How to Make Rosehip Oil

Co-authored by Ritu Thakur, MA and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: October 16, 2024 Approved

You've probably seen rose hip oil in skin care products, aromatherapy blends, and hair treatments. You can easily make this expensive oil at home using rose hips that you've gathered from a rose plant or purchased locally. Warm the rose hips with oil in a slow cooker until the oil is infused. Or for a no-heat version, dry the rose hips and mix them with the oil. Let the oil and rose hips soak for several weeks before you strain the oil. Always keep your rose hip oil in a dark jar in the refrigerator to extend its shelf life.

Ingredients

1 cup (127 g) fresh or dried rose hips
2 cups (475 ml) almond, olive, or jojoba oil

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making Rose Hip Infused Oil

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1
Gather the rose hips. You need one cup (127 g) of fresh or dried rose hips. Buy them at a local health food store, farmer's market, or online. They can be gathered from rose plants in your area. Look for firm rose hips that are bright orange or red in color. Wear leather gloves to protect the hands from thorns and when plucking the rose hips from the plant.^{[1]
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- Always check to see if the rose hips have been sprayed with any chemicals before using them.^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Ritu Thakur, MA
  Natural Health Care Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 13 December 2021.}
- Be sure to remove any leaves, stems, or thorns.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Ritu Thakur, MA
  Natural Health Care Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 13 December 2021.}
2
Combine the rose hips with the oil. Place the rose hips in a small slow cooker between 1 to 2 quarts (0.9 to 1.9 liters) in size. Pour 2 cups (475 ml) of your favorite oil over the rose hips.^{[4]
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- For example, use almond, olive, or jojoba oils. Use organic oils since they are not as heavily processed as conventionally produced oils.
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3
Heat the oil on low for eight hours. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to low. Let the rose hips infuse with the oil for eight hours. The oil will smell fragrant and be orange in color once it is fully infused. ^{[5]
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- The oil should never get hotter than 100 °F (38 °C). If the slow cooker has a warm setting, use that instead of low.
Turn off the slow cooker and set a strainer over a bowl. Line the strainer with cheesecloth and carefully pour the oil through it. This separates the oil from the rose hip solids which can now be thrown away. ^{[6]
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5
Store the rose hip oil. Pour the oil into a clean dark glass jar. Screw on a tight fitting lid and place the oil in the refrigerator. The oil will store for six to eight months. ^{[7]
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- Rose hip oil is sensitive to light so it is important to keep it in a dark jar.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making Rose Hip Macerated Oil

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1
Gather the rose hips. Buy 1 cup (127 g) of fresh or dried rose hips from a local health food store, farmer's market, online, or gather them from rose plants in your area. Choose firm rose hips that are bright orange or red in color. Protect the hands with leather gloves when picking the rose hips.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Avoid rose hips from plants that have been sprayed with chemicals.^{[9]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Ritu Thakur, MA
  Natural Health Care Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 13 December 2021.}
2
Dry the rose hips. If you purchased or gathered fresh rose hips, wash and dry them completely. Take a sharp paring knife and cut off both ends of each rose hip. Lay out a sheet of newspaper and spread the trimmed rose hips in a single layer. Leave the rose hips to dry for one week.^{[10]
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- Some people scoop out the hair and seeds inside the rose hips as they can cause irritation. This is not necessary, as the rose hips in oil will be strained out through the cheesecloth.
3
Combine the dried rose hips with the oil. Get a glass jar with a 3 cups (946 ml) capacity. Place the dried rose hips in the jar and pour 2 cups (473 ml) of almond, olive, or jojoba oil over them. Screw the lid of the jar shut.
- Use a dark jar so that the oil is not exposed to light.^{[11]
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Place the jar of rose hip oil in the refrigerator. Over time, the rose hips will flavor the oil and turn it a golden, orange color. This will take about three weeks.^{[12]
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Lay a piece of cheesecloth in a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Pour the rose hip oil through the cheesecloth to separate the rose hips from the oil. Discard the rose hips.^{[13]
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6
Store the rose hip oil in the refrigerator. Transfer the rose hip oil to a dark glass jar. Secure the top with a tight fitting lid and store the rose hip oil in the refrigerator. The rose hip oil needs to be used within six months.^{[14]
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- Make sure the storage jar is dark. Rose hip oil is sensitive to light and the nutrients break down if it is exposed to light.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can you grind rose hips beforehand?

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

Definitely! Put the rose hips into a mortar and crush them so the seeds can release their medicinal properties into the carrier oil.

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