How to Make Clove Oil with Coconut Oil? Safe DIY Recipe

Steep 2–3 tablespoons of whole dried cloves in 1 cup of warmed coconut oil for 2–4 hours using a double boiler, or 2–6 weeks in a sunny window for a cold infusion, then strain and store in an amber glass bottle. The finished blend is a diluted, skin-friendly preparation suitable for tooth and gum discomfort, massage, or skincare spot treatments.

This walkthrough covers which coconut oil fits your goal, how each infusion method changes the final product, safe dilution ratios, and how to spot a batch gone bad.

Understanding Clove Oil, Coconut Oil, and Why They Pair Well

Cloves come from the dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum, a tree native to Indonesia that has flavored kitchens and medicine cabinets for centuries. Steam-distilled clove oil carries one compound in overwhelming concentration: eugenol, a sharp-smelling phenylpropanoid that makes up 70–90% of the oil by weight. That same molecule gives clove its numbing sensation and its antimicrobial properties, but the concentration in pure essential oil is far beyond what skin or mucous membranes can tolerate undiluted.

Coconut oil solves that problem because it acts as a carrier oil, a neutral fatty base that dilutes eugenol to tolerable levels while adding its own medium-chain fatty acids, chiefly lauric and capric acid, which carry mild antimicrobial activity of their own. The two ingredients together create a blend that is fundamentally different from neat clove essential oil: gentler, spreadable, and shelf-stable in a way the pure oil is not. Virgin coconut oil also carries polyphenols that survive minimal processing, giving the finished blend a faintly sweet, nutty aroma that softens clove’s intensity.

Why Pure Clove Essential Oil Is Not a Substitute

Dropping neat clove oil onto a gum or a blemish can cause chemical burns, tissue necrosis, and intense irritation, reactions well documented in dental and dermatology case reports. The eugenol content is simply too high for direct contact. Carrier oils like coconut oil, jojoba, or sweet almond oil bring the concentration down to a range the skin can handle, which is why every professional aromatherapy organization, including the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, recommends dilution before any topical use.

Coconut Oil’s Melting Point Shapes Your Recipe

Coconut oil is solid below 76°F (24°C) and liquid above it, so a jar in a cool kitchen looks like soft butter while the same jar in a warm car turns to clear oil. That behavior decides which form you buy, how you store the finished blend, and how the infusion behaves. Fractionated coconut oil, a liquid form created by removing the long-chain fats that solidify, stays pourable at any temperature and blends instantly into recipes, but it lacks the polyphenols of virgin coconut oil. Your intended use points you to the right type.

Choosing the Right Coconut Oil and Whole Cloves for Your Purpose

Reaching for the wrong coconut oil is the single most common mistake first-time infusers make, because the three main types behave differently in the jar, on the skin, and in the mouth. Picking the form that matches your goal saves you from a batch that smells off, feels greasy, or separates within a week.

Virgin, Refined, and Fractionated at a Glance

Virgin coconut oil suits a face or body application where the coconut scent is welcome and the polyphenols add value. Refined coconut oil works when you want the clove aroma to lead without competition and a longer window before the oil turns rancid. Fractionated coconut oil, sometimes labeled MCT oil, is the practical pick for a tooth or gum rinse because it pours at any temperature and rinses cleanly.

Why Whole Cloves Beat Pre-Ground

Whole dried cloves strain out cleanly through cheesecloth, leaving no sediment, and they let you control how long extraction runs. Ground cloves release eugenol faster but turn the oil cloudy and force you to filter through multiple layers of cloth, sometimes even coffee filters, to remove fine particles that can mold over time. Buying a small bag of whole buds from a spice supplier costs a few dollars and lasts through many batches.

Once those supplies are in hand, deciding how to coax the cloves’ flavor into the oil becomes the next real decision.

“Pro tip: Sniff the cloves before you buy. A strong, sharp, almost medicinal aroma means high eugenol content and a potent infusion; a dull or musty smell means the buds have lost their volatile oils and your batch will be weak.

Heat Infusion, Cold Infusion, and Solar Methods Compared

Once you have your coconut oil and whole cloves ready, the next decision is how to coax eugenol out of the buds and into the fat. Three methods dominate home practice, and the tradeoffs between them are real: speed versus aromatic depth versus hands-on effort.

Double Boiler: The Fast Route

A double boiler heats the coconut oil gently with steam from a simmering pot of water below, keeping the temperature under control so the fats do not scorch. Add 2–3 tablespoons of whole cloves to 1 cup of melted oil and hold the temperature around 100–140°F for 2–4 hours. The oil darkens to a rich amber and takes on a strong clove scent within the first hour; a full four-hour steep produces the most concentrated result. The trade-off is heat-driven loss of the most volatile top-note aromatics, those delicate compounds that evaporate below 200°F, so the final scent skews heavier and warmer than a slow infusion.

Cold Infusion: Slow, Gentle, and Aromatic

A cold infusion skips heat entirely. Pack the cloves into a sterilized jar, pour room-temperature coconut oil over them, seal tightly, and set the jar in a sunny window for 2–6 weeks, giving it a gentle shake once a day. Sunlight warms the oil just enough to encourage diffusion without driving off the lighter molecules, so the finished oil smells rounder and more complex. The downside is the timeline: you wait weeks, and any moisture introduced with the cloves risks spoilage, so drying the buds in a 200°F oven for 10 minutes before packing them in helps.

Solar Method: The Middle Path

Solar infusion is a subset of cold infusion that relies entirely on ambient sun heat, no stovetop, no thermometer. A sealed jar of cloves and oil sitting in a south-facing window for 3–4 weeks produces a balanced extraction that beginners find almost effortless to manage. In hot climates the oil may fully liquefy each afternoon and re-solidify at night, which actually speeds diffusion slightly compared with a true cold infusion in a cool basement.

Which Method Fits Your Goal

Your timeline and tolerance for waiting drive the choice. A sudden toothache on a Friday night calls for the double boiler. A planned weekend of self-care projects can start a cold infusion and reward you a month later.

A matched method sets the stage for the recipe itself, where ratios and timing matter most.

Step-by-Step Recipe for Clove-Infused Coconut Oil

The following recipe produces roughly 1 cup (about 240 ml) of infused oil, enough to fill a 4-oz amber glass bottle with a little left over for immediate use. Scale up or down by keeping the ratio at 2–3 tablespoons of whole cloves per cup of oil.

Materials You Will Need

• ▸1 cup coconut oil (virgin, refined, or fractionated, based on your goal)
• ▸2–3 tablespoons whole dried cloves
• ▸Heatproof glass jar or double boiler insert
• ▸Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
• ▸Amber glass storage bottle with a tight lid
• ▸Labels and a permanent marker for the date and infusion method

Step 1: Sterilize Your Equipment

Wash the jar, lid, strainer, and storage bottle in hot soapy water, then rinse and dry them in a 200°F oven for 10 minutes or run them through a sanitize cycle in the dishwasher. Skipping this step invites mold, especially in a cold infusion that sits for weeks.

Step 2: Warm the Coconut Oil

A saucepan of warm water, 15-second microwave bursts, or a double boiler will melt solid coconut oil cleanly. Aim for fully liquid oil with no opaque chunks, then remove it from the heat before adding the cloves so the buds do not scorch.

Step 3: Add the Cloves and Begin Infusion

Drop 2–3 tablespoons of whole cloves into the warm oil, stir once, and choose your method. For a double boiler, hold the temperature steady for 2–4 hours. For a cold or solar infusion, pour the oil and cloves into a sterilized jar, seal it, and place it in your chosen spot.

Step 4: Monitor Color and Aroma

At the halfway mark of any infusion, lift the lid and sniff. A successful batch smells unmistakably of clove and has turned a warm amber, the color of weak tea. If the scent is faint, add a few more cloves; if it is overpowering, dilute with a spoon of fresh coconut oil.

Step 5: Strain and Bottle

Line a fine mesh strainer with two layers of cheesecloth and set it over a clean bowl. Pour the warm oil through slowly, then gather the cheesecloth into a pouch and squeeze gently to capture every drop, because pressing too hard will push sediment through. Funnel the strained oil into an amber glass bottle, label it with the date and method, and store it in a cool, dark place.

With a finished bottle on the shelf, the practical question shifts to how safely to put it on skin or in food.

“Pro tip: Reserve the spent cloves for a second, weaker batch instead of composting them immediately. They still hold 30–40% of their original eugenol and can flavor a milder infusion for cooking or foot soaks.

Dilution Ratios, Patch Testing, and Everyday Uses

Even an infused oil is more concentrated than a finished topical product, and clove oil earns its reputation as both helpful and hazardous. Working through a few safety steps before you use the blend keeps irritation off your list of problems.

Standard Dilution for Adult Skin

A 1–2% dilution is the working range for most home applications. Mix 2–3 drops of clove essential oil, or roughly 1 teaspoon of your infused blend, per teaspoon of plain coconut oil before applying to the face, lips, or body. Higher concentrations belong in short-term spot treatments only, and you should never exceed 5% without professional guidance.

Patch Testing Before Broader Use

Dab a small amount of the diluted blend onto the inner forearm, cover it loosely with a bandage, and wait 24 hours. Redness, itching, or swelling means your skin reacts to eugenol, and you should dilute further or avoid topical use. Skipping this step is how first-timers end up with a welt on their jawline when they were aiming for a clear complexion.

Practical Ways to Use the Finished Blend

• ▸Tooth or gum discomfort: Dip a cotton swab in the blend and hold it against the sore area for 5–10 minutes. The eugenol produces a mild numbing effect similar to over-the-counter dental gels.
• ▸Scalp massage: Warm a teaspoon between your palms and massage into the scalp before shampooing. The warming sensation and antimicrobial activity make it a popular pre-wash treatment.
• ▸Spot treatment for blemishes: Apply a pinpoint dab with a cotton swab at bedtime, avoiding the surrounding skin. Rinse in the morning.
• ▸Chest and neck rub: Combine with a small amount of plain carrier for a warming chest rub during cooler months.

Special Populations Need Extra Caution

Pregnant users, nursing parents, and young children have different sensitivity thresholds and absorption rates. A healthcare provider can advise whether topical or oral use is appropriate for your situation, especially because clove oil has documented interactions with certain medications and blood-thinning conditions.

Storage, Shelf Life, and Troubleshooting Common Batch Problems

A well-made infusion rewards you for six months to a year of reliable use, but a poorly stored one can turn cloudy, rancid, or moldy within weeks. Knowing what to look for keeps you ahead of spoilage.

Storage Conditions That Extend Shelf Life

Amber glass blocks the light that oxidizes fatty acids, and a cool, dark cabinet or the refrigerator both slow that process. Properly stored, an infused blend holds its potency for 6–12 months. Fractionated coconut oil, with its long-chain fats removed, lasts closer to the longer end of that range; virgin coconut oil sits at the shorter end because the retained polyphenols break down faster. Always use clean, dry fingers or a small spoon to scoop out what you need, because water introduced into the jar is the fastest route to mold.

Reading the Signs of a Bad Batch

• ▸Cloudiness that does not clear when warmed: Likely moisture contamination, which can support microbial growth.
• ▸Off smell, anything paint-like, soapy, or sour: The oil has oxidized. Pitch it.
• ▸Visible mold or floating specks: Discard immediately and sterilize the bottle before reuse.
• ▸Texture change, grainy or chunky when liquid: Usually temperature-related and harmless, but check the smell before use.

Fixes for Common Batch Problems

Weak scent points to too few cloves or too short an infusion. Re-infuse with fresh buds rather than pouring in more clove oil, because undiluted essential oil overwhelms the carrier ratio. Cloudy separation often comes from temperature swings; gentle rewarming in a water bath usually re-emulsifies the blend. A greasy, never-absorbing feel suggests you used too much oil relative to the application area, not a spoilage issue, and the fix is simpler: use less, or dilute further with a lighter carrier like sweet almond oil.

Bottom Line

A safe, effective DIY clove coconut oil blend comes down to three choices: pick the coconut oil type that matches your intended use, choose an infusion method that fits your timeline, and respect the dilution limits that keep eugenol on your side rather than against your skin. Make a small test batch first, patch-test it, and you will have a versatile amber jar ready for toothaches, scalp massages, and blemish emergencies for the better part of a year.

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