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Velvety Vanilla Oil

Source of Recipe

From "Organic Body Care Recipes" by Stephanie Tourles


Recipe Introduction

"This oil has a relaxing vanilla aroma and easily melts into the skin, leaving no oily residue. It's ideal to use during a partner massage or as a full-body moisturizing perfume. I use this oil as a scented base oil when making vanilla creams and lotions."

List of Ingredients

â—¦ 3 long (6- or 7-inch) vanilla beans (or substitute 100 drops vanilla essential oil)
â—¦ 1½ cups jojoba base oil


Recipe

Slice the vanilla beans lengthwise, scrape out paste from each pod, and add it to a pint-size or smaller glass jar. Chop the empty bean pods into 1-inch pieces and add to the jar. Pour in the base oil. (Add the essential oil now if vanilla beans are unavailable.) Cap the jar and shake the mixture for 1 minute.

Store the jar in a dark place for 2 months to allow the vanilla essence to infuse the oil. During this time, shake the jar every day for 10 to 15 seconds.

After 2 months, strain the oil through a tight-mesh strainer, coffee filter, or nylon stocking, then pour the oil into an elegant glass storage bottle. The finished oil will have a deep, round vanilla fragrance. Use as desired.


Makes approximately 1½ cups


• Application Tips:
For bath oil, add 2 teaspoons to running water. Use as needed for a body or massage oil.