Yeah, temperature's definitely key, but sometimes it's also about how long you let things steep or infuse. If you end up with something too strong or off-smelling, diluting it with a neutral carrier oil (like almond or jojoba) can help mellow things out. Or you could blend it with another complementary herb to balance the scent. I've done that before when my lavender oil turned out way too intense—mixed it with chamomile, and it actually turned into something pretty nice... worth a shot maybe?
"Or you could blend it with another complementary herb to balance the scent."
That's a great suggestion. I've found blending really helps balance out any overly potent extracts. Another thing that worked for me once was letting the oil sit uncovered for a day or two—sometimes airing it out can mellow harsh notes. It doesn't always fix everything, but it's worth trying before diluting further and potentially losing some of the beneficial properties.
"Another thing that worked for me once was letting the oil sit uncovered for a day or two—sometimes airing it out can mellow harsh notes."
Interesting, never thought about airing it out like that. But wouldn't leaving it open risk losing some potency or even attracting dust and stuff? Knowing my luck, I'd probably end up with a weird herbal dust bunny concoction instead of a nice mellow scent, haha.
Speaking of blending herbs though, has anyone tried adding citrus peels or something similar to tone down strong herbal smells? I once accidentally made a peppermint tincture so strong it felt like mouthwash fumes were permanently stuck in my nose. Tossed in some lemon peel on a whim and surprisingly, it kinda worked...or maybe I just got used to smelling like toothpaste lemonade. Anyone else have luck with citrus or other random kitchen ingredients?
I've tried citrus peel before, and it does help a bit—especially with minty or medicinal smells. Orange peel worked better for me than lemon, seemed less sharp somehow. Another trick I've used is adding a tiny bit of vanilla extract; it rounds out harsh notes surprisingly well. Just gotta be careful not to overdo it, or you'll end up smelling like dessert... learned that the hard way, lol.
Vanilla's a clever idea, hadn't thought of that one. I've found lavender buds helpful too—just a pinch though, or it starts smelling like grandma's soap drawer... learned that lesson myself, haha.
