Last Updated on March 14, 2021 by Diane Hoffmaster
If you are a lover of aromatherapy, essential oils or just suffer from a lot of congestion, you need to learn how to make eucalyptus oil at home.
It is really quite simple once you find a good source of eucalyptus leaves. Ideally, you should make eucalyptus oil from fresh eucalyptus leaves because the resulting oil will be stronger than if you use dried ones.
Making eucalyptus oil is a very simple project and can be done a couple different ways, depending on your supplies and how much time you want it to take.
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DIY Eucalyptus Oil: Method 1
You can make eucalyptus oil in your slow cooker.
Learning how to make eucalyptus essential oil is really very simple. You want fresh eucalyptus leaves (you can grow them yourself or check out your local florist for a supply).
You need to decide on a carrier oil (olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil are good. Very gentle on the skin) and then you set them in your slow cooker for 6 hours on low before straining.
- 1/4 ounce fresh eucalyptus leaves (crushed, torn, chopped, etc to release oil)
- 1 cup carrier oil
After 6 hours on low in the slow cooker, let cool, strain through cheese cloth and store the homemade eucalyptus oil in a dark location.
Do not ingest! Eucalyptus is toxic! Apply to skin only and if you have sensitive skin you may want to do a test patch before slathering it on your chest.
How to Make Eucalyptus Oil: Method 2
You can make eucalyptus oil on your windowsill.
If you don’t have a slow cooker or you aren’t in a hurry, make eucalyptus oil on your windowsill. Just take your 1/4 ounce of eucalyptus leaves and put them in a mason jar.
Crush them with the handle of a wooden spoon to release the oils. Then, pour your oil over the top until they are covered.
Use the same oil options… olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil work well.Let the mason jar sit on your windowsill for a few weeks. Then, strain out the leaves using cheese cloth and store the oil in a dark jar or in a dark location to prevent breaking down of the oils.
- 1/4 ounce fresh eucalyptus leaves
- enough oil to cover them in a mason jar
How to Grow Eucalyptus:
If you have a green thumb, consider learning how to grow eucalyptus in the back yard or in a pot, depending on your location. I used the Silver Dollar variety since that is what I found in my local nursery. There are a TON of varieties of eucalyptus to choose from.
Check out this post on how to grow eucalyptus and then check out this post on uses for eucalyptus because you will have more than you could ever use. Learn how to use fresh eucalyptus around the house so it doesn’t go to waste!
A few notes on making eucalyptus oil:
If you absolutely cannot find or grow your own fresh eucalyptus oil, you CAN use dried eucalyptus. It wont make the oil quite as strong as fresh leaves but it will work.
Also, do not be surprised if your oil takes on a dark green tinge to it. You are using a dark green product and some of those pigments to transfer over into the oil.
And, please keep in mind that when making eucalyptus oil in a slow cooker, your house will REEK of eucalyptus! Be prepared for how strong the smell is! You might want to do it on a nice day when you can open the windows up!
Have you ever tried making eucalyptus oil? If you have leftover eucalyptus leaves, try making these DIY sinus bath salts!
Is it supposed to have a strong scent? It does not smell very much like eucalyptus
You might want to let it sit longer, although it isnt’ as strong as the store bought stuff.
I’ve had eucalyptus in my shower, and the leaves feel dry. Also don’t give off much scent anymore. Can I still use the leaves to make the oil?
In general, fresh leaves will probably have the most oil left in them.
Very helpful thank you so much, although I’m curious on the toxic bit. While I do agree eucalyptus oil shouldn’t be consumed (especially essential oil) people have been consuming eucalyptus for century’s especially in tea.
I believe it may be a concentration issue. I think in tea you get much less actual eucalyptus compounds.
Can you use this oil in candle making?
This isn’t something I have tried but please let me know how it turns out if you do!
Could I do this with lemon eucalyptus leaves
I’m not familiar with that variety but I would think the process would be similar
After I use my slow cooker to make this oil, which is toxic. Is it safe to use that slow cooker to make consumables in ever again? Often times with toxic things it specifically says to do not reuse container because of the Risk of contanination. Is this a consideration in regard to my slow cooker?
I would think that a non porous surface like a slow cooker would be easily cleaned with hot, soapy water and be safe for use again, however, I have no scientific evidence to back this up.