salve makers/oil infusers...an oil question

[3bees~1flower]

i just started my first oil infusion in my crockpot (i'm so excited!!!)....i haed ordered 16 oz of organic extra virgin olive oil....well this won't go very far...i just bought some bertolli extra light olive oil and was wondering if that would be ok to use? thanks for your input...

i do have some safflower oil as well...would that work for making lip balm?

[seraph]

Safflower is probably better for lip balm, even extra light olive oil tends to overpower flavorings. My favorite lip balm recipe is 1 c oil 1/4 c beeswax, 2 tbsp (shea, mango, cocoa) butter, flavorings (I use essential oils, usually tangerine or peppermint, about 1/2 tsp) and then a few Vit E capsules squeezed in or 2 tsp wheat germ oil. This makes a nice consistency. I usually use almond oil and shea butter, sometimes mango butter with the tangerine.
I actually make this in the microwave. : I microwave the beeswax in 2 minute bursts in a glass measuring cup, usually it takes 5-6 minutes to melt, then I add the oil and let it go another minute until the beeswax melts back in. Take it out, add the shea butter, let it cool a bit, add the E/wheat germ and flavorings, pour into containers. I've also done this on the stove using a glass measuring cup in a pot of boiling water, sort of a makeshift double boiler.

[3bees~1flower]

how do you know if you have enough herbs in the oil...i don't have anything to measure oz?

[3bees~1flower]

ok...i just made my first batch of salve....my oil infusion consisted of calendula, lavender, and chamomile in organic extra virgin olive oil....is the infusion still supposed to smell mostly like the oil? it seems so dominant even after i added cocoa butter, lanolin, patchouli eo, and lavender eo...it also has wheat germ oil in it. will the olive oil smell lessen as it sets up? what are other good oils for using in salves?

[Marco Esquandolas]

It smells kinda peppery, doesn't it? I had trouble with using extra virgin olive oil when I would actually infuse stuff myself. About the only other thing you can do is use other oils to infuse with like other veggie oils or cheaper priced oils like grapeseed or sunflower? maybe, or apricot kernel or avocado or almond or jojoba, or....basically anything that can be used as a carrier oil will work for infusions, so far as I know. Just look for the cheapest price with the lightest scent is all I know. I think for myself, I ended up settling on grapeseed oil to do infusions. Don't hold me to this though.