How to make Dandelion Oil

Learn how to make dandelion oil – also know as dandelion infused oil – and use it in homemade soaps, salves and body butters! Save this to Pinterest so you can make it again and again. 

Earlier this season, the kids spent some time picking dandelions for me. We never spray our dandelions because they’re the first food that comes up for the bees in the spring. Also, they’re edible! And even if you’re not a fan of eating them, there’s so much you can do with them! This year I decided to make dandelion oil to use in soaps and try as a facial oil. Here’s how I did it and more information if you’re curious about making it too.  

What is Dandelion Oil used for

Dandelions have a lot of properties similar to calendula, but the benefit to using them is that they grow in your yard for free. Dandelion flowers have anti-inflammatory properties and minerals that help to support your cells, smooth skin irritation and moisturize it too. On the skin it can be used for:

• Soothing sunburns or bug bites.
• Moisturizing dry or chapped skin.
• It be used in lip balm in place of a carrier oil or as a facial oil. 
• As a massage oil (sometimes people will add a little essential oil to it to make it smell nice).
• In homemade salves, lotions or soaps. 

Finding the dandelions

To start, you need dandelions because dandelion oil is really dandelion infused oil. You can pick these from your yard as long as you know nothing has been sprayed on them. Please DO NOT pick these in a public park or anywhere other than your own space. I know if might be tempting but the chemicals used on dandelions in public spaces should not be consumed or added to bath and body products.

If you don’t have dandelions where you live you, you can buy them on Etsy {HERE}. If you buy them on Etsy they will usually come dried for you already, which can be helpful because then you can skip a step. 

When picking your own from your yard, you will need a lot! When the dandelions dry they shrink and this recipe will use 3 cups of dried dandelion flowers with the stems removed. 

Supplies needed

Here is a full list of the supplies you might need to make dandelion infused oil. What you need will really depend on how fast or slow you want to make then oil. 

• Clean Dandelions – Either fresh with the stems removed or already dried
• Carrier Oil – More on this below.
• Dehydrator – Not a must-have but helpful for working quickly. More on this below. My dehydrator is {HERE}.
• Double broiler – Only needed if you use the quick dandelion infusion process. I have this one {HERE}.
• 32 oz. mason jar – This is only needed if you are using the slow infusion process. You can use these ones {HERE} or these dark ones {HERE}.
• Strainer – I have this one {HERE}.
• Storage container – You can use a mason jar for this if you like. I use these 12 oz. bottles {HERE}.

Drying dandelions

Before you can make Dandelion oil, you must dry the dandelions. Using fresh dandelions can cause issues with bacteria and mold. (This goes for any flowers you use in oil making.) Fresh dandelions have a very high water content. Introducing the extra water to the oil can be, well, gross. 

To dry the dandelions, I like to lay them flat on a paper towel overnight. Then I will put them in the dehydrator. I have this one {HERE} that I bought to make homemade beef jerky and now I use it to dry oranges at Christmas time too. I’m planning to use it to dry our field flowers too this year. In the dehydrator they will take about 12 hours. I set it to 165 degrees. 

If you don’t have a dehydrator you can air dry them for about 5 days. Change out the paper towels once a day and flip them over when you do it. 

Whether you are drying the dandelions on the counter or in a dehydrator, some of the flowers might begin to puff. This is fine and they are still perfectly fine to use.

Picking a carrier oil

In addition to the dried dandelions, you will need a carrier oil to make Dandelion Oil. I almost always use organic, extra virgin olive oil because I love it in my beauty products and for using in the kitchen. I use this one {HERE}. However you can use sunflower oil, avocado, hemp, sweet almond and even coconut. If you plan to use coconut though you need to also use the quick infusion process below. 

Quick Dandelion Oil infusion process

This is the method I use because, well, I’m impatient. The quick infusion process requires a double boiler and this is the one I bought {HERE}. My recipe just fits in this pot. Admittedly, I wish it were a little larger but if you’re making small batch infused oils, this will work just fine.

• Add the water to the bottom pot and then add 3 cups of dandelion flowers to the second pot.
• Pour 3 cups of the carrier oil over the top and simmer on low for 5 hours.
  • Keep a close eye on it. As I mentioned my pot just fit my ingredients so you don’t want to walk too far away.
• If you are using coconut oil add it to the second pot first and let it melt before adding in the dandelions. 
• Once done, strain the flowers from the oil and store in an airtight jar away from the light. Discard the flowers. This will keep up to 6 months.

Slow Dandelion Oil infusion process 

This is the more traditional method of making dandelion infused oil – or any infused oil – but it takes a lot longer. Also, you cannot infuse coconut oil this way since it is a solid. You could try fractionated coconut oil but I have not used that. 

• Combine 3 cups of dried dandelion flowers and 3 cups of the carrier oil in a 32 oz. mason jar. 
• Put the jar in a cabinet for 4-6 weeks and occasionally shake it. 
• Once 4-6 weeks has passed, strain the oil and discard the flowers. Store it in an air tight container for up to 6 months out of the light. 

Can I eat dandelion oil?

It is not recommended to eat dandelion oil. If you want to use your safe dandelions in food, use them to make a tea or use the greens and flowers directly on a salad. 

Looking for more DIY beauty products? 

If you love making your own homemade natural beauty products, try these simple projects:

• Melt and Pour Goat’s Milk Soap recipe {HERE}
• Orange & Vanilla Exfoliating Body Scrub {HERE}
• Homemade Beeswax Lotion Bars {HERE}
• Salt Scrub for your feet {HERE}
• Goat’s Milk, Honey and Floral Bath Mix {HERE}

Thank you so much for stopping by today friends! I hope that you love this dandelion oil recipe. I have a full printable below with all the ingredients and steps for making the dandelion infused oil. Have a beautiful day. 

How to make Dandelion Oil

Learn how to make dandelion oil - also know as dandelion infused oil - and use it in homemade soaps, salves and body butters! Save this to Pinterest so you can make it again and again. 

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Keyword: dandelion infused oil, dandelion oil, how to make dandelion oil

Servings: 24 oz.

Author: Rachel

Equipment

• 32 oz Mason Jar with lid
• Dehydrator
• Strainer
• Double Boiler

Ingredients

• 3 cups dried dandelion flowers
• 3 cups carrier oil

Instructions

• Remove the stems and dry the dandelion flowers. This can be done on the counter on a paper towel for a few days or in the dehydrator at 165 degrees for 12 hours.

Instructions for making Quick Process Dandelion Oil

• Add the water to the bottom pot and then add 3 cups of dandelions to the second pot.
• Pour 3 cups of the carrier oil over the top and simmer on low for 5 hours.Keep a close eye on it. As I mentioned my pot just fit my ingredients so you don't want to walk too far away.
• If you are using coconut oil add it to the second pot first and let it melt before adding in the dandelions. 
• Once done, strain the flowers from the oil and store in an airtight jar away from the light. Discard the flowers. This will keep up to 6 months.

Instructions foe making Slow Process Dandelion Oil

• Combine 3 cups of dried dandelions and 3 cups of the carrier oil in a 32 oz. mason jar. 
• Put the jar in a cabinet for 4-6 weeks and occasionally shake it. 
• Once 4-6 weeks has passed, strain the oil and discard the flowers. Store it in an air tight container for up to 6 months out of the light.