Rancidity of infused oils?

[Hermes]

Greetings from Canada. I am happy to see that ‘social media’ has not replaced considered intelligent online forums. This is my first post here.

While I had zero issues creating herbal infused oils from dried herbs set in the sun or more often in front of fireplace, this year growing my own herb garden (medicinal, aromatic and culinary, e.g. mints, artemesias. flowering tobacco) and infusing fresh plant material seems to have been a disaster. I don’t know if it was due to the presence of a high pollen plant (CBD hemp) nearby, or infusing fresh plant material for months instead of weeks, or some issue with the mostly Mason jar seals or those fancy clamp down tops like some beer bottles have – but more than half the bottles of 3-5 month infused on my garden fence oils smell weird. Some of them at inspection after a few weeks had black inside on the top. But almost all have a foggy yellowy look and a weird smell. I used the same oils as with dried when there were zero problems.

How to avoid this this coming season?

And, how to test if these oils really did get some sort of infection?

For the long story look up on Reddit these keywords: herbal infused oils ruined pollen.

[Hermes]

Ah, I may be answering my own question… Reading about using fresh herbs for infused oils I just discovered a possible risk – botulism. Ouch!

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Dry herbs are best. I wouldn’t do it in the sun either unless you put it in a brown paper bag. Photons are bad for medicine.

The best way is to do it in a double boiler. Much less mold risk that way.

Put in a few drops of Vit E as well.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Author]

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