Rosemary oil: what it is for and how it is prepared

The substance we call rosemary oil , which is actually a vegetable oil that has been made to absorb the properties of rosemary by maceration, is not the same as rosemary essential oil . The latter is obtained by distilling the plant in question, in this case rosemary.

Essential oils are always highly concentrated substances, which contain the properties of the plant with a high potency. Due to this, the essential oil must be handled very carefully, always following the dosage and concentration recommendations, always guided by a professional.

The vegetable oil of rosemary does not have these contraindications, because not being in such a high concentration can be used without danger, even topically applied directly or added to our plates.

Learn more about essential oils with this comprehensive, hands-on AgroCorrn guide on What are essential oils .

There are many properties of rosemary that we can take advantage of through its oils. From its gastronomic value as a cooking ingredient, to its multiple beneficial properties for the skin and many more. Let’s see some of them:

Rosemary oil properties

• Diuretic
• Healing
• Antiseptic
• Analgesic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antispasmodic
• Antirheumatic
• Stimulating tonic
• Stimulates the nervous system and memory
• Emmenagogue
• Antioxidant
• Digestive
• Appetizer
• Carminative
• Astringent
• Hepatoprotective
• Choleretic
• Expectorant

Rosemary oil benefits

• Rosemary oil for hair: helps to care for and clean all types of hair and the scalp, notably improving hair health, helping to eliminate dandruff and stimulating hair growth.
• Rosemary oil for bad breath: used as a mouthwash, its antibacterial properties fight bad breath and provide a very pleasant freshness.
• Rosemary oil for menstrual cramps: applied topically with a massage on the lower abdomen, it helps soothe the pain and swelling that menstruation can cause.
• Rosemary oil for the skin: its multiple properties help fight both some skin problems and signs of aging. Apply it directly with a massage on the skin and you will see how it improves its appearance.
• Rosemary oil as anti-inflammatory: Whether it is to alleviate an inflamed muscle contracture, swelling from a blow, or to reduce joint inflammation or rheumatism pain, applied rosemary oil is a great option. This natural remedy provides a relaxation of the muscle or the joint area and reduces inflammation, so a rapid improvement is noticed. In the case of contractures and if you need to reactivate circulation, it is very effective to use this plant but in another format for massage: rosemary alcohol.
• Rosemary oil for wounds: where there is a superficial wound on the skin, the accumulation of harmful bacteria should be avoided. For this, this natural oil is very good because it is antiseptic and healing, so it helps prevent infections and heal faster.
• Rosemary oil for memory and concentration: the strong and pleasant smell of rosemary stimulates the nervous system and activates us. Thanks to its composition, it improves circulation, especially brain circulation, favoring the oxygenation of this organ, which facilitates concentration and retention of knowledge and improves memory. For more information you can consult this other article on The smell of rosemary increases memory up to 75% .

Preparing vegetable oil is very easy and is available to anyone, which is not the same with the essential oil, which is very difficult to prepare yourself. Follow these instructions on how to make rosemary oil step by step and this way you will have one homemade and cheaply.

1. You will need dried rosemary, because although this oil can also be made with fresh rosemary, we advise you to preferably use the dry one. In any case, you can dry it at home without problems, you just need to leave it in a dry and ventilated area.
2. Prepare a jar or container in which to pour the desired amount of rosemary. You can add both loose leaves and dry branches. The more rosemary you add, the higher its concentration in the oil. However, you should not worry too much about this, with this method you cannot make a higher concentration than recommended, which could happen with the essence (for this reason, the entire process of essential oil production must be calculated very well ).
3. Now you will also need the oil base. Here we recommend olive oil or, failing that, almond oil or another vegetable that you have at your fingertips (calendula, coconut, argan …), choose the one you prefer.
4. Fill the jar with the oil and with the rosemary.
5. Stir well so that the rosemary and oil are distributed and mix properly.
6. Cover the container and let it marinate for 40 days in a cool, dark and dry place.
7. After that time, you just have to strain the oil to separate the solid residue from the rosemary and you already have your homemade rosemary vegetable oil.

If you want to have this fresh plant at home to use in the kitchen and also to prepare this oil that you can use to benefit from all that has been discussed, we recommend these AgroCorrn gardening guides on How to plant rosemary and How to care for the potted rosemary plant . Also, below you can see our video about rosemary oil.