesecloth into a strainer.

Place the strainer into a funnel, which has been placed in another clean jar.

Pour the dandelions that have been in the oil filled jar into the strainer, into the other jar. Allow as much liquid through as possible, so you may want to let everything sit for 5 minutes or so.

Discard dandelions, and put a lid on the jar that is now filled with oil.

Label and date the dandelion oil jar.

Now your dandelion infused oil is ready to use.

Store in a cool, dark place, checking regularly to make sure that it smells okay. If it does smell bad, throw it away and make another batch. Oil can go rancid, so make sure to use your infused oil within 12 months of making.

Using Dandelion Oil

Once you have made your own dandelion infused oil, you can use it in DIY bath and body recipes, lotions, lip care, dry skin care products, salves and soap.

For first aid treatment, dandelion infused oil can be used for cuts, scrapes, burns, bug bites and other minor skin irritations including diaper rash.

Massage this oil into stiff joints and achy muscles for a bit of relief.

This oil is a great moisturiser, working well on dry, itchy skin, especially cuticles, dry elbows and knees.

TIPS

When checking your oil, make sure no mould appears. If you do see a small spot of mould, remove that plant part and the mould and keep going. If more mould appears, the infused oil will need to be thrown away and you will need to start again.

To avoid getting any mould in your infused oils, make sure the flower heads are dry before using and that the glass jar that you are using is clean and completely dry as well.

If you are allergic to plants such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds and daisies, you may react to dandelions. The milky sap of dandelions may cause itchiness, irritation or reaction on the skin. There is also a rare fibre in dandelions called inulin that some people are sensitive too or may react to as well.

More Homemade Products

Homemade Dandelion Infused Oil

Simple Living. Creative Learning

Making homemade dandelion oil with the flower heads, is just one of the many uses of this great medicinal plant.

Print Recipe Save Pin Recipe

Ingredients

▢ Dandelions
▢ Carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, jojoba, fractionated coconut or grapeseed oil

Instructions

To make your own homemade dandelion oil, first you will need some dandelions, though make sure that the dandelions you pick haven’t been sprayed with pesticides.
Gently rinse off the flower heads, making sure to get off any bugs or dirt. Then, lay them on a towel to dry out over night.
In the morning, add some of the dried dandelion heads to a jar. How much you use, will depend on how much oil you want to make. Cover the dried dandelions with your carrier oil - sweet almond, coconut, apricot, jojoba, grapeseed or olive oils. Cover tightly with the lid.
Set the jar in a warm, sunny spot for 2 weeks to steep. Check the oil every few days, gently swirling it every now.
After two weeks, place a piece of cheesecloth into a strainer.
Place the strainer into a funnel, which has been placed in another clean jar.
Pour the dandelions that have been in the oil filled jar into the strainer, into the other jar. Allow as much liquid through as possible, so you may want to let everything sit for 5 minutes or so.
Discard dandelions, and put a lid on the jar that is now filled with oil.
Label and date the dandelion oil jar.
Now your dandelion infused oil is ready to use.
Store in a cool, dark place, checking regularly to make sure that it smells okay. If it does smell bad, throw it away and make another batch. Oil can go rancid, so make sure to use your infused oil within 12 months of making.

Tried this recipe? Share a pic on Instagram

Homemade Dandelion Oil