The holidays are coming, and you’re looking for some new ideas on how to spice up your home. You don’t want to spend a lot of money, but you do want something that will make your home feel like the welcoming place it should be. The answer – scented candles!
Whether it’s rose, lavender, pine, or even vanilla, scented candles are an easy and inexpensive way to make any home feel inviting. But what if you want to take it a step further and infuse your own oils into the candles? Can you do that?
You absolutely can use infused oil for candles. All you need is base oil, like olive oil or coconut oil, and your favorite herbs or spices. Although your candles won’t smell quite as strong as if you were using essential oils, infused oils are an easy and inexpensive way to get the perfect scent for your home.
If you’re interested in bringing your candles to life with your favorite infused scents, we’ll show you exactly how it’s done! We’ll also help you understand what exactly infused oils are, how they differ from essential oils, and what benefits they offer.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about using infused oil for candles.
What Are Infused Oils?
Infused oils are created when plant material is steeped in a base oil for a period of time. This can be done with fresh or dried herbs, flowers, and even fruit peels. The resulting oil will have the subtle scent of the plant material, along with all of its beneficial properties.
There are many different things that you can use to create infused oils. Some of them are:
- Herbal – Rosemary, thyme, basil, mint.
- Floral – Lavender flowers, chamomile flowers.
- Fruity – Orange peel, lemon peel, grapefruit peel.
- Spicy – Cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg.
The sky is really the limit when it comes to what you can use to create your own unique blend. Making your own infused oils not only allows you to control the strength of the scent but also allows you to customize the scent to your liking. Just make sure that whatever you choose is safe to use, and that you’re happy with the scent.
How to Create Your Own Infused Oil and Add Them to Candles
Now that you know what infused oils are, we’ll now take you through a step-by-step process on how you can create your own infused oil for candles. All you need is a base oil, some plant material, candle wax, and a little bit of patience.
- Step One: Choose Your Base Oil
The first step is to choose your base oil. This can be any light oil such as olive oil, grapeseed oil, or even coconut oil. Avoid using anything too thick, like castor oil, as this will make it difficult to infuse. We recommend going with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Step Two: Choose Your Plant Material
The next step is to choose your plant material. This can be fresh or dried herbs, flowers, fruit peels, or even spices. If you’re using fresh herbs, make sure that they’re well-washed and free of any dirt or debris. There are tons of options here for you to experiment with – pine, cinnamon, mint, tea, nutmeg, jasmine, and more!
- Step Three: Adding Your Oil and Plant Material to A Jar
Once you’ve decided on your base oil and plant materials, it’s time to bring them together. Take a jar and add one cup of your chosen oil. Now add in your plant materials, making sure that they’re fully submerged. If you’re using dried herbs, you’ll need around ¼ cup. If you’re using fresh herbs, you’ll need around 1/2 cup.
- Step Four: Mixing the Oil and Plant Material
Now it’s time to give everything a good stir. This will help to release the essential oils from the plant material and into the oil. You can also use a wooden spoon to crush the plant material a little bit so that the infusion happens faster.
Note – You can also speed up the infusion process by heating up two cups of water, and then placing the jar (with the oil and plant materials) inside the hot water for 5-7 minutes. Just make sure that the water isn’t boiling, as this will negatively affect the infusion.
- Step Five: Steeping the Oil
Now it’s time to let your oil steep. This is when the magic happens! Place a lid on your jar and store it in a dark, cool place. We recommend letting it infuse for at least two weeks, but longer is always better. Make sure to give the oil a good mix at least once a day.
- Step Six: Straining the Oil
After your oil has had time to infuse, it’s time to strain it. This will remove all of the plant material from the oil, leaving you with a beautifully scented oil. You can use a coffee filter, cheesecloth, or even a fine-mesh strainer. Ensure that you squeeze every bit of oil out of the plant material so that you don’t waste any.
- Step Seven: Adding the Oil to Your Candle
The final step is to add the oil to your candle. Melt your candle wax and start adding your infused oil little by little. We recommend starting with around ¼ teaspoon and then giving the wax a thorough mix. If you want a stronger scent, you can always add more. Just be sure to do a test run first so that you don’t end up with a candle that’s too strong.
- Step Eight: Enjoying Your New Candle Scent!
Once your candle wax has cooled down, simply light up the wick and enjoy the beautiful scent that you’ve created!
And there you have it! You’ve now successfully created your own infused oil for candles. With a little bit of time and patience, you can create beautiful, unique candle scents that are perfect for any occasion.
Difference Between Infused Oils and Essential Oils
Many people get quite confused about the difference between infused oils and essential oils. It’s important to understand the difference because they are used for different purposes. Take a look at the table below to understand what each one means.
| Infused Oils | Essential Oils |
| An infused oil also referred to as a macerated oil, consists of carrier oil that has been infused with one or more herbs. | Essential oil is an aromatic, volatile liquid obtained from single plant material through steam distillation and named after the plant from which it is derived. |
| Less expensive ($4-$15 per ounce) | Very expensive ($16-$30 per ounce) |
| Mildly concentrated | Highly concentrated |
| Subtle scent | Powerful scent |
| Requires only a small amount of plant material to create | Requires a lot of plant material to create (1 kg of rose oil needs 4 tons of roses) |
| Is safe to use internally and externally | Is poisonous if used internally and can cause irritation and burns if applied to the skin |
| Can be used as it is without dilution | Needs to be diluted before use |
| Often packaged in clear or dark bottles | Can only be packaged in dark bottles as it can be damaged by sunlight |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1. How long do homemade infused oils last?
Homemade infused olive oil can last as long as a year if made from dried herbs. It is important to note that infused oils must be stored in a fridge to ensure it lasts the longest amount of time possible.
Q.2. Which oil is best for infusing?
The most common oils used for herbal infusion are pure plant oils like olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, and almond oil. Many people tend to stick with olive oil though, as it has the longest lifespan at room temperature!
Final Thoughts
We hope that this article has helped to clear up any confusion that you may have had about using infused oils for candles. As you can see, it’s a fairly simple process that anyone can do with the right materials. So what are you waiting for? Go on and experiment with different scents until you come up with something truly unique. Happy infusing!
