At the heart of natural cosmetics, the quality of the ingredients and the way they are processed play a crucial role. One of the key aspects that sets this industry apart from conventional cosmetics is the dedication to the purity and effectiveness of the plant ingredients used. One of the processes that underscores these values is maceration, a method of extracting vegetable oils that captures the full power and natural fragrance of plants.
But what makes macerates so special and why are they preferred over other processes such as drying and powder addition?
What is maceration?
Discover the magic of maceration, an ancient physical process that unlocks the full potential of botanicals by extracting volatile or unstable ingredients. Maceration is a traditional, loving and time-consuming process to obtain vegetable oils. Plant parts such as flowers, leaves or roots are soaked in a carrier oil - such as olive, almond or jojoba oil - and macerated over a longer period of time, i.e. soaked. During this process, the oil-soluble active ingredients and fragrances contained in the plants dissolve in the carrier oil.
The advantages of macerating care oils
Compared to other processes, maceration offers a number of advantages:
1. Preservation of the active ingredients: maceration allows the valuable properties of the plants to be preserved in their most natural form. Unlike drying, where many active ingredients and aromas can be lost, maceration preserves the full potency of the plants.
2. Intensity and Purity of Oils: Macerates can be more intense and purer than oils made by adding powder. Powders can contain undesirable substances and affect the purity of the oil, while macerates only contain the pure active ingredients and aromas of the plants.
3. Sustainability: Maceration is a gentle, environmentally friendly process that does not require heat or chemical solvents. This allows us to use the gifts of nature in their purest form while minimizing our ecological footprint.
When using macerates in skin care products, such as after sun aloe vera oil or calendula oil , the skin can benefit from these beneficial properties and at the same time experience the purity and naturalness of these care oils.
DIY macerates: It's that easy to make your own care oils
Would you like to create your own macerate and take your skin care to a whole new level? Here's a simple step-by-step guide on how to do it. We use almond oil and jojoba oil as examples, but you can use other carrier oils depending on your preferences and skin needs.
Materials:
- Plant material of your choice (e.g. lavender blossoms, chamomile blossoms, marigold blossoms)
- Carrier oil of your choice ( almond oil or jojoba oil )
- A clean glass jar with a lid
- A fine sieve or cheesecloth for straining
- A dark glass vial for storage
Steps:
1. Preparation of the plant material: First you need to prepare the plant material. If you're using fresh plants, let them sit for a few hours after harvest to allow any moisture content to evaporate. You can skip this step for dried plants.
2. Fill the jar: Fill the jar about halfway with the plant material, then pour in the carrier oil until the material is completely covered. Close the jar and shake it well to ensure the oil reaches all parts of the plant.
3. Maceration: Leave the jar in a warm, dark place for about 2-4 weeks. Shake it well every day to encourage extraction of the active ingredients.
4. Strain: After maceration, filter the oil through a fine sieve or cheesecloth into a clean glass jar. Squeeze the plant matter well to extract as much oil as possible.
5. Storage: Fill your finished macerate into a dark glass bottle and store it in a cool, dark place. It stays fresh for a long time and the active ingredients are preserved.
Now you have your own macerate, ready to use in your skincare routine! Whether as body oil, massage oil or in homemade creams and ointments - the possibilities are endless. Have fun experimenting!
Our innovative method of macerating fresh plants for care oils convinces with:
- Oxygen exclusion: Through this technique we keep the peroxide number low and the quality high.
- Harvest freshness: With our lightning-fast processing from field to production in just 10 minutes, we ensure freshness and quality.
- Maximum proportion of active ingredients: Our individual production method varies depending on the plant species in order to achieve the best possible concentration of active ingredients. With our St. John's wort oil, for example, the influence of natural sun is indispensable.
