How to make sage oil

Fresh and aromatic sage infusion makes a great addition to your kitchen cabinet however its medicinal properties may be also beneficial for body and hair.

Known for its strong aroma, the sage infusion is popular to use in savory recipes and also as a common ingredient in holiday stuffing. Turning its leaves into potent sage infused oil enables us to use and preserve its aroma and benefits all year long.

There is a large selection of herbed oils at high-end grocery stores and specialty cooking shops, but they can be quite expensive. Moreover, these herbal oils are often processed and may have been sitting on a shelf for months. 

Fortunately, herbal infused oils are easy to make and allow us to select the very best ingredients that make a strong sage infusion. They make wonderful homemade gifts too.

Sage oil recipe calls just for two ingredients

Olive oil

Infusing herbs in oil for cooking requires a good quality of olive oil. I prefer extra virgin olive oil that sits a bit higher on the supermarket shelf than ordinary olive oil. The main difference is in the way the oil has been processed. The manufacturers used cold processing when making extra virgin olive oil thus keeping most of its medicinal benefits, original yellowish color and pleasant taste that is a bit fruity and peppery. 

Ordinary olive oil has been processed with heat thus is rather flavorless, light in color with less antioxidants and medicinal benefits. 

Sage

Sage (Salvia Officinalis) also called common sage or garden sage is a well known culinary and medicinal herb that has a long history of uses. While Americans burned sage in spiritual rituals, the French enjoyed its leaves brewed into a potent sage tea to improve digestion or sore throat. Chinese used sage as a remedy for addressing infertility and symptoms of menopause.

Nowadays, people like its unique flavor to complement various dishes or use sage for its medicinal properties.

Dried or fresh herbs for infusion?

If you happen to have fresh sage at your hands, just remove the leaves from the stems, you can use this herb stripping tool. Wash it and dehydrate it ideally in a salad spinner. We could use fresh sage leaves for the sage infusion, but to be on the safe side, I prefer to get rid of the moisture and avoid mold formation.

Sage retains much of its flavor after it is dried so there is no need to take a risk. 

We can either air dry the sage leaves or use wilted leaves. 

Wilting is the first stage of drying that removes sufficient moisture without affecting the medicinal properties. Bear in mind that wilted leaves will shrink a bit in its volume. Thus for one cup of wilted sage leaves, you will need two cups of fresh. Spread the leaves on the parchment paper or drying screen, away from direct sun. Let them sit for 24 hours before infusing them in the oil. If you have some extra sage leaves make this delicious sage butter sauce.

Sage oil benefits

Packed with Antioxidants

Sage infused oil contains antioxidants that are linked to impressive medicinal benefits such as lowering risk of cancer risk or improving memory

May Ease Menopause Symptoms

Sage contains compounds that have properties similar to estrogen thus helping during menopause when one experiences estrogen decline. In this study, daily use of a sage supplement significantly reduced the number of hot flashes and their intensity over the period of eight weeks.

Improve memory and brain function

The antioxidants as well as presence of acetylcholine may improve memory, problem-solving and other cognitive abilities. 

Sage oil benefits for skin

Thanks to its antioxidant properties sage infusion makes an ideal ingredient in skincare products that inhibit the signs of aging.

Sage infusion is believed to relieve muscle and joint pain associated with inflammation and other symptoms of arthritis and strains thus very suitable to use as a massage oil.

Sage-infused olive oil is known to soothe the redness, soreness, and itching that is characteristic of skin conditions such as dermatitis.

Sage infused oil is a popular oil that has been used for thousands of years as a natural remedy, often for minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, burns, and irritation

Sage hair benefits

The moisturizing and conditioning properties of sage infused oil help soothe irritation, prevent dandruff, and at the same time cleanse the scalp and remove the greasy feeling caused by excessive oil. Sage tea can be also used as a hair rinse.

Similarly, work rosemary beard oil for beard.

how to make sage oil

There are two methods you can choose to make homemade sage oil, slow traditional method is my favorite however requires at least 4 weeks of maceration to achieve the desired result.

First step

Gather one cup of wilted sage leaves  and place them in a sterilized jar 

Second step

fill the sterilized jar with wilted sage leaves.

Third step

Pour over the extra virgin olive oil to cover all herbal material with the oil.

Fourth step

Close the jar with a lid and place it in a cool and dark place for 4 weeks. You need to shake from it time to time and make sure that the oil won’t evaporate. 

Faster method of infusion

The second method is much faster because it uses heat for the herb to release its medicinal benefits and flavors into oil.

Use a double boiler where you place the uncovered jar with sage and olive oil. It is important to watch out for the temperature as it should not exceed 50C (120F). I use a thermometer and check for evaporation. Let the infusion simmer for 5 hours.  

Fifth step

Strain the mixture with the cheesecloth, store in a sterilised jar in a dark place away from direct sunlight. Don’t forget to label it!

How to use sage oil

Sage oil for cooking

• This sage olive oil replaces fresh sage leaves so every time you need to use sage leaves use the oil instead. In baked, stewed or cooked dishes sage oil give them extra savor and unique aroma.
• This sage infusion is the most used in the preparation of holiday stuffing and it pairs well with poultry. Use it on the skin when you are preparing baked or grilled chicken or turkey. It will surprise you with its unique flavor.
• Add it to pasta dishes
• I like to use sage infusion when marinating the poultry or fish.

Sage oil for hair

Sage Oil is believed to promote hair health and may help decrease the chances of hair loss.

Mix one tablespoon of sage infused oil with 3 drops of rosemary essential oil and 3 drops sage essential oil and massage it into your scalp twice a day to encourage healthy hair growth. Warm 60 ml (2 oz) of sage oil in the double boiler and add 30 drops of Sage Essential Oil. 

Massage the sage infusion into the scalp and smooth it down over the strands until the ends are also coated. Leave head covered in a shower cap for 30 minutes and then wash the hair with a regular shampoo.

Sage massage oil

Make a massage blend that addresses sweats experienced during the time of menopause. Mix 1 oz (30 ml) of sage oil with 10 drops of Sage Essential Oil and 10 drops of Lime Essential Oil. Massage it to the affected area. 

Gently massage this sage infusion into your skin from head to toe. Use its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to relax your joint pain associated with inflammation, tenderness, and stiffness. 

as a base to make salves, lotions, or creams