What happens when you combine two ordinary kitchen ingredientsโolive oil and cloves?
This old-fashioned mixture has become popular in homemade beauty routines, with people claiming it can soften dry skin, improve the appearance of hair, and even reduce wrinkles.
But does it really work?
The answer lies in the natural properties of both ingredients. Olive oil can help soften and condition, while cloves contain aromatic compoundsโbut using them together requires a little caution.
1. Why Olive Oil and Cloves?
Olive oil contains fatty acids, particularly oleic acid, that can help soften the skin and reduce moisture loss.
Cloves contain eugenol, an aromatic compound studied for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in laboratory settings.
When whole cloves are infused in oil, some of their aromatic compounds can transfer into the liquid.
However, this doesnโt mean the resulting mixture has proven anti-aging or medicinal effects.
2. How to Make Clove-Infused Olive Oil
Simple Clove-Infused Olive Oil
Preparation: 5 minutes | Infusion: 24โ48 hours
2 ingredients
Ingredients
- 100 ml olive oil
- 3โ4 whole dried cloves
Instructions
- Choose a clean, completely dry glass jar with a lid.
- Add the whole dried cloves.
- Pour the olive oil over them.
- Close the jar and leave it in a cool, dark place for 24โ48 hours.
- Strain the oil through a fine sieve.
- Transfer to a clean, dry, labeled container.
Make a small batch. Keep water and fresh plant material out of the oil, and discard it if it develops an unusual smell or appearance.
Important: This is an aromatic oil experiment, not a proven skin treatment. Clove compounds can cause irritation or allergic reactions, so avoid applying the infusion directly to your skin or scalp without professional guidance.
3. Can It Help With Dry Skin?
Olive oil is an emollient, meaning it can make skin feel softer and smoother.
But thereโs an important catch.
Olive oil is not ideal for every skin type. In some people, especially those with eczema or a damaged skin barrier, repeated application may worsen irritation.
Adding cloves introduces another potential irritant.
For dry or sensitive skin, a fragrance-free moisturizer containing ingredients such as glycerin, ceramides, or petrolatum is generally a more reliable option.
4. What About Hair and Scalp Care?
Some people use olive oil to condition dry hair ends and reduce friction.
A small amount of plain olive oil may temporarily improve the feel and appearance of coarse or dry hair.
However, thereโs no convincing clinical evidence that homemade clove-infused olive oil stimulates new hair growth, reverses hair loss, or eliminates dandruff.
Clove-derived substances can also irritate the scalp.
If youโre interested in trying an oil treatment for dry hair, plain olive oil applied sparingly to the hair lengths is a simpler choice than adding cloves.
5. Can It Reduce Wrinkles?
This is one of the most exaggerated claims surrounding the mixture.
Olive oil can temporarily soften skin, which may make dryness-related fine lines look less noticeable.
But it doesnโt rebuild lost collagen or erase deep wrinkles.
Although clove compounds have demonstrated antioxidant activity in laboratory research, that doesnโt establish that homemade clove oil reverses skin aging.
Daily sunscreen, gentle skincare, and suitable moisturizers have stronger evidence for maintaining healthy-looking skin.
6. Can Clove Oil Help With Pain?
Clove-derived eugenol has a history of use in certain dental products because of its local anesthetic properties.
But professionally formulated dental products are very different from homemade clove-infused olive oil.
The homemade mixture has an unknown concentration and should not be used to treat toothaches, gum infections, joint pain, or ear pain.
In particular, never put it into your ears or apply it to damaged skin.
7. A Safer Way to Enjoy These Ingredients
If you enjoy the aroma of cloves, using both ingredients in cooking is a more practical option.
For example, you can add a whole clove to a gently simmering savory dish that contains olive oil, then remove the clove before serving.
Olive oil provides mostly unsaturated fats, while cloves contribute a warm, distinctive flavor.
Thereโs no need to use concentrated homemade oils on your skin to appreciate these ingredients.
What the Mixture Canโand CannotโDo
| Popular claim | What we actually know |
|---|---|
| Olive oil softens dry hair | May help temporarily |
| Cloves add fragrance to oil | Yes |
| Removes wrinkles | Not proven |
| Makes hair grow faster | Not proven |
| Cures joint pain | Not proven |
| Suitable for every skin type | No |
| Replaces medical skincare | No |
The Bottom Line
Mixing olive oil and cloves creates a fragrant botanical infusion, but it isnโt a miracle beauty treatment.
Olive oil has useful conditioning properties, while cloves contain interesting natural compounds. Still, the combination hasnโt been proven to erase wrinkles, regrow hair, or treat chronic pain.
The real secret is knowing the difference between a pleasant homemade ingredient and a treatment supported by scientific evidence.
Sometimes the simplest approachโplain olive oil for suitable hair types, a good moisturizer for dry skin, and cloves for cookingโis also the smartest.
For more handy kitchen discoveries, try this Korean-style chestnut trick and see what happens with turmeric and lemon water. And when itโs time for a fruity treat, hereโs the best way to open and eat a pomegranate.
