FORMULATE CONFIDENTLY
Gain a foundational understanding of your materials and how they interact, so you're not confined to recipes but can design your own using the botanicals around you.
Become a confident formulator with this in-depth exploration of herbal infused oils & salves. These foundational skillsets will allow you to transform fresh & dry plants into a range of potent botanical blends for beauty, food & medicine.
This self-paced virtual course will guide you through every step of the process, from ingredient selection, sourcing & safety to carrier oil extraction & transforming your infusions into salves, balms & butters. Though plenty of recipes will be provided, you'll be able to skillfully create your own upon completing this course!
The workshop includes over a dozen 5-10 minute video lessons, plus downloadable notes, optional quizzes, a plethora of recipes and a dedicated Community Forum for Q&A.
To access the class after purchasing, login to our site, scroll down on your account page, and click on the workshop to enter. All course materials will be available for a minimum of 2 years from the purchase date.
Gain a foundational understanding of your materials and how they interact, so you're not confined to recipes but can design your own using the botanicals around you.
Carrier oils, pressed from fatty nuts, seeds & fruits, serve as the base for infused oils, salves, balms & body butters. Learn about several different types, how to select the best oils for your formulations, and where to source them.
Gain an understanding of what kind of plants can be infused into oil, and the key benefits of some of the most common herbs used in infusions. Learn how to select botanicals for your formulation's intended use, and how to incorporate the plants in your bioregion.
We'll go over how to harvest fresh plant material to use in your infusions, and how to prep it before you put it in oil to minimize the risk of mold growth.
Learn my process for creating potent infused oils that extract the aromas, flavors, colors, and healing benefits of fresh & dry herbs.
Solid fats & wax turn your oil into something more solid, like a salve or butter. We'll discuss some of the key ingredients in this category and how to work with them.
Essential oils can bring a myriad of benefits to your infused oils & salves, including enhanced potency & shelf life. We'll cover the basics of working with essential oils ~ sourcing, safety, properties shelf life, dilutions ~ and how to incorporate them into your finished products.
Watch a step-by-step demonstration of making a salve from start to finish, and get all the herbalist's tips for making the process go smoothly!
When you know what ratios of ingredients should be used for the products you're trying to make, it grants you creative freedom outside of the confines of a recipe. Become a confident formulator by truly understanding your materials, and design your own recipes from scratch.
Where do I source high quality ingredients from?
How do select herbs & carrier oils for specific applications?
How can I add essential oils for the most potent results?
How do I turn my infused oils in salves, balms & butters?
How do I prevent spoilage & mold in my creations?
How can I learn to formulate without following a recipe?
Each lesson consists of slides with audio in a short video format that can be consumed over a cup of tea.
A downloadable PDF handout includes all notes from the slides, so you can print it out for easy access to class content.
You'll get printable recipe cards for over a dozen of my favorite herbal oils for beauty, food & medicine, as well as lip bars, moisturizing balms, body butters, botanical makeup & more!
Post any questions & feedback regarding the class content on a virtual Q&A board open to everyone who takes the class, and get responses from the herbalist! You are also encouraged to share recipes you've tried relevant research, and questions for others who are currently enrolled in the workshop.
Access all of the above directly through our website for a minimum of two years after your purchase. Your enrollment will automatically be designated as 'unlimited' to include all future course additions & updates. While 'lifetime access' is a big promise, that is fully my intention, and the course will be open to you for as long as I am able to host it!
This workshop is taught by Deanna Rose Ahigian, L.Ac & Dipl.OM, founder of Indigo Elixirs and clinical herbalist. Deanna has spent the past 15+ years immersed in the study & practice of botanical formulation, advanced herbal medicine, and holistic wellness. Over her career she has made many hundreds of infusions and poured countless thousands of salves & balms. She loves coming up with new creations, seeking inspiration from the local botanicals & other unique ingredients of Hawai'i. Through her workshops & online courses, Deanna loves sharing the art & science of working with plants to weave their healing magic into our everyday rituals.
This class is for anyone interested in crafting their own body care & apothecary medicines at home with the plants around you. Whether you've taken an introductory herbalism class, experimented a bit in your kitchen, done some research on the topic, or are just dipping in your toes with no prior experience, you are welcome!
All class materials need to be accessed online through our website, so a stable internet connection is required.
No previous knowledge or experience is required, just a curiosity and desire to learn about this foundational herb craft.
If completed in one sitting, all lessons will take about 2 hours to watch ~ but each is designed to be a digestible 5-10 minute module for easy learning. This class is self-paced, which means you can complete it on your own time, and there are no specific completion requirements.
You are encouraged to post any questions regarding the content of the workshop in the Community Forum, which you will have access to for the duration of the class (a minimum of 2 years from purchase).
For technical or logistical issues, please email us at team@indigoelixirs.com.