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When I dismantled my gardens last autumn I stuffed a bunch of different herbs into jars, really cramming in the plant material. Then filled each jar to the top with vodka, capped, shook them and stored them in a cool, dark cupboard. I periodically shook the jars throughout the last couple of months and am now extracting the liquid to use as fragrances for soap.
Straining the plant material using a pestle to mash out all the liquid.
Also using some fruit extractions I made from peels and rinds. I'm really excited about the pineapple, it worked really well!
I also tried extracting some herbs in oil. I'm not sure I can really smell the herbs after 3 months but I'll see what others think (I'm impaired with a cold currently so my olfactory abilities are off). I used aromatics like sage and thyme. I would like to find a good extraction method alternative to alcohol for the flavors that are overwhelmed by the alcohol and to minimize the alcohol "fumes" that are always present even in really successful extractions. So far freezing has not been useful as a separation method for me to help decrease the undesired effects of the alcohol.
We used the extracts for the DePaul Urban Farming Organization's Soap Making Workshop.
