Making Your Own Aromatic & Herbal Remedies

As a plant person, you likely already know this: Aromatic plants and herbs hold incredible healing potential. Beneath their beautiful scents and vibrant leaves lies a world of medicine, just waiting to be unlocked. But the key to accessing that power lies in how we work with them. The crafting methods we choose and the solvents we use can dramatically shape the herbal remedies we create and their effects on the body, mind, and spirit.

In this video blog, we’ll explore the foundational tools for making your own aromatic and herbal remedies. You’ll learn about different types of solvents and how each one influences what gets extracted and how the final product presents (plus practical tips on how to use them!) We’ll also cover 6 traditional types of aromatic medicine preparations: teas, tinctures, oil infusions, salves, hydrosols, and honey extracts. 

Whether you’re brand new to herbalism and aromatic medicine, or looking to deepen your practice, this article will give you the insights you need to craft potent, personalized home remedies from the aromatic plants you love. Let’s dive in.

There’s something profoundly healing about inhaling the scent of a freshly crushed Lemon Balm leaf or the bloom of a summer Rose. But as beautiful as those moments are, they’re often fleeting – and tied to the seasons. One of the gifts of working with aromatic plants is learning how to capture and preserve their essence, so you can return to their healing qualities anytime you need them. That’s where aromatic medicine preparations come in.

Aromatic medicine bridges the worlds of herbalism and aromatherapy, offering a more integrated approach to healing. It honors the many ways plants can support us – through scent and the limbic system, through internal use like teas and tinctures, and through topical application on the skin – offering holistic healing to the mind, body, and soul.

To create effective herbal remedies, we use solvents (also called menstruums). These are the carriers that extract and preserve a plant’s medicinal and aromatic compounds. Depending on the preparation you’re making, you might reach for water, alcohol, oil, honey, vinegar, glycerine, or even animal fats. Each solvent has unique properties, as some draw out water- or fat-soluble compounds while others excel at capturing essential oils or preserving formulas for the long haul.

Choosing the right solvent is essential to making a potent aromatic and herbal remedy. Let’s explore the most commonly used solvents, their strengths and limitations, and how they shape the final aromatic medicine preparation, whether it's a tea, tincture, honey extract, infused oil, salve, or hydrosol.

You’re probably already familiar with herbal teas (technically known as tisanes) since those little paper sachets filled with dried herbs are a staple on grocery store shelves everywhere. Tisanes use water as a solvent to extract the water-soluble compounds from herbs and aromatic plants. While most people enjoy them as a soothing beverage, herbal teas can also be used externally in a variety of ways: added to lotions, poured into herbal baths, used as hair rinses, or applied as a warm compress. What many don’t realize is that there’s more than one way to prepare a tisane, and the method you choose can influence its potency and purpose.

Pro Tip: Aromatic molecules are volatile oils that evaporate with the application of heat, so it's important to keep any herbal tea covered while you’re preparing it to keep the volatile oils in your preparation.

An herbal tea made by steeping herbs, flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, or fruits in hot water (typically pre-made, purchased tea sachet bags).

An herbal tea made by steeping loose herbs, flowers, or other delicate aerial plant materials in hot water while covered for 15-20 minutes before straining. (For some herbs, cold infusions are also commonly made by steeping the herbs in cold water overnight.)

An herbal tea made by simmering tougher plant materials, such as roots, bark, seeds, or berries, in a pot of water while covered for 15 to 30 minutes to extract their medicinal properties. Because these parts of the plant are denser and less water soluble than leaves or flowers, they require higher and prolonged heat to release their beneficial compounds.

Herbal tinctures are concentrated liquid extracts made by steeping medicinal herbs in a solvent to draw out their active constituents. The process typically involves macerating fresh or dried herbs in the chosen solvent over a period of weeks. During this time, the solvent pulls out a wide range of beneficial compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids, essential oils, and other bioactive constituents, creating a potent and shelf-stable extract. Tinctures are most commonly taken internally, but they can also be used topically on the skin as a liniment, which is a blend of equal parts alcoholic tincture and infused oil.

Alcohol is the most widely used and versatile menstruum in tincture making. It effectively extracts both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds, resulting in a full-spectrum herbal extract.

Raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a popular alcohol-free alternative. While it doesn’t extract as wide a range of constituents as alcohol, it excels at drawing out minerals and nutritive compounds, making it ideal for nutrient-rich aromatic plants like White Pine, which is high in vitamin C. Herbal vinegars are a great option for those avoiding alcohol, and the added enzymes and minerals from raw ACV provide extra health benefits.

Vegetable glycerin is another alcohol-free option that’s especially useful for extracting aromatic compounds. Though it’s not as strong a solvent as alcohol, glycerin is an excellent preservative, and its naturally sweet flavor helps make bitter or strong-tasting herbs more palatable.

A time-honored yet often overlooked type of herbal remedy, honey extracts (also known as electuaries) offer a delicious and accessible way to work with herbs. An electuary is a thick, paste-like preparation made by mixing dried powdered herbs with raw honey. This sweet, spoonable herbal remedy has been used for centuries as a tasty method of taking herbs, especially for those who find tinctures or teas less appealing. Electuaries can be taken on their own by the spoonful, stirred into warm water as an instant herbal tea, or blended into food and drink recipes for a nourishing herbal boost. 

Honey also plays a starring role in the creation of cordials, a blend of tincture and honey that combines the therapeutic potency of alcohol extracts with the sweetness of honey. Traditionally enjoyed after meals to support digestion or uplift the heart and spirit, cordials strike a beautiful balance between medicine and pleasure. Their rich, aromatic flavors make them a delightful way to incorporate herbal remedies into daily life.

Herbal oil infusions are foundational aromatic and herbal remedies made by steeping dried herbs, flowers, or resins in a carrier oil or animal fat (like tallow) to extract their healing properties. Common carrier oils include olive, jojoba, coconut, and almond oil, each offering its own skin-nourishing benefits. The herbs are infused over a period of several weeks, allowing the oil to draw out the plant’s fat-soluble compounds. To enhance or speed up the process, gentle, indirect heat is sometimes applied.

Oil infusions are especially valuable when working with aromatic plants, since many aromatic compounds are fat-soluble. This makes carrier oils an excellent medium for capturing their scent, therapeutic actions, and skin-supportive properties. An herbal-infused oil can be used in a variety of ways: applied directly to the skin; used for massage; incorporated into salves, balms, and lotions; or added to natural beauty products. Herbal-infused oils can also be taken internally – as long as the herb and carrier oil are safe for consumption. Rosemary-infused olive oil salad dressing, anyone? Yum!

Herbal salves and balms are rich, topical home remedies made by blending herbal-infused oils with a natural wax like beeswax or candelilla wax to create a smooth, semi-solid consistency. Designed for external use, salves and balms are applied directly to the skin to deliver targeted relief and promote healing. They often feature a thoughtful combination of herbs and resins chosen for their specific therapeutic properties, and may also include essential oils or other botanicals to boost their effectiveness. 

The main difference between salves and balms lies in their consistency and intended use. Both are made from similar base ingredients, but the proportions of these ingredients create distinct textures and purposes. Salves are typically softer and more spreadable due to a higher ratio of oil to wax. This makes them ideal for covering larger areas of skin. Salves are often used for soothing dry or irritated skin, healing minor cuts or scrapes, or relieving inflammation.

Balms, on the other hand, have a firmer, more solid texture because they contain a lower ratio of oil to wax. This denser consistency allows balms to stay in place longer, forming a protective barrier while delivering their benefits more deeply into the underlying layers of the skin. Balms are commonly used for targeted relief, such as muscle balms for concentrated aches and pains or protective skin barriers against harsh weather conditions.

Hydrosols, also known as hydrolats, are the gentle, aromatic waters that remain after steam distillation of plants. Often overshadowed by their more concentrated counterpart, essential oils, hydrosols are sometimes seen as a byproduct, but in truth, they’re a remarkable remedy in their own right. These fragrant waters contain water-soluble plant compounds, along with trace amounts of essential oils and other beneficial constituents. Their aroma is much softer and more subtle than essential oils, making them ideal for use in skincare, natural cosmetics, aromatherapy, herbal compresses, and even internal use (depending on the plant and preparation).

Hydrosols offer a beautiful way to work with aromatic plants in a more soft, sustainable, and accessible form. While traditional steam distillation is often done using a copper alembic still, many people are surprised to learn that you can make your own homemade hydrosols right on your stovetop – no fancy equipment required. It's a wonderful way to capture the living essence of a plant in water form, offering both therapeutic benefits and sensory delight.

Creating aromatic and herbal remedies is more than just crafting natural products – it's a pathway to deepening your relationship with the plants themselves. Each preparation, whether it’s a soothing tea, a potent tincture, a fragrant oil, or a nourishing salve, is a doorway into the ancient, living wisdom held within the botanical world.

By learning how to make your own herbal remedies, you begin to unlock the full potential of plants – not only preserving their medicine but transforming it into forms that offer their gifts, nourish your body, and support your healing journey. As your hands work with leaves, roots, flowers, and resins, you’re reclaiming an ancestral skill and reconnecting with the natural world.

Whether you’re seeking gentle self-care, deeper healing, or want to be able to craft home remedies for your loves ones, this journey into aromatic medicine beckons you to become both student and steward. Let this be your invitation: to learn, to create, and to remember that healing is a living art – one you can practice with your own hands. And the more you explore, the more the plants will reveal.

Are you ready to take your work with aromatic plants to the next level? Do you find yourself dreaming about making your own herbal remedies and aromatic preparations, but unsure where to begin? 

Now’s the time to bring those dreams to life.

Our Art of Aromatic Preparations Mini-Course is now open – just for a limited time! This hands-on mini-course features 6 in-depth video tutorials on the core aromatic medicine preparations covered in this video blog (plus the full 1+ hour video featured here). Led by our beloved instructor Erika Galentin, clinical herbalist and aromatherapist, you'll be guided step-by-step through each preparation, with expert insights, tips, and techniques woven throughout.

Video featuring Erika Galentin

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*The statements above have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are for educational purposes only. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your physician before you use this information for health purposes.