What is Glycerin?

Glycerin is a colorless, odorless, viscous, sweet tasting liquid. It is derived as a by-product of the soap making process when the fat molecules in fixed oils, like olive, almond, palm, or coconut, are split via the process of saponification.

Glycerin can be either derived from plants or animals. Most Herbalists, including myself, only work with vegetable based glycerin for extracting the properties of plants. Ideally, you want to choose glycerin that is from a sustainable source, non-genetically modified and organic.

Herbal Glycerites are also known as glyco-extracts and first came into use around the 1840’s. The solvent and preservative properties, as well as its pleasant sweet taste, make it ideal for adding to tinctures, vinegars, and water. When making herbs specifically for those sensitive to alcohol, or those sensitive to the common “bitter” taste of plants, like children, fresh herbs are often purely extracted in glycerin.

Glycerin extracts a wide variety of constituents. However, it does not work well at extracting highly resinous plant material, such as tree resin. By itself, Glycerin, has a very cooling, moistening, and soothing effect. This is something to keep in mind when diving into formulating.

Ideally, to protect the preservative properties of herbal glycerites, it’s ideal to have at least 70-80% glycerin in the total menstruum. The other 20-30% can be pure water.

Glycerin has the ability to truly capture the taste of fresh plant material. Therefore, I generally recommend sticking to fresh aromatic plants, such as Chamomile, Anise Hyssop and Lemon Balm for glycerites. Although, you can make an herbal glycerin out of any plant if you

How to make an Herbal Glycerin

Folk Method

This is the preferred method if you do not want to do any math. 

Refer to the Folk Method video in the previous Tincture lesson for a visual guide.

What you will need

Ingredients

Plant material, fresh (preferred) or dried

Vegetable Glycerin

Materials

Mason jar

Liquid measuring cup

Scissors or other tool for chopping plant material

Directions for Folk Method 

1. Chop the fresh plant material as small as possible. The more finely an herb is chopped, the more surface area will be covered during the maceration (or extraction) process.

2. Fill your Mason jar about ¾ full of freshly chopped herbs

3. Pour your glycerin over the plant material, leaving 1/2 - 1 inch of head space in your jar.

4. Put the lid on your mason jar and close it tightly.

Optional:

If using other solvents, such as alcohol, vinegar, or water with your glycerin, be sure to mix together all the liquids first, then pour this mixture over the herbs in your Mason jar. Make sure you completely cover the plant material, so that their is at least 1/4 inch of menstruum floating above the fresh herbs.

Example of using other solvents:

2 cup fresh Lemon Balm leaves

1 cup glycerin

1/2 cup alcohol

1/2 cup water

* Adding other solvents with the glycerin decreases the extreme sweetness that glycerin offers

Using dry plant material

When using dry plant material, you will follow the same steps, however, I suggest filling your jar ½ way full, rather than 3/4 full with your herbs, and then topping up with your glycerin (also known as your menstruum in herbalism).

Labeling

After you have your jar filled and the cap securely on, make sure to label your jar.

I suggest writing down the following on your label:

1. What kind of menstruum you used.

2. Whether you used fresh or dried herbs.

3. The common name and the Latin name of the plant used

4. The date you made the glycerin.

5. Optional: Moon Cycle and/or any other inspiration (Where you harvested your herbs, etc.)

Glycerite Care

Let the mixture macerate, shake the jar every day and store it in a cool, dark place. Make sure the herbs stay covered with glycerin, and add more if needed. This is a great time to put good energy into your herbal creation and visualize all the ways it is going to help you once it’s finally ready.

Pressing your glycerin

Materials:

Mason jar with your glycerin/herb mixture

Muslin or cheesecloth and a rubber band or twine

Labels

Amber dosage bottles

Small funnel

Large bowl

After 4-6 weeks have passed, you can then press out your glycerin

Here is the process:

1. Unscrew the lid of your Mason jar.

2. Put your muslin or cheesecloth over the top of your jar and secure it tightly.

3. Flip over the jar above a large bowl to drain out the liquid while separating the herb.

4. Once all the liquid has drained out into the bowl, pour the remaining leftover plant material into your cheesecloth.

5. Using both your hands, squeeze out any remaining liquid from the herb.

6. Pour that liquid (which is now your herbal glycerite) into a liquid measuring cup.

7. Place your small funnel in the mouth of your amber bottle

8. Carefully pour your liquid into your amber bottle.

The number of bottles you’ll need to store your tincture will depend on the amount initially created. You can also put the glycerite back into the original Mason jar you used until proper storage is found