Extracts beneficial for hair. What is an extract? Benefits of plant extracts
It is impossible not to catch your eye on some unusual fruit. And usually an idea arises, maybe it’s worth growing flowers? When the morning starts with good feelings, then the whole day flies by faster and more positively. Gardening is a desired hobby for many, which brings positive feelings not only to family members but also to all passersby. A flower garden is an excellent decoration for design.
AromatherapySOAP BY | Online store of raw materials for soap, cosmetics and aromatherapy
At home, beneficial substances can be extracted from a plant using water, oil or alcohol, which is why extracts are also called “extracts”. Water can extract water-soluble substances, oil can extract oil-soluble substances, and alcohol can extract both. The resulting extract is also called “macerate” or “infusion”.
Macerate
maceratus - softened, soaked. This is an extract obtained through the process of maceration - infusion, soaking the plant in liquid solvent(oil, water or alcohol). This term is also used in cooking, denoting the process of softening dried or fresh fruits, vegetables, and spices with liquid in order to obtain greater taste and aroma.Infusion
infundo - to wet, saturate, saturate. The infusion is also an extract from the plant useful substances using liquid (oil, water or alcohol). A simple example of an infusion is tea.How to make an infusion
- Dried herbs, flowers or berries are usually used as raw materials for infusion.
- The infusion liquid is heated (sometimes even to a boil) and poured onto the herbs, which are infused for some time.
- Once the infusion is ready, the liquid is filtered and used.
- For storage, the infusion is bottled, tightly sealed and placed in a cool place.
How long to infuse the infusion
- depends on the purpose of use;
- Due to the fact that the liquid is heated, the finished extract can be obtained very quickly. Within 15-30 minutes or after waiting for the liquid to cool.
- The oil infusion can be infused for several weeks. The healing properties of the oil will only increase.
What liquid (extractant) should be used for extraction?
The choice depends on what substances need to be extracted, i.e. dissolve. The following are used as extractants:
- water: water extracts are also called infusions or decoctions. Such extracts without a preservative do not last long.
- alcohol different concentrations: Extracts containing alcohol are called tinctures. They have a long shelf life, but are not suitable for everyone due to the alcohol content.
- oil: using vegetable oil you can get a very healthy, aromatic and ready-to-use product with a long shelf life.
In addition to these basic solvents, glycerin and their mixtures are also used at home:
- water-alcohol mixtures;
- water-glycerin mixtures;
- alcohol-glycerin mixtures;
- alcohol-water-glycerin mixtures, etc.
Read more about homemade extracts in the following articles!
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The article uses the following sources:
State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR. Issue 2. Author M.D. Mashkovsky, E.A. Babayan, A.N. Oboimakova, V.M. Bulaev and others.
- Current news from Karelia. Press review. Materials from our readers.
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Plant extracts in cosmetics- use of plant extracts in the production of skin care and decorative cosmetics, their features and properties.
Relevance
IN Lately cosmetical tools containing herbal ingredients, are extremely popular among women. And this is understandable, because their effectiveness has been proven by many scientific research. They are distinguished by their ability to give beauty, youth and health to the skin, hair and nails. Today, most cosmetic brands are expanding the range of products created on the basis of plant extracts, and this cannot but please the fair sex who want to pamper their body with natural ingredients.
Plant extracts – what are they?
Plant extracts are concentrated extracts obtained from medicinal plants by complex operations using solvents (glycerin, alcohol, water, etc.). Depending on the solvent, there are three types of extracts: alcoholic, ethereal and aqueous. To obtain extracts, only high-quality raw materials grown in environmentally friendly areas are used.
The starting materials of extracts are flowers, stems, foliage, seeds, fruits, buds and roots of plants, each of which contains a different amount of useful substances. The most common extracts in the cosmetic industry are aloe, calendula, tea tree, chamomile, ginseng, jasmine and echinacea. They all have their own characteristics and properties, which cosmetics manufacturers rely on when developing effective new products.
Green tea extract
Photo: Yana Gayvoronskaya/Rusmediabank.ru
Green tea extract is rich in biostimulants and antioxidants, in addition, it contains amino acids, enzymes, tannins, vitamins, proteins, essential oils, minerals and trace elements. Green tea extract is most often used in cosmetics intended for oily and problem skin because it helps normalize metabolic processes, healing damage, relieving redness and irritation, cleansing and narrowing pores, as well as eliminating oily shine and improving skin tone. Green tea extract is often included in anti-aging products; this phenomenon is explained by the component’s ability to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, improve blood microcirculation, tighten the skin, make it firm and elastic.
Green tea extract also boasts a smoothing property, which is why it is found in cosmetics against cellulite and stretch marks. The high regenerating effect of green tea will allow the extract in question to be used in cleansers. It can also be called an excellent moisturizing component; it is suitable for creating moisturizing and nourishing creams, masks, gels and other skin care cosmetics. Green tea extract is actively used not only in skin care products, but also in hair products. It provides hair with strength, healthy shine and elasticity.
Aloe extract
Aloe extract has been used in cosmetology for several decades. It can rightfully be classified as one of the most popular extracts. He is famous high content essential oils, vitamins, salicylic acid, enzymes and other biologically active substances. Aloe extract has anti-inflammatory, protective, rejuvenating and moisturizing properties. It can be part of a wide variety of cosmetics, from nourishing and tonic to anti-aging.
Aloe extract is especially useful for owners of problematic, dry and sensitive skin. Products based on it quickly relieve acne and blackheads, dryness and flaking, irritation and redness. The main advantage of aloe extract over others is its ability to protect skin cells against the effects of pathogenic viruses and bacteria, as well as harmful influence ultraviolet. Aloe extract is often featured in anti-aging and restorative cosmetics, as well as in ointments against varicose veins, various types of dermatitis and eczema.
Echinacea extract
Echinacea extract – common component moisturizing, nourishing, cleansing, rejuvenating, strengthening and protective lotions, emulsions, masks, creams, shampoos, conditioners and other cosmetic products. It is hypoallergenic and suitable for all skin types, but is especially useful for aging skin. Scientists have proven that echinacea extract resists the destruction of natural
Extracts - (from the Latin Extractum - extraction extract) are semi-finished products that were obtained by concentrating the selected material. In our case, these are concentrated extracts from medicinal plant materials.
Extracts can be classified into several types: thick, liquid and dried. In structure thick products there is no more than 25% liquid, when in dry there is only 5%. To create extracts, various techniques are used, such as infusion, displacement of the substance, repercolation, as well as circulation and countercurrent extraction. There are other extraction methods, which depend on the type of working material and the type of extract required.
The grinding level of the material is always mentioned only in certain articles and specifically for each herb. For the extraction procedure medicinal material water, ethyl alcohol of various concentrations, and other types of extractants are used. Sometimes acids, chloroform, glycerin and other components are also added.
By creating a liquid extract from a single fraction of a material, one or two volume halves of the substance can be obtained. Ready extracts must be left for two days, and the temperature should not exceed 10 degrees Celsius. The settling process continues until it becomes transparent. clear liquid. After this, you need to start the filtration procedure.
Thick extracts must be additionally freed from ballast elements using the alcohol precipitation technique. For this purpose, adsorbents are used, the solution is boiled, and other methods are also used, after which filtration certainly occurs. Processed products must be thickened by evaporation under vacuum until the desired mixture is obtained.
Dry extracts are created by drying a thick extract or from a previously purified extract. For this purpose, techniques are used that ensure the best conservation of active elements. This can be spraying, lyophilization, sublimation, etc. Extracts that contain more dry components than the specified norm must be specially diluted.
Extracts are stored in special packaging, which ensures stable and reliable preservation of the substance throughout the established shelf life. It is advisable to place the product packaging in a cool, dark room where there is no direct sunlight.
It is possible to create thick extracts in a 1:1 ratio with a solvent, which consists of six equal parts of water, three portions of glycerin and one part of alcohol. The resulting emulsion can be used in double dosage and stored for no longer than fifteen days.
To obtain oil extracts from a plant product, you can use one of the two methods presented:
- The separation of raw materials is carried out thanks to the oil;
- The raw materials are first extracted using a natural solvent, after which the extracted components are converted into oil.
Using the first method, extracts from St. John's wort are most often produced, however, due to increased indicators viscosity, diffusion processes during oil extraction occur extremely slowly and the active components are not completely extracted. The presented procedure can be somewhat accelerated by using heated oil.
A significant withdrawal of active elements can be noticed during the creation of oil extracts thanks to the second technique. It is used to produce henbane oil extract by soaking henbane leaves with 70% alcohol to which a one percent ammonia solution has been added. The finished extracts are mixed with sunflower oil, and then the alcohol is removed under vacuum. The emulsion is further diluted with oil until the pharmacopoeial concentration is obtained.
In addition to extracts, you can create tinctures and all kinds of decoctions. To obtain them, you must use the extraction method.
Tinctures are specially created aqueous-alcoholic or simply alcoholic extracts in a liquid state, which can be obtained from medicinal herbs without the use of heat or extraction of extractant. The level of material crushing is indicated separately for each cut plant.
When creating a tincture, up to five volumetric components of the finished product can be obtained from one share of medicinal material, and up to ten elements can be obtained from potent materials, unless there are other instructions for individual plants.
The finished extracts must be left to stand for two days, and the room temperature should be above 10 degrees Celsius. The settling procedure continues until the liquid becomes completely transparent and can be filtered.
Decoctions and infusions are unique aqueous preparations that were obtained from a variety of medicinal plants. They are usually prescribed for indoor and outdoor use. As an initial resource for creating an aqueous preparation, you can choose a variety of elements of medicinal products. This can be bark, rhizomes, leaves, seeds, fruits, herbs and flowering. The main thing is to always follow the recipes and you will succeed in the best possible way!
According to the current standards of the state pharmacopoeia, to create a decoction or tincture, plant particles must be properly crushed. In addition, the leathery leaves are crushed to elements no larger than three millimeters in size; particles of seeds and fruits should not be larger than half a millimeter. There are also separate methods for preparing each element. Flowers must be brewed in clean porcelain utensils, pouring them first steeply boiled water. The leaves, in turn, must be poured with boiling water and kept on fire for five minutes, or simply let the solution brew for twenty minutes. The stems and roots must be filled with water, the solution brought to a boil over low heat and boiled for ten minutes. All teas must be infused for twenty minutes.
In order to prepare an aqueous extract from a non-potent material, it is necessary to prepare ten weight elements of the material used per hundred elements of the decoction or tincture prepared in advance.
Aqueous tinctures of adonis, valerian roots and lily of the valley must be prepared in a ratio of 1:30. Infusions and decoctions that are created from a class of potent plants must be prepared adhering to a ratio of 1:400.
Variety of syrups
Syrup is special solution from sucrose, which can have various medicinal elements in its structure, fruit food extracts. The syrup is transparent, thick product, which may differ in its smell and aftertaste, it all depends only on the incoming ingredients. Syrups are made by diluting sugar in water under the influence of a small fire, as well as by extracting it from plant products. Medicinal syrups are obtained in the same way: a certain extract of the medicinal product is added to the sugar syrup.
The finished syrups are filtered and poured into dry, sterilized containers. If required, special ingredients can be added to the resulting syrup, such as alcohol, nipazole, sorbic acid and other preservatives that are approved for medical use.
At the moment, the extraction method of biological extraction is actively used. active ingredients. In addition to the already mentioned methods of obtaining required substance, every year more and more original methods appear to perform such a task, as well as modern technology, designed for more effective results.
Effective Ways to Obtain Extract
One of the most popular methods is the dissolution of elements plant materials in alcohol using a rotary apparatus that operates in the mode of pulse activation of cavitation. Application of a rotary device in this mode significantly speeds up the procedure for obtaining extractive components from plants, and the production time can be reduced by almost half! It is worth noting that this technique makes it possible to reduce the amount of alcohol loss, while completely eliminating the need to heat the solution. Thus, the entire technological structure is significantly simplified.
In the United States of America, a technique has recently been proposed to obtain the most important elements from dried materials using water extraction, the temperature of which varies within sixty degrees Celsius, as well as creating a mixture of ultrasonic pulsations, the frequency of which is in the range of 100-150 kHz. The presented method results in increased level transparency of the substance, while the indicators of flavor and aromatic compounds are not lost and the bitter aftertaste is completely absent. The resulting extract is also sterilized due to treatment with ultrasonic waves.
To speed up the extraction procedure, the rotational cavitation method is also used for aromatic plants. This technique is based on the use of a cavitation generator, which makes it possible to significantly increase the level of dispersion of the material, while accelerating the removal of the necessary components from it. As a result, an extract is obtained that is characterized by increased biological value, conditioned high concentration phenolic components, minerals and amino acids.
To summarize, of all existing methods processing of plant materials, extraction is considered the most effective and convenient.
Liquid extracts
The main difference between a liquid extract is the fact that, despite the structure of its initial product, it is created in a strict 1:1 ratio. This means that from one share of the raw material, by weight, only one portion of the required extract can be obtained.
To create this type of extract, only ethyl alcohol of various concentrations is used as an extractant. Typically, a 70% solution is used. Unlike various tinctures, which are simply diluted extracts, liquid extracts are extracts of high concentration, because the methods for their production are selected in such a way as to remove the desired active element from the working material as best and as efficiently as possible. Alcoholic extracts appeared thanks to the development of techniques for obtaining tinctures. Their appearance is directly related to the work of the scientist Paracelsus.
Various techniques for making liquid extracts
To create the presented product, it is necessary to use the presented techniques: percolation, repercolation, and countercurrent extraction.
Leaching
The essence of this mechanism is to create high-quality liquid extracts. The method is similar to making tinctures. The main difference is that during this procedure the tinctures are obtained in the required volume, while during the production of extracts the procedure lasts until the material used is completely consumed. Therefore, the mass of the extractant used to create the extract must be increased almost nine times in relation to the volume of the extracted product. As the percolation technique is carried out, 85 significant elements of the extract are immediately collected from every hundred elements by mass plant matter. Further extractions must be collected in other utensils until the extractant is completely consumed and the material is exhausted. The second extract must be evaporated in a special vacuum evaporator, the temperature in it is maintained within 50-60 degrees Celsius, until the 15 required components are formed. After this, it receives a rich consistency; it can be combined with the previously obtained 85 elements of the hood, which have not yet been subjected to heat treatment. If necessary, you can add the purest extractant to the total extraction created by this method, so that the result is one hundred required components of the liquid extract. For a long time The percolation technique was considered the only technology for creating a liquid extract. At the moment it is used extremely rarely.
Repercolation
Back in the middle of the 19th century this technique was proposed by the American scientist Skibb. Since then, it has undergone significant changes and improvements, and has been repeatedly improved so that the finished product is of better quality. The essence of the presented technique is as follows: the source material is divided into a pair of elements, and each individual part is specially extracted using an extract created from the previous half. As a result, for a very short term a concentrated substance can be created that completely meets the one-to-one proportion. In this case, evaporation is either used a little, or you can do without it altogether. It all depends on the type of material used.
During this procedure, the most concentrated extract is applied to the least depleted material. Thanks to this, at the end of this process she receives big number active elements in increased volume. Particular advantages of this technique include the continuous manufacturing process, as well as the very high productivity of the entire mechanism. If you have V-percolators in the battery in your arsenal, the resulting extract can be obtained already on the sixth day after starting the process from the last percolator, and the subsequent batch can be obtained during each next day from the percolator that was considered extreme that day. It is very important to emphasize the point that Chulkov’s technique is considered cost-effective and effective only for very impressive enterprises where the requirement of a continuous mechanism is maintained. If you need to make a small portion of a liquid extract, it is best to use the standard percolation method followed by evaporation of the auxiliary extract.
Counterflow technology
The presented technique is an accelerated extraction method, its essence lies in the synchronous displacement of the initial product and extractant in relation to each other. Such displacement is carried out thanks to screw, belt and other techniques, during which, together with the movement of the material, it is also mixed. A countercurrent drawing device is considered somewhat complex and more complex, unlike a conventional percolator. On the other hand, they are also more advanced and make it possible to get much more best quality product.
Cleaning the hood
The extracts obtained using the above techniques contain, in addition to the active components a large number of ballast elements extracted from plant materials. For their complete removal the liquid extract, regardless of which method was used, must be left for a couple of days, and the room temperature should not be more than eight degrees Celsius. It is best to perform the procedure using adsorbents. After this, filtering occurs using special presses or a centrifuge. Thanks to these simple steps, it is best to effectively clean the working extract of all unnecessary elements. It is worth noting that at the end of these treatments, the resulting extract is somewhat more resistant to various changes temperatures that may occur during their transportation or storage.
Dense extracts
The thick type of extract is a viscous mass that contains approximately 25% moisture in its structure. This unique concentration is due to the fact that an impressive proportion of the extractant is removed from the dense extract using vacuum evaporation. As a result, we can say that a thick extract is not just an increased concentration, but also a thickened extract. Due to their excellent viscosity, such extracts are considered excellent binding components during the manufacture of pills.
The condensed extract is slightly different: in a dry environment it begins to a short time dry out and form a solid product, and in a humid environment it begins to become damp and moldy. Due to this distinctive feature, the presented product must be kept in tightly closed packaging. The thickened consistency of the substance requires special techniques for weighing during use of the product for the production of medicinal products.
Extractants during the formation of a thick extract are cold or hot water, and chloroform and ammonia solution are usually added to the cold one. Ethyl alcohol of various concentrations and ether are also used.
Using water, it is possible to extract bitter, bitter-aromatic, as well as sweet elements. Ethyl ether used to make the following product - a special extract of male fern. Large quantity Such drugs can be obtained by adding alcohol, its concentration varies between 20-70%.
Various techniques
The mechanism of formation of a thick extract is concentrated in three main points:
- It turns out to be a hood.
- The hood is cleaned of various unnecessary components.
- The process of evaporation or thickening of the product is carried out.
The creation of an extract using a water extractant is carried out using the bismaceration technique. It is also called double infusion. The essence is to settle the original product with an initial portion of the extractant, which is only 5/8 of the total amount. Afterwards, the first extract is added and further settled with the unused volume of extractant. Only after this procedure are both halves of the hood combined into one composition. Only in the rarest situations are condensed extracts water based obtained through percolation. It is effective for wormwood and similar plants.
An alcoholic extract can be obtained using the same methods used for liquid extracts. This is a technique of percolation, repercolation, and countercurrent drawing. A dense extract of male fern using ether can be created using a circulation extraction technique that occurs inside a Soxhlet device.
Cleansing
The purification of a water-based extract, which contains a large number of different secondary elements, occurs through boiling together with various additives, making it possible to absorb elements such as pigments, resins, mucus, protein and other components that coagulate during boiling
The modern food, cosmetic, chemical and pharmaceutical industries increasingly indicate on their labels “extracts” of various natural substances. So let's figure it out: what is an extract, how is it obtained, what types are there, and what are its benefits and harms for the human body?
Let's understand the concept
Extract (extract) is the extraction of a concentrated substance from base raw materials of plant or animal origin, which in its own way pharmacological properties identical to the source material. According to its state of aggregation, the extract can be liquid or solid. As a rule, natural extracts are obtained by extracting raw materials with water, glycerin, alcohol, ether, carbon dioxide, etc. The plant extracts obtained in this way are divided into:
- mobile (liquid);
- thick (moisture content in the extract does not exceed 25%);
- dry/loose (moisture content does not exceed 5%).
Extraction of raw materials is carried out using the following method:
- percolation: the extract is obtained by infusing the raw material in a selected solvent (extractant), while the substance is collected in two portions (85% is the initial collection, and 15% is the result complete exhaustion raw materials);
- repercolation: an uninterrupted extraction process is carried out in the so-called “battery” of percolators, when the depletion of raw materials is carried out in several percolators, sequentially related friend with a friend. This method allows you to extract as much as possible from the material. useful components and does not require subsequent evaporation.
Thus, the extract is essentially a “squeeze” of the original raw material, which makes it possible to preserve its macro- and microbiotic composition as much as possible, healing properties and aromatic qualities. That is why wide application found a variety of natural extracts in cosmetology, medicine, perfumery and cooking.
We classify and identify features
So, depending on the extractant (solvent) used, the final product can be: aqueous, ethereal, alcoholic or oil extract. At the same time, in order to protect liquid natural extracts from fermentation or rancidity, antimicrobial preservatives are introduced into its structure.
The extractant is selected depending on which component (alcohol, water, etc.) the raw material is sensitive to. Extracts obtained industrially, are subject to mandatory standardization, which determines the minimum required content of certain components in the composition of the final substance.
In medicine and cosmetology, liquid extracts are most often used, and in industry and cooking, dry extracts are used.
In addition, depending on the consistency and base of the natural extract, its use is determined. Thus, oil extract of plants and medicinal herbs in cosmetology it is used for skin and hair care. And in medicine, alcohol extract is used to disinfect and restore tissue integrity.
Extraction at home
The benefits of plant extracts for the human body have led to their active use in recipes. traditional medicine. A beauty care skin and hair care various types has long been based on the use of essential and fatty oils, extracts from plants and substances of animal origin. That is why the question of how to prepare an extract of this or that raw material at home has occupied humanity for a long time.
The most in simple ways At home extractions are maceration and evaporation, which can be used either in combination with each other or separately.
Maceration involves infusing plant materials in water, alcohol or oil. Evaporation is carried out as follows:
- raw materials are crushed;
- the composition is steamed with boiling water;
- infused;
- part of the infusion is evaporated to half the original volume.
Among the disadvantages of extracts obtained at home is their short shelf life. That is why you should be extremely careful when using this type of raw material yourself, so as not to harm your health and the body as a whole.
Vanilla is the most common spice used in baking. It is added to bun dough, pastries, cakes and cookies, and flavors various desserts, from ice cream to chocolate. The only negative is that natural vanilla pods are a rare and expensive product. In terms of cost, it ranks second after saffron. The most common and most economical way to use this spice is with vanilla extract.
On store shelves you can see a mixture of vanilla and sugar, there are bags labeled “Vanillin” or “Vanilla sugar”, they sell vanilla essence. Find out from the article what to choose to give your culinary creations a vanilla aroma, and whether all these vanilla-flavored products are interchangeable.
What is vanilla extract and how is it made?
Vanilla extract is alcohol extract from natural vanilla pods, natural product, obtained from natural ingredients.
It is made by macerating (infusing) vanilla pods in an alcohol-containing liquid. Ethyl alcohol usually takes up about 35 percent. The rest is spice pods and water.
Usage ethyl alcohol due to its neutral taste. In addition, alcohol is a good solvent, easily extracts all the aroma and has preservative properties.
There are several types of vanilla beans that can be used to make extract. This:
Vanilla Tahitian;
Bourbon Vanilla;
Mexican vanilla;
Vanilla Madagascar.
When buying a bottle of extract, few people pay attention to what type of vanilla was used to obtain it. But extracts obtained from different types vanilla will differ from each other in taste and aroma.
Thus, an extract from Tahitian vanilla will have a more subtle fruity-floral aroma, from Madagascar or Bourbon it will have a classic, pronounced aroma, and from Mexican it will have a more spicy aroma.
Some manufacturers make it using double or even triple extraction, using a higher ratio of vanilla beans to alcohol solution. All this is reflected in the final taste and aroma. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the label.
Likewise, alcohol and oil extracts can be prepared at home. This will be discussed in more detail below.
Since the manufacture of this product does not involve heating, it retains all the beneficial nutrients main component. Like vanilla fruit, it contains:
Vitamins;
Minerals;
A little fat;
Carbohydrates;
Plant sugars.
The calorie content of 100 grams of extract is about 288 kilocalories.
The extract can be used in baking, adding it to the dough for cookies, muffins, muffins, pastries and cakes, any desserts or drinks. They flavor homemade chocolate and sweets.
What is the difference between vanilla extract and vanilla essence
Vanilla extract is made from the pods of the plant by infusing it with an alcohol-containing liquid. This is a natural product.
Vanilla essence is obtained synthetically.
The extract has a more pronounced spice aroma.
Essence is more subtle. But you shouldn’t get carried away with it, otherwise it will leave an unpleasant synthetic aftertaste in your mouth.
There is also a difference in taste between them. In the extract it is more pronounced. Therefore, if a recipe calls for essence, but you only have extract, then you need to take about half as much of it. For example, according to the recipe you need 1.5 teaspoons of essence, then you need to add no more than 1 teaspoon of extract.
Of course, this is an approximate replacement proportion. It is necessary to take into account what type of vanilla extract was made from, what manufacturer, since all this can influence final result. Some prefer a more pronounced aroma, others, on the contrary, a subtle one.
How to replace vanilla extract
What to do when you want to cook a dish that requires adding vanilla extract, but you don’t have it in the house. What can replace it?
Most the best option- natural replacement. Vanilla pods come first here. Depending on the intensity of the aroma, you need to take about half of the pod for 1 teaspoon of extract.
In a similar proportion, you can replace it with natural vanilla powder.
In the case of a mixture of vanilla and sugar - in a 1:1 ratio.
Vanilla milk. This is another option. Add an equivalent amount of vanilla-flavored soy or almond milk. Keep in mind that their aroma may not be as strong as the extract.
Homemade vanilla flavored milk makes a great substitute.
To make this milk, open the vanilla pod and scrape out the seeds with a knife. Pour the milk into a pan and add the pod and seeds. Simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes. It can be used to replace the extract.
A vanilla-flavored liqueur can replace the extract if the alcohol content is not an issue for you. Replace a tablespoon of extract with two tablespoons of liqueur.
A synthetic replacement can be vanillin powder, vanilla sugar or essence.
If the vanilla flavor is not key point, then almond extract is suitable as a replacement. He has more strong odor. Therefore, if you need a tablespoon of vanilla extract, then you need to take half as much almond extract.
A good substitute would be vanilla syrup, which is not difficult to make yourself. To do this, prepare sugar syrup. Add a vanilla pod and some seeds to it.
Place the saucepan over low heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Pour into a clean, dry bottle and store in a cool place.
All these substitutes can be tried at least once to choose the best one. You also need to keep in mind that just because any of the suggested options works for one recipe, it doesn’t mean it will work for another. The result may be different. Therefore, first of all, you need to focus on a specific recipe. 
How to make vanilla extract
You can easily make your own vanilla extract at home. For maceration, you can use vodka or other alcoholic drink. For this you need:
Vanilla pods;
Vodka or other good quality drink;
Bottle or jar.
For one vanilla pod you need about 60 ml of alcohol. For a more intense aroma, you can take it in a different proportion, for example, 50-60 ml of vodka for 1.5 pods.
Open each pod and cut it in half. Although this is not necessary. The main thing is that they are completely filled with vodka.
Place in your chosen container. It is advisable that it be a dark glass bottle. This way the extract will be stored better.
Fill them with vodka. It is preferable because it does not have its own color.
Place the bottle in a closet so it is not exposed to light.
The beginning of maceration will be indicated by a change in the color of the alcohol: at first it will be light, and then it will darken. At the end of the infusion he can acquire dark brown color depending on the vanilla-vodka ratio.
Infusion time depends on patience and taste. Some insist for six months. Don't forget to shake the bottle periodically. After a couple of weeks, the extract can be added to coffee or baked goods.
If you want to make it more saturated, after 3-4 weeks replace some of the pods with others.
Keep homemade extract possible indefinitely. The main thing is to remember to put it in the refrigerator and away from light.
If you use about one third or half of the extract, you can add a couple of fresh pods to it and add vodka.
How to make vanilla oil extract
Similarly, you can flavor the butter with vanilla. For the most part, this oil is used in cosmetology, but you can add it to culinary dishes depending on the recipe. For example, it is quite suitable for flavoring cookies or cupcakes.
To do this you need to take:
120-150 ml oil
3-4 vanilla pods
Glass container
Choose oil depending on the purpose of using the final product. For food suitable for use olive, coconut, sunflower and any other. It is better to choose oils that do not have their own distinct odor.
For cosmetic purposes - jojoba oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil and others.
Cut the pods down the center along their entire length. The seeds need to be scraped into the container in which you will make the macerate.
Cut the pods themselves into several small pieces and add them to the seeds.
Without cutting or scraping, you can simply chop it finely.
Fill with oil.
If you choose the “cold” extraction method, then close the container with a stopper or lid and place it in a window, closer to the sunny color. The main thing is that it is a warm place.
Leave the bottle for several weeks, approximately 4 to 6. Shake the container periodically.
For the most impatient there is more quick way. Take a saucepan and pour water into it. Install a steam bath net.
Place the container on it and cover the top with a lid. To prevent steam from getting into the oil, first cover the pan with a towel. Condensation will settle on it.
When the water in the pan boils, reduce the heat and let the container sit for half an hour to several hours. Some people repeat the procedure for two or three days, heating and cooling.
When the macerate is ready, filter it through a fine strainer or several layers of gauze.
Pour into a clean, dry, dark glass bottle and cap tightly. Store in the refrigerator.
The oil can be used on the body, lips, scented with other oils, or added a little to your skin care products.
There is no need to throw away the remaining pods. Grind them with a blender and mix with salt. Makes an excellent body scrub.
That's all the tricks for using and replacing natural vanilla extract. And if you don’t find it on sale, you can easily make it yourself.
