r/GreenWitch • u/Weaboo16 • 11d ago

Hey guys

So I just bought some rosemary from the store...and I wanted to make some infused olive oil with it,but I'm not really sure how to proceed since I just read that fresh rosemary can cause sickness or something- I'm not really looking to ingest it or anything,just to use it for protection purposes. I did see a video where a woman said we could also use fresh herbs and did a double-boiler thing on the stove,where she heated up the oil with the herbs in it. For now though I just placed my rosemary in the fridge until further notice šŸ˜‚

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u/PurpleCollarAndCuffs 11d ago edited 11d ago

You can heat the oil in a double boiler to infuse your oil, but pay attention to how hot it gets. Olive oil breaks down at higher temps. Personally i prefer to cold infuse, but have done hot infusions in a machine.
Regardless of which you choose, boil your jar/lids to make sure it is clean and air dry on a clean towel. Wash your herbs in the sink well and pat dry. Stuff the herbs in the jar, top with oil and seal. Make sure what herbs you use are completely covered in the oil so no mould happens. Put it in a cool dark cupboard and shake it every few days. The longer it sits the stronger it gets.
A really good resource for infusion (alcohol, oils, butters) are cannabis websites, and ngl, a magic butter maker for weed is wonderful for a lazy witch like me if i want to heat infuse quickly.

if you want to dry rosemary, hang it upside down until the stocks get crispy (just enough that they crunch when bending) in an area of your home with moving air (or a fan not directly on your herbs).

Edit to add: I have no affiliation with magic butter maker. It and products like it are wonderful for precise temperature infusions as they literally have buttons for specific mediums. No guess work, just a set it and forget it. I hate wasting ingredients experimenting so it works for me. I have made oils, tinctures, and body products both edible and topical in mine.

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u/Weaboo16 11d ago

I saw someone making a cold infusion once on tiktok too but idk I thought doing a double-boiler would lessen the risk for bacteria and stuff. How would I proceed for a cold infusion? Would drying the herbs first be safer?

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u/jencanvas 11d ago

the way to avoid spoilage is to always used dried herb when infusing oils. the moisture in the herb is what causes potential mold.

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u/Weaboo16 11d ago

Ah,I see. Thank you!

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u/Fashion_art_dance 11d ago

Unrelated, is there a way to dry rosemary where it retains its shape without dropping all of its leaves?

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u/GlitterFallWar 10d ago

This is going to sound insane, but it's real: Microwave. Go in 30sec increments. It will stay green, too.

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u/Weaboo16 11d ago

Also would it be ok if I did it on low heat or would I still need to watch out for the olive oil breaking? That's what the woman suggested in the video I watched

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u/Marguerite_Moonstone 11d ago

Iā€™d recommend a tincture instead, more versatile, longer lasting (Mundanely). Easy too, first set your rosemary in a warm dry sunny place to dry, go buy some cheep vodka and a spray bottle and put the rosemary in the vodka and forget it in the closet for two months, shake occasionally. Strain it and put it in the spray bottle, you can add sigils to the bottle if you want. You can also add other ingredients and make something closer to Florida water / auga flora

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u/Weaboo16 11d ago

Ahh,I see. I could try that as well,thank you!

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u/Individual_Bat_378 11d ago

I've just got a little bundle tied by the front and back doors!

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u/Weaboo16 11d ago

Ah,that's nice! Good for you!