Filtering definitely helps with tinctures, but oils can be trickier since they're thicker and don't evaporate as easily. I messed up a chamomile oil extraction once—ended up smelling kind of musty and overpowering instead of calming and nice. What saved it for me was diluting it with a neutral carrier oil (I used jojoba, but almond or grapeseed would probably work too). It toned down the weird smell and made it usable, at least. Maybe you could try something similar?
Also, random thought—did you use fresh or dried lavender? Fresh herbs can have extra moisture that sometimes makes oils go funky, especially if they're not totally dry first. Could that be part of the issue?
Diluting with a neutral oil definitely sounds like a smart workaround—but honestly, sometimes if an extraction goes weird, it's just better to start from scratch. I've had a couple herbal oil mishaps myself (tried rosemary once and it ended up smelling more like old socks than anything remotely herbal...). Even after diluting, the funky smell lingered beneath the surface no matter what I did. I think your point about fresh vs dried herbs is spot on, though I'd argue fresh herbs aren't always the villain they're made out to be. I've made lavender oil from fresh flowers before without issues, but the key was being extra careful about drying them out thoroughly beforehand—like leaving them spread out on paper towels for a day or two until they lost most of their moisture. So maybe fresh herbs aren't inherently problematic; it's more about how you prep them. Just my two cents...
"tried rosemary once and it ended up smelling more like old socks than anything remotely herbal..."
Haha, been there! Ever tried peppermint oil extraction? I thought it'd be foolproof—fresh mint smells amazing, right? Nope. Mine turned out smelling like toothpaste gone wrong. Diluting didn't help much either. Agree with you on the drying step though; moisture seems to be the sneaky culprit most times. Maybe it's just trial and error until we find that sweet spot...or maybe some herbs are just cursed?
I had a similar mishap with lavender once—thought I'd end up with something calming, but instead got this weird medicinal smell that lingered way too long. I think temperature control might be another sneaky factor. I noticed when I tried a slower, cooler extraction next time, the scent improved a lot. Has anyone else noticed temperature making a difference, or was I just lucky on round two?
I've definitely noticed temperature matters, especially with herbs like mint or rosemary. Once, I tried extracting mint oil at higher heat, thinking it'd speed things up. Big mistake... ended up smelling like toothpaste gone wrong. Next time, I kept it cooler and slower, and the scent was way fresher and more natural. Seems like gentle heat helps preserve those delicate notes better. Might not be the only factor, but definitely something to keep in mind.
