How do I make a DIY extract from an herb??
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free skin care · Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:51 am

I would like to make a DIY dill extract. Can I use vodka to make the extract? Do I boil it? If so, how long? Can I use a paper coffee strainer to strain it? I'm clueless. Thanks!

free skin care · Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:05 am

I used to make tinctures with 51% everclear and 49% distilled water. You'll have to google recommendations for how much plant material to use. (I think the standard is still 10:1, but I'm not sure.)No boiling. Use several layers of cheesecloth that you can disinfect with bleach between batches.

EDIT: If you want to make something else like a glycerol extract or whatever other fancy stuff they have these days, you'll definitely need to remember to add it to your heated phase.

free skin care · Wed Mar 05, 2014 4:59 pm

Tiptoedancer wrote:

I would like to make a DIY dill extract. Can I use vodka to make the extract? Do I boil it? If so, how long? Can I use a paper coffee strainer to strain it? I'm clueless. Thanks!

Hi Tiptoedancer, I would really like to know if you've succeeded with the Dill extract and how have you done it if so. TIA.

Chlorophyll wrote:

I used to make tinctures with 51% everclear and 49% distilled water. You'll have to google recommendations for how much plant material to use. (I think the standard is still 10:1, but I'm not sure.)No boiling. Use several layers of cheesecloth that you can disinfect with bleach between batches.

Hi Chlorophyll,I've only used alcohol/vodka to distill, or infused herbs in oil, and then just strained the resulting liquid, so I think I'm totally new to what you describe. What is everclear? Does it refer to alcohol in a certain grade? What are cheesecloths for? To keep the herb in them or to separate it from the resulting liquid/extract once done or ...?? Sorry but English is not my first language and I haven't clear what the process is. TIA.

free skin care · Thu Mar 06, 2014 9:14 am

This is one method done in a lab but you may be able to adapt it according to what you have:

"Method of making hydroalcholic extract of Dill
In order to make the hydroalcholic extract of Dill, leaf and stem of Dill were coverted in to powder by a mechnical mill after being dried in temperature 25 in outdoor air and shadow and later was poured in to a one-liter Erlen. Then, the Ethilic alchol of 96º was added so that it can cover the powder surface. After 24h the solution was purified. To the remaining scum the alchol of %70 was added and after 12h it was smooth. The total smoothed solutions by vacuum distiller at a temperature of 50 and a rotation speed of 70 periods per minute were thickening up to primary content. The attained solution was poured in to a Petri Dish and later was dried in an autoclave and a temperature of under 50 (Ahmadi, 2008)."
http://ijappjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/638-641.doc.pdf

Its an interesting raw extract but I can never get past the "dill pickle" odor.

Or, BASF has a commercial extract that doesnt stink but you need to buy megaamounts from them.

http://www.basf.com/group/corporate/us/en/brand/LYS_LASTINE_V

free skin care · Thu Mar 13, 2014 8:00 pm

Hi fawnie and many thanks for the explanations, I doubt I'll be able to do this part though: "The total smoothed solutions by vacuum distiller at a temperature of 50 and a rotation speed of 70 periods per minute were thickening up to primary content. The attained solution was poured in to a Petri Dish and later was dried in an autoclave and a temperature of under 50 (Ahmadi, 2008)."

free skin care · Fri Mar 14, 2014 8:32 am

You could adapt it Im sure according to what you have. It seems like it was airdried, then extracted with alcohol, then dried again.

free skin care · Sat Mar 15, 2014 4:10 pm

ATester wrote:

Hi fawnie and many thanks for the explanations, I doubt I'll be able to do this part though: "The total smoothed solutions by vacuum distiller at a temperature of 50 and a rotation speed of 70 periods per minute were thickening up to primary content. The attained solution was poured in to a Petri Dish and later was dried in an autoclave and a temperature of under 50 (Ahmadi, 2008)."

ATester, I did make my dill extract. It might not be in the most scientific manner but here's what I did. I got some vodka and both fresh and dried dill and put it together in a small jar and put it in the fridge for six weeks. After the sixth week was up I strained the mixture through a tea strainer then again through a coffee filter. I put the extract on the stove in a small flat pan and kept it slightly simmering for a few minutes. I stirred the mixture constantly until it was less "watery". After that I put it into a dark vial which has a dropper. I put 6 drops into my DIY face cream.

So there!

I'll let 'cha know how it works out on my skin. By the way, it doesn't have an unpleasant smell at all. I was surprised.

free skin care · Tue Mar 18, 2014 5:06 pm

Hi Tiptoedancer, thanks. I hadn't thought about the heating it up part afterwards, veeery good point if it doesn't harm the actives. Crossing fingers it works out good for you! Very Happy

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