How to Make Rosemary Lavender Infused Oil – Hot and Cold Infusion Methods
Rosemary lavender-infused oil is one of those foundational recipes that earns its place in any DIY body care routine.
Rosemary brings a clean, piney sharpness; lavender adds a soft, floral warmth. Steeped together in a carrier oil over time, they produce a fragrant, herb-scented oil you can use in the bath, work into your skin, or use as the base for all kinds of DIY recipes.
You can make rosemary-lavender-infused oil in one quick afternoon session in the afternoon.
This post walks you through everything, from ingredients, tools, and two different infusion methods, to how to use your finished oil once it’s ready.
Table of Contents
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What Is Rosemary Lavender Infused Oil?
An infused oil is made by steeping dried herbs in a carrier oil and allowing their aromatic compounds to transfer into the oil slowly over time. The result is a herb-scented oil that carries the fragrance and character of the botanicals you used, without the concentration of an essential oil.
This is different from a blend of rosemary and lavender essential oils added to a carrier. With an infusion, the herbs do the work gradually and gently, producing a softer, more subtly scented oil that’s well-suited to everyday use.
Rosemary lavender-infused oil is a natural fit for bath and body routines. You can use it as a body oil after bathing, stirred into bath water, worked through hair, or used as a carrier oil in sugar scrub or body scrub recipe, bath salts, or other DIY recipes.
What You’ll Need to Make the Rosemary-Lavender Infusion
Dried Rosemary: Use good-quality dried rosemary leaves. Fresh rosemary contains moisture that can cause spoilage during infusion, so dried is the right choice here.
Dried Lavender: Use dried rather than fresh for a longer shelf-life. Look for culinary or craft-grade dried lavender buds for a clean, fragrant infusion.
Sweet Almond Oil: This is the recommended carrier oil for this recipe. It is light, absorbs well, and has a mild enough scent to let the rosemary and lavender come through clearly. See the carrier oil section below if you’d like to use a different one.
Tools
- A clean, sterilized glass jar with a tight-fitting lid (a standard mason jar works perfectly)
- Cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer
- A sterilized dark glass bottle for storing the finished oil
- A small funnel (optional, but makes transferring the oil much easier)
- Labels and a marker
3-Step Cold Infusion Method to Make Rosemary Lavender Infused Oil
The cold infusion method is the gold standard for herbal oils. No heat is involved, which means the aromatic compounds in the herbs are preserved gently and fully over time. The result is a beautifully fragrant, well-rounded oil. The trade-off is patience. This method takes four to six weeks.
Step 1: Prepare Your Herbs
Check that both herbs are completely dry before you begin. Any moisture at this stage increases the risk of mold developing in the jar.
Measure out equal parts dried rosemary and dried lavender buds. Roughly ¼ cup of each for every cup of carrier oil is a good starting ratio.
Adjust the proportions to your preference if you’d like one herb to be more prominent.
Note: You don’t need to worry about precise measurements when making infused oil at home.
Step 2: Add Herbs & Oil to the Jar
Place the dried rosemary and lavender into your sterilized glass jar. Pour the sweet almond oil over the herbs, making sure they are fully submerged.
Press them gently down with a clean spoon if needed to release any air pockets. Leave a small amount of space at the top of the jar.
Close the jar tightly and place it in a cool, dark location. A cupboard or pantry shelf works well.
Leave it to infuse for four to six weeks, giving the jar a gentle shake every few days to help the herbs release their character into the oil.
Step 3: Strain the Infusion & Store
Once the infusion time is complete, set a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer over a clean bowl and pour the oil through.
Gather the cheesecloth and press gently to extract as much oil as possible from the herbs. Discard the spent herb material.
Using a small funnel, pour the strained oil into your sterilised dark glass bottle. Amber glass bottles are ideal for storage because they protect the oil from UV light, which can degrade its quality over time.
Label the bottle with the contents and the date.
Heat Infusion Method
The heat infusion method produces a finished oil in two to four hours rather than four to six weeks. It’s a good option when you don’t want to wait, though the cold method is preferred when time allows. Keep the heat low throughout. The goal is a gentle warmth, not cooking the herbs.
Step 1: Measure Ingredients and Add to a Double Boiler
Measure out your dried rosemary and lavender as you would for the cold method – equal parts, roughly ¼ cup of each per cup of carrier oil. Make sure both herbs are fully dried before you begin.
Place the herbs and oil together in a heat-safe glass bowl or use a jar set over a saucepan of water as a makeshift double boiler.
Step 2: Warm Gently
Allow the herbs to infuse in the warm oil for two to four hours, stirring occasionally.
Keep the water at a low simmer. You want the oil to be warm to the touch, not hot. If you have a thermometer, aim to keep the oil below 65°C (150°F).
The oil will take on a faintly green-golden colour, and the herbs will release their fragrance into the room as they steep. Keep an eye on the water level in the saucepan and top it up as needed.
Step 3: Cool, Strain, and Store
Remove the bowl from the heat and allow the oil to cool completely before straining. Pour it through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer, press out as much oil as you can from the herbs, then transfer to your sterilised [LINK: amber glass bottle]. Label with the date and contents.
Fresh vs. Dried Herbs: Which Should You Use?
Dried herbs are the better choice for oil infusions. The difference between using fresh vs. dried herbs for making infused oil comes down to moisture.
Fresh rosemary and lavender contain a significant amount of water, and water in any oil creates the conditions for bacterial growth and mould. Dried herbs do not contain moisture, which makes the infusion both safer and more shelf-stable.
Dried herbs also produce a stronger infusion. When the water content has evaporated, the aromatic compounds become more concentrated as the herb has more to give to the oil.
Fresh herbs can work, but they need to be wilted first. Spread them on a clean surface and leave them for one to two days to allow some of the moisture to evaporate before adding them to the jar. Even then, a fresh herb infusion is best used within a few weeks and stored in the fridge. For a longer-lasting oil you can keep at room temperature, dried herbs are the reliable option.
Choosing a Carrier Oil for Homemade Infused-Oil
Sweet almond oil is the recommended carrier for this recipe. It is lightweight, absorbs readily into the skin, and has a very mild scent that doesn’t compete with rosemary and lavender.
It is also widely available and reasonably priced, which makes it an easy default.
That said, the best carrier oil depends on what you plan to do with the finished infusion.
Here are some other carrier oils you can use to make rosemary lavender-infused oil:
- Jojoba Oil: Technically a liquid wax rather than an oil, jojoba has an exceptionally long shelf life and a very neutral character. A good choice if you want the herb fragrance to be the star, or if you plan to use the oil on your face or scalp,
- Fractionated Coconut Oil: Lightweight and fast-absorbing, with a long shelf life. Unlike regular coconut oil, the fractionated version stays liquid at room temperature, which makes it practical for infusions. A good all-purpose option.
- Grapeseed Oil: Very light, almost silky in texture, with a neutral scent. It absorbs quickly and leaves little residue — a good choice if you want a non-greasy feel.
- Olive Oil: Rich, nourishing, and deeply moisturising. Olive oil has its own distinctive scent, which some people enjoy alongside the herbs. It works well for body and hair use, but can feel heavy on the face.
- Sweet Almond Oil (default): Sits comfortably in the middle: not too heavy, not too light, mild in scent, and easy to find. A solid starting point for a first infusion.
How to Store Homemade Rosemary Lavender Infused Oil
Store the finished oil in a dark glass bottle in a cool, dark location away from direct sunlight and heat. Light and warmth are the main things that degrade oil quality over time, so a cupboard or pantry shelf is ideal.
An infusion made with dried herbs will typically keep for three to six months. Fresh herb infusions are best used within four to six weeks and benefit from refrigeration.
If the oil develops an off or rancid smell or becomes cloudy, it’s time to make a fresh batch. Labelling your bottle with the date you made it makes this easy to track.
5 Ways to Use Rosemary Lavender Infused Oil
Homemade rosemary lavender-infused oil is a versatile addition to a natural living routine.
As a Body Oil: Apply a small amount to damp skin after bathing while the skin is still slightly warm. It absorbs well and leaves the skin feeling soft with a lingering herbal scent.
In the Bath: Add a teaspoon or two to warm bath water just before stepping in. The oil disperses into the water and gives the whole soak a gentle herbal fragrance.
As a Massage Oil: Warm a few drops between your palms and use it for a slow self-massage. The texture is smooth, and the combined rosemary-lavender scent makes it a natural fit for a wind-down ritual.
In DIY Recipes: Swap in this infused oil wherever a recipe calls for a plain carrier oil. It adds fragrance and an herbal note to homemade sugar scrubs, bath salts, and hair masks without any extra steps.
For Cuticles and Nails: A small amount massaged into the cuticles each day keeps them soft and hydrated, with the bonus of that herb scent on your hands.
Try Making Other Herbal-Infused Oils
If you enjoy working with infused oils, there are plenty of other botanicals worth making at home. Each brings its own scent and character to DIY recipes and self-care routines.
Rose-Infused Oil: Softly floral with a romantic warmth, rose-infused oil adds a luxuriously silky feel to body oils and bath blends. A beautiful choice when you want something that feels a little more indulgent.
Dandelion-Infused Oil: Lightly grassy and pleasantly mild in scent, dandelion-infused oil feels wonderfully nourishing when worked into a slow self-massage or used as the carrier in homemade body butters.
Calendula-Infused Oil: Golden in colour and faintly sweet in scent, calendula-infused oil is a gentle, soothing classic that fits naturally into bath oils and everyday skin care.
Lavender-Infused Oil: Softly floral and unmistakably calming, lavender-infused oil is one of the simplest ways to bring that signature lavender scent into any DIY recipe or bath ritual.
Coffee-Infused Oil: Rich, warm, and surprisingly inviting, coffee-infused oil has an earthy depth that makes it a favourite for invigorating body scrubs and massage blends.
Yarrow-Infused Oil: Gently herbaceous with an earthy, green quality, yarrow-infused oil has a quiet, grounding scent that works well as a base for DIY skin balms.
FAQ: Rosemary Lavender Infused Oil
Can I use fresh rosemary and lavender to make infused oil?
You can, but dried herbs produce a safer, more shelf-stable infusion. Fresh herbs contain moisture that can cause mould or spoilage during the infusion period. If you want to use fresh, wilt the herbs on a clean surface for one to two days first to allow some of the water content to evaporate, and use the finished oil within a few weeks.
What is the best carrier oil for this recipe?
Sweet almond oil is a reliable all-round choice. It’s lightweight, mild in scent, and absorbs well. Jojoba is a good alternative if you want a longer shelf life, and fractionated coconut oil works well if you prefer a very light, fast-absorbing feel.
How long does the cold infusion method take?
Four to six weeks for a full cold infusion. Shake the jar gently every few days during that time to encourage the herbs to release their character into the oil.
How do I know when the oil is ready?
The oil will have taken on a slightly deeper colour, often a faint golden-green, and will smell clearly of rosemary and lavender. After four weeks, open the jar and give it a smell. If the herbal scent is strong and pleasing, it’s ready. If it’s still very faint, leave it for another week or two.
Can I speed up the infusion process if I don’t want to wait weeks to use it?
Yes, you can. The heat infusion method produces a finished oil in two to four hours using a double boiler on low heat. The cold method is preferred for fragrance preservation, but the heat method is a practical alternative when you don’t want to wait.
How long does rosemary lavender-infused oil last?
An infusion made with dried herbs and stored in a cool, dark place in a sealed bottle will typically keep for three to six months. Label your bottle with the date you made it so you can keep track. If the oil smells off or rancid at any point, make a fresh batch.
Can I add essential oils to the finished infusion?
You can. A few drops of rosemary essential oil lavender essential oil can deepen the scent of the finished infusion. Essential oils are highly concentrated, so use them sparingly — a little goes a long way in an already fragrant carrier.
Make & Use Rosemary-Lavender Infused Oil
Rosemary and lavender are one of those pairings that just go well together.
Once you’ve made a batch of rosemary-lavender infused oil, you’ll find yourself reaching for it often, whether it’s a little worked into bath water, stirred into a scrub, or simply smoothed onto skin after a shower.
The cold infusion method is worth the wait if you have the time. But if you’re in a hurry to use it in other DIY projects, the heat method will give you a beautifully fragrant oil by the end of the day.
Either way, the process to make rosemary lavender-infused oil is simple, and the results are genuinely lovely.
If you make a batch, I’d love to hear which method you tried and what you used it for. And if you’re ready to keep experimenting with herbal infusions, the links in the section above are a good place to start.
