How to Make Your Own Peppermint-Infused Oil

Peppermint oil is commonly used for relaxation and reducing stress, and there’s actually evidence that it can help with tension headaches, abdominal pain, and digestion problems. Making your own peppermint oil at home is really simple. All you need is peppermint leaves, olive oil (or a similar oil), and a jar! In this article, we’ll explain how to make peppermint-infused oil, what it’s used for, and how the oil you make at home is different from essential oil. Let’s get started!

How to Make Peppermint Oil

Wash and dry about 1/2 cup (13 g) of peppermint leaves.
Crush the leaves and pack them into a small jar.
Cover the leaves with about ¹⁄₂ c (120 ml) of olive or almond oil.
Seal the jar and let it steep for 24–48 hours, swirling the oil regularly.
Strain the leaves out of the oil.
Repeat with new leaves if you want stronger oil.
Store the oil in a sealed jar in a dry, dark place for up to 6 months.

Section 1 of 3:

Making Peppermint-Infused Oil

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1
Gather about 1/2 cup (13 g) of peppermint leaves. Ideally, the peppermint should come fresh from your garden or a similar source. If that’s not an option, it’s perfectly fine to pick up a bundle or two at the grocery store.^{[1]
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Research source} Gently remove the leaves from the stems—the stems will make the oil bitter.
- This type of peppermint oil is an infusion. It’s not as strong as a distilled essential oil, but it’s easy to make at home.
- It’s fine to use more leaves if you want to make a bigger batch of peppermint oil. Just make sure to use enough oil to fully cover the leaves.
Tip: If you’re picking your own peppermint, the best time to harvest the leaves is before the plant flowers, in the morning after the dew dries. This is when the oil in the leaves is most potent.^{[2]
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Wash and dry your peppermint leaves. Place the leaves in a colander or mesh strainer and run a stream of water over them to rinse away dust, dirt, and debris. Giving your peppermint a good preliminary rinsing helps ensure that no foreign substances end up in your finished oil. When you’re finished, lay the leaves out on a clean dish towel or folded paper towels and let them air dry.
- Inspect your peppermint leaves while you’re washing them and throw out any that look diseased, damaged, or discolored.^{[3]
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- If necessary, smooth the leaves with the pad of your finger to keep them from folding or curling as they dry.
- Your peppermint leaves need to be completely dry before you begin the oil extraction process.
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Muddle the peppermint leaves gently with a heavy, blunt object. Use a mortar and pestle, mallet, or the back of a spoon to crush the leaves against a hard, solid surface. Be gentle, so you don’t destroy the leaves—just use light, even pressure.^{[4]
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- Muddling causes plants to release their natural oils, and is one of the most important steps in making infused oils at home.
- Be careful not to grind the leaves too much, as this can cause them to become bitter and make them harder to strain later on. Crush them just enough to unlock their aromatic essence.^{[5]
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- If you prefer, you can simply tear and squeeze your peppermint leaves by hand to get a similar effect to muddling.
4
Transfer the crushed leaves to a small jar. Scoop up the leaves and pack them into the bottom of your container. Add as many leaves to the container as you can fit, but be sure to leave enough room at the top for its contents to move around a little.
- Use a container with an airtight lid, as exposure to air can cause plant oils to spoil.
- A container made from glass or ceramic will work best, as you won’t have to worry about these materials contaminating your oil the way you would with plastic or metal.
5
Cover the leaves with about ¹⁄₂ c (120 ml) of mild, unscented carrier oil. Pour in just enough oil to leave the peppermint completely submerged. When you’re done, give the jar a shake to swirl the leaves around and help them become better incorporated into the carrier oil.^{[6]
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- Keep in mind that too high a ratio of carrier oil to peppermint will lower the concentration of your finished oil.
Tip: Olive, grapeseed, almond, jojoba, and fractionated coconut, and wheat germ oil are all mild oil varieties that are well-suited for preparing oil infusions at home.^{[7]
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Leave the jar to sit in a warm, dark place for 24–48 hours. Seal the jar up tight and situate it in a corner of your kitchen, pantry, bathroom, or porch. Any area will work as long as it’s not overly hot or cool. For this reason, it’s also a good idea to keep your oil out of direct sunlight.
- If you live in a colder climate, place your jar near a heat source or inside an insulated cabinet to keep it at the optimum temperature.
- Warmer temperatures will encourage more of the oil in the peppermint leaves to escape.
7
Strain the infused oil through a piece of cheesecloth. After letting your peppermint steep overnight, remove the lid from the jar and drape the cheesecloth over the opening. Tilt the jar over a second container so that the oil flows out through the cheesecloth. If there are any leaf remnants left in the oil, strain it again or remove them by hand.
- Cheesecloth or muslin cloth will provide the best results for straining. You can also use a fine mesh strainer, if you prefer.
- Other types of DIY strainers, such as paper towels and coffee filters, may not work well due to the thickness of the oil.
- Stretching a rubber band around the mouth of the jar will help secure the cheesecloth while you work.
Warning: Leaving bits of plant material behind in your peppermint oil may cause it to go bad faster.^{[8]
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Add a new batch of peppermint leaves to the oil to make it stronger. Prepare your second bunch of leaves the same way you did the first, using just enough pressure to break the outer surface and free the oils inside. Avoid grinding or tearing the leaves into too-small pieces.^{[9]
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- If you’re happy with the potency of the peppermint oil after the first batch, it’s okay to skip this part.
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Continue steeping and straining to increase your oil's potency. Repeat the initial steps as many times as needed to until your oil reaches the desired strength. This will usually take around 2–3 days, though you could keep adding new leaves for up to a week.^{[10]
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- With each round of steeping and straining, you’ll notice your peppermint oil growing darker in color and giving off a stronger aroma.
- You may not be able to tell much of a difference in the concentration of your oil after about a week.
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Seal the jar and store your peppermint oil for up to 3–6 months. Once sealed, the jar will help preserve the freshness of your oil until you’re ready to use it. To maximize your oil’s longevity, keep it in a cool, dark place at or slightly below room temperature, and be sure to reseal the jar promptly after each use.
- The shelf life of homemade peppermint oil may vary depending on the exact quantity produced and the amount of plant material left behind.
- If you notice your peppermint oil developing a strange color or odor after a few months, it’s best to throw it out and whip up a new batch.^{[11]
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Section 2 of 3:

Uses For Peppermint Oil

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1
Use peppermint-infused oil in recipes. Mint oil can add a delicious, refreshing twist to your favorite recipe.^{[12]
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Research source} Try using it in a sauce for grilled lamb or vegetables, drizzle a few drops into a fresh soup, or add a minty twist to hot chocolate or your next cocktail.
- Choose a food-grade oil like olive oil or almond oil if you’re planning to use your infusion for cooking.
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Mix the oil with water and spritz it around your home to deter pests. Many insects and rodents dislike the strong smell of peppermint, so it can be an effective way to keep pests away from your home. Mix a little of your peppermint infusion with hot water and add it to a spray bottle. Then, spray it around doorways, windows, and baseboards.^{[13]
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- As a bonus, this will add a pleasant scent to your home!
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Use peppermint oil as a moisturizer on your hair and skin. Peppermint oil is commonly used as an ingredient in skincare and haircare products. It’s often used as a moisturizing scalp treatment, and its astringent properties can help inflamed skin feel cooled and refreshed. Some people also use it to help with acne because of its antibacterial properties.^{[14]
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- Massage a little oil onto your temples—it may help relieve headaches. Breathing in the aroma may also help improve nausea.^{[15]
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- Test the oil on a small area of your skin first: Peppermint essential oil can be a little strong for skin—it needs to be diluted with a carrier oil before it’s used topically. This homemade infused peppermint oil is already diluted, so it’s less likely to cause skin irritation, but it’s still a good idea to test it on a small area first.
- Don’t use peppermint oil on children under 30 months. Peppermint may increase the risk of seizures in children younger than 2 1/2.^{[16]
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Section 3 of 3:

Infused Peppermint Oil vs. Peppermint Essential Oil

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Peppermint essential oil is made by distilling the leaves. To make peppermint essential oil, you need a still. The leaves are submerged in water, then heated. As the water evaporates, the oils from the leaves are distilled into a separate container. This creates a much stronger finished product.
- Distilling requires specialized equipment, and you have to use a lot of caution because the still operates under pressure and at high temperatures.
- Making infused oil is a lot safer and easier at home, but the infused oil isn’t as strong as distilled oil would be.

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What are the health benefits of peppermint oil, if any?

Ritu Thakur, MA
Natural Health Care Professional
Dr. Ritu Thakur is a healthcare consultant based in Delhi, India. She has over 14 years of experience in Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and Holistic Care. Dr. Ritu also works as a business consultant in the life sciences domain. She has successfully executed 150+ small to large-scale custom consulting projects for both established and development-stage companies. She received her Bachelor Degree in Medicine (BAMS) in 2009 from BU University, Bhopal followed by her Master's in Health Care in 2011 from Apollo Institute of Health Care Management, Hyderabad.

Ritu Thakur, MA

Natural Health Care Professional

Expert Answer

Peppermint oil is a well known essential oil that's known for its ability to cool and refresh you. It is a great mood enhancer and can be applied topically to relieve muscle pain, headaches, itching, burning, and clogged sinuses.

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You can use your homemade peppermint oil as a holistic remedy for headaches and stomach aches, a relaxation aid in aromatherapy, or meditation.^{[17]
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Peppermint oil can be used to help reduce stress.^{[18]
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Mix a little peppermint oil in with your other favorite essential oils to create your own unique blends for different uses.

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