INFUSED OILS AND PERFUMES

Infusion of flowers in oils and fats to make perfumes, unguents and ointments is one of the most ancient traditions. One of the most popular plants for infusion is calendula, whose golden petals produce a healing, skin-regenerating oil.

The famous 'Monoi' of Tahiti is made of coconut oil in which white gardenia blooms have been infused in the sun. Enfleurage, the basis of much traditional perfume making, employs the method of combining fragrant flowers with solid fats to extract their volatile aromas. These traditions are still practiced in countries around the world to this day.

You can try your hand at infusing flowers at home to create delicately fragrant infused oils. White flowes - gardenias, tuberose, stephanotis - are especially well suited to this technique. If you have a garden, experiment with old-fashioned roses and strongly-scented garden flowers and herbs. You can also make natural oil-based perfumes by combining this oil or a heavier oil such as jojoba with a few drops of precious absolutes such as rose, jasmine, orange blossom, carnation, hyacinth or narcisssus.

Solid perfumes can be made with the addition of melted beeswax. A drop or two of oakmoss, sandalwood, benzoin or vanilla will give your creations a wonderful depth and richness.

OIL OF WHITE FLOWERS
Pick unsprayed flowers early in the day, when their fragrance is at its peak, and place them in a shallow ceramic container with a clear glass lid. Pour golden olive oil over the flowers to cover them. Place the container in a warm place for one week. Using a wooden spoon, press the flowers to extract their essences, then strain them out of the oil and replace them with fresh ones.
Repeat this procedure once or twice more. Once your oil has the gentle, characteristic aroma of the flowers, decant the oil through a funnel lined with cloth into a glass bottle.

NATURAL PERFUME
You can customize the following recipe with any essential oil or exotic absolute or blend that you like.

• 1 oz (30ml) refined jojoba oil
• 20 drops absolute (or 50 drops essential oils, or blend)

Pour the jojoba oil into a small bowl and pour in the drops of absolute or essential oil blend. Stir until thoroughly blended and decant into an attractive perfume decanter using a small funnel. You can also use unflavoured vodka in place of the jojoba oil if you prefer an alcohol-based perfume. Rub drops on your wrists and pulse points as needed