Picking elderflowers is such a pleasure for me and I am lucky that our neighbor is a farmer. He has vast plots of land where he raises cattle and also cultivates different kinds of grain. Of course around the fields, there are bushes full of elderflowers that no one takes care of. So it is my role to make sure that nothing is wasted. And of course, he is happy that I'm there.
INFUSION OIL
The infusion oil enables the creation of various things from massage oils to candles. Considering the healing effect of Elderflower on our skin we prefer to exploit their properties for the production of homemade creams, salves, and lip balms. Elderflowers are known for their soothing effect, improving skin complexion and are especially useful for older skin. However, they are also very effective in treating acne or sunburns. Their anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkle properties made them very popular in the cosmetic industry. In ancient times Elderflower was used to "fade freckles and wrinkles."
FRESH OR DRY HERBS FOR INFUSION?
Every time I make the infusion oil I hesitate making it either from fresh or dried herbs. So this time, to see the difference, I decided to make both infusion oils. On the left side is the oil made of dried herbs, on the right side from the fresh ones. Nevertheless, there is quite a big difference in the color of unfiltered oil, in the filtered ones the color is almost the same.
MATERIALS
1 jar of 500 ml
15 blossoms of dry or fresh of elderflowers
450 ml of almond oil
TOOLS
stainless steel funnel
cheesecloth or sieve
INSTRUCTIONS
Measure ½ cup of elderflower infused oil you’ll need for the recipe and set aside the remaining part for another use.
Place the mixture in a warm place for at least two weeks ( heat is the main factor helping to infuse the oil but not on direct sunlight).
After two weeks, strain the oil through a cheesecloth/sieve into the clean jar.
Store the elderflower oil in a cool and dark place. Shelf live is up to one year.
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