Country Living with Tracee

The old fashion way of turning fresh gardenias into fragrant oil!

An easy way to make oil from fresh flowers. This oil can be used in lotions or soaps. Enfleurage Process (Most Fragrant) This method mimics the traditional process for extracting delicate scents. Prepare: Gather fresh, fragrant gardenia flowers in the morning. Remove the green calyxes and use only the white petals, lightly bruising them to release scent. Melt Oil: Gently heat a carrier oil (coconut, jojoba, or sweet almond) in a heatproof jar. Infuse: Submerge the petals in the warm oil. Repeat: Leave for 24 hours, then strain out the old petals. Re-melt the oil and add fresh petals. Repeat this process 3-4 times over several days until the desired scent strength is achieved. Store: Strain the final oil through cheesecloth, add a few drops of vitamin E oil (as a preservative), and store in a dark glass bottle. Slow Infusion Method Fill: Fill a sterilized glass jar with fresh gardenia petals. Cover: Pour carrier oil (like fractionated coconut oil or jojoba) over the petals until submerged. Steep: Seal the jar and place it in a warm, sunny spot for 2-4 weeks. Shake the jar gently every few days. Strain: Strain the petals out using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, squeezing to get all the scented oil. Tips for Use in DIY Products Lotions & Creams: Use the finished infused oil as the oil phase in your lotion recipe. Soaps: Add the scented oil during the light trace stage in cold process soap making to preserve the fragrance. Storage: Keep the oil in a cool, dark place to prevent it from going rancid. It typically lasts for several months, especially if Vitamin E is added.