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Home » Herbalism » Herbal Guides » How to Make and Use Calendula Oil

How to Make and Use Calendula Oil

May contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my privacy policy and affiliate disclosure.

Originally published on May 25, 2022. Last updated on May 25, 2022

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Learn how to make and use calendula oil for skin soothing, healing, and brightening. Calendula is a powerful herb with amazing benefits, particularly when it comes to calming skin ailments and rashes. This calendula oil recipe is a simple infusion that can be used on its own or as the first step in a variety of natural skin care recipes.

A picture of calendula flowers in a jar steeping in oil, outside near fresh calendulas.

Calendula Benefits

Calendula is one of my very favorite flowers. Not only is it a beautiful addition to the garden, but it has many amazing health benefits. I feel lucky that it grows readily and wild in our backyard without me having to do much, as it reseeds itself every year.

You can read more about how to grow it and its uses in my post here: 10 Reasons to Grow Calendula for Your Garden, Food, and Health.

One of the most popular and effective ways to enjoy the benefits of calendula is to make an infused oil. There are many ways to use calendula-infused oil once you have it on hand!

Before we get to its uses, let’s talk about why calendula is so awesome in the first place. First and foremost, let’s set aside that calendula is edible, and focus on how great calendula is for the skin.

It is beneficial for dry skin, cracks, eczema, scrapes, minor burns and sunburns, rashes, chapped lips, and pesky bug bites. It helps to reduce inflammation and promotes wound healing.

This is what makes calendula-infused oil such a beneficial application, as it can be used topically for many different ailments. Plus it’s gorgeous!

Calendula flowers laying to dry on a screen.

Calendula flowers

How to Make a Calendula Oil Infusion

In this simple recipe, infuse dried calendula flowers into the carrier oil of your choice. For most skin applications I like to use a blend of coconut, sweet almond, and olive oils. Other options include jojoba, avocado, and sunflower.

The kind of oil that you use will depend on the final application and your own personal preference.

If you have fresh calendula flowers, they can be used but they need to be dried first. A homemade drying screen is a great way to do that!

The amount of dried herb you use is flexible and not an exact science, just put dried calendula flowers in whatever jar that you want to use and cover them with oil. Easy peasy!

A jar labeled calendula infused oil with carrier oils being poured over dried calendula flowers.

Pour oil over dried calendula flowers

Cover the jar with a lid, and let the infusion sit in a cool place away from direct sunlight for several weeks before using. This will help to preserve the quality of more light-sensitive oils, like sweet almond oil.

A quicker option is to add a bit of heat using an Excalibur dehydrator, as it is excellent for heating at lower temperatures. To see all of the different methods that can be used for infusing oils, see my post on How to Make Infused Herbal Oils.

A covered jar of calendula infused oil, with a lid on.

Infused calendula oil

Once the calendula oil is infused, it can be used as-is to hydrate and heal dry or irritated skin. To use as a body oil, the flowers can be left in, or strained out.

To use calendula oil in other skincare recipes, strain out the calendula flowers with a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth before adding it to a recipe.

Infused calendula oil pouring into a mesh strainer with cheesecloth into a new jar.

Strain flowers out of the oil

How to Use Calendula Infused Oil

Now that the calendula oil is fully infused, here are some of my favorite ways to use it!

Use The Oil As Is

Once you have that wonderful golden oil, you can use it just as it is, if you wish.

Rub it on dry hands and feet, on cuts and bruises, or even rub a little into your hair. It is extremely nourishing on its own!

That said, it may be a little cumbersome to carry a jar of oil around, so I generally prefer these other applications.

A closed jar with a label reading "calendula infused oil" that has calendula flowers infusing in a jar with oil, surrounded by calendula flowers.

Infused calendula oil for skin

Healing Calendula Salve

Making a homemade healing salve is probably my favorite way to use calendula oil.

Calendula salve is one of the easiest to make and most versatile ways to utilize the benefits of this amazing flower!

3 tins of calendula salve on a wooden cutting board, surrounded by calendula flowers.

Calendula salve

Calendula Cream

This homemade calendula cream is a rich and creamy delight for the skin.

It is perfect and soothing for really dry and itchy skin. I use it almost daily as a moisturizer!

Small jars of calendula cream on a wooden table.

Calendula cream

Lotion Bars with Calendula Oil

I’ve become really fond of homemade hard lotion bars lately. They are perfect for keeping on hand when you’re out and about and need some skin nourishment.

My calendula lotion bars are easy to make and great to have around!

Calendula lotion bars that are round and in tins, surrounded by calendula flowers.

Calendula lotion bars

Calendula Whipped Body Butter

This whipped body butter has a luscious consistency, and is super soothing as it’s powered by calendula oil!

Perfect for all-over body use, this body butter will moisturize and heal dry or irritated skin.

Top view of whipped body butter in a jar with a white lace bow.

Calendula whipped body butter

Homemade Calendula Soap

I’ve been really getting into making my own homemade soap these days.

The first batch of soap I ever made was a wonderful calendula soap recipe, and it’s still one of my favorites!

homemade calendula soap

Calendula soap

Diaper Rash Salve

Calendula is one of the safest herbal ingredients to use on a baby’s sensitive skin. This herbal diaper rash salve uses calendula-infused oil as its base, and it works wonders!

It’s a much better alternative than the store-bought stuff with weird ingredients. It’s perfect for your little one!

A tin of diaper rash salve with small piles of herbs surrounding it.

Herbal diaper rash salve

Salad Dressing Using Calendula Oil

Last, but certainly not least, don’t forget that infused calendula oil is edible! Use it in place of regular oil when making a vinaigrette-style salad dressing.

I would use whatever oil you normally use in your dressings as the oil for your infusion, probably extra virgin olive oil. You could even throw a few fresh calendula petals on the salad if you have some handy.

This will make a wonderful and bright addition to your everyday salads!

Need more healing calendula flower power? 

  • Herbal Bath Salt with Calendula & Mint
  • Calendula Iced Tea
  • Calendula & Thyme Shortbread Cookies
  • 10 Reasons to Grow Calendula
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5 from 3 votes

Calendula Infused Oil

Make calendula oil for skin soothing and healing. This simple infusion can be used on its own or as the first step in natural skincare.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Infusion Time 14 days
Total Time 10 minutes
Yield 1 Cup
Cost $5
Author Colleen @ Grow Forage Cook Ferment

Equipment

  • Pint Mason Jar
  • Cheesecloth
  • Fine Mesh Sieve
  • Dehydrator optional

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric
  • 1 cup dried calendula flowers
  • 1½ cup carrier oil of your choice (see notes)

Instructions

  • Place dried calendula flowers into the jar.
  • Pour carrier oil over to cover the flowers and cap the jar with a lid.
  • Let the oil infuse in a cool place out of direct sunlight for at least two weeks, or until the infusion is a golden color and ready to use.

Dehydrator method

  • Follow the first two instructions, and then place the jar into a box-style dehydrator (such as Excalibur brand). Set it to 100° F (38° C) and let it heat infuse for 24-48 hours.

Notes

  • The amounts of dried calendula flowers and carrier oils are estimates and don't need to be exact. You can make as much or as little of this infused oil as you like, so feel free to modify the amount. As long as the oil is covering whatever amount of dried flowers you decide to use, that is what matters! 
  • For most skin applications I like to use a blend of coconut, sweet almond, and olive oils. Other options include jojoba, avocado, and sunflower. The kind of oil that you use will depend on the final application and your own personal preference.

 

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Previous Post: « Whipped Body Butter with Calendula
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Faithmary Madzvimbo says

    September 29, 2022 at 2:10 pm

    Can I mix marigold flowers with calendula flowers for infused oil

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      October 3, 2022 at 9:35 am

      Hi there. That should be fine!

      Reply
  2. Tasia says

    July 27, 2021 at 8:33 pm

    Would almond and coconut oil work?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      August 2, 2021 at 11:40 am

      Definitely!

      Reply
  3. Sella says

    July 26, 2021 at 12:35 am

    Hello,

    Since a few years i make my own soap.I love calendula for soap making ,and a friend of mine has Parkinsons and can only use my calendula soap.
    So yes i am a great lover of this plant that grows in my own garden!

    We live in the south of Spain

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      July 26, 2021 at 10:02 am

      Thanks for sharing, Sella! Calendula is such a wonderful plant ally!

      Reply
  4. Hannah says

    June 6, 2021 at 12:39 am

    Can the seeds of calendula be used if all of my flowers have gone to seed? Or are the petals the only part that can be used for infusing oils?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      June 7, 2021 at 9:50 am

      Hi there. Using the flowers is the easiest way to make calendula oil. You can make a calendula seed oil, however you will need specialized equipment like a motorized or hand-crank expeller press.

      Reply
  5. Gillian Therese says

    April 28, 2021 at 1:49 pm

    I use an ear oil containing calendula, mullein, garlic & St. Johns wort…especially this time of year with allergies & ear infections, etc.

    Reply
  6. Colleen Knight says

    February 3, 2020 at 7:47 am

    Thank you for sharing and your very informative things you are always sending.

    Reply
  7. Maize says

    October 29, 2018 at 6:18 am

    How do you dry your flowers? i have them in my herb garden, do i just hang them heads in a brown bag or dry slow and low in an oven? Many thanks in advance Maize

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      November 6, 2018 at 3:23 pm

      I usually dry them by hanging them upside down or by spreading them out on homemade drying screens.

      Reply
  8. Healing Oils says

    June 16, 2017 at 5:40 pm

    Thank you for this. I’ve only used it for a couple of ways and I see it’s more useful than I realized.

    Reply
  9. Mary says

    June 14, 2017 at 10:49 am

    Great article! Thanks for the info!

    Reply
  10. gina says

    March 24, 2017 at 9:27 am

    Menopause has wreaked havoc on my skin. When I wake up with a giant cootie on my face I use a dab of Calendula infused Castor Oil. Cootie gone in 24 hours. I Love all things Calendula.

    Reply
  11. Vera S says

    January 28, 2017 at 4:12 pm

    what can we do with the leftover flowers after draining the oil. I always hate to discard them…. maybe add to soap or lotion bars for texture ? what do you think?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      January 29, 2017 at 8:55 pm

      Yes, you could definitely try that! I’m always of the mind that most of the goodness from the flowers is in the oil after infusing, so I have no problem putting them in the compost at that point :)

      Reply
  12. Robin Jozovich says

    January 25, 2017 at 5:38 am

    I wonder if I have calendula growing in our yard? Great post, Colleen…very inspiring!

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      January 29, 2017 at 8:50 pm

      I’ve never seen it there… but I bet it’s somewhere nearby!

      Reply
    • Leslie says

      March 26, 2018 at 12:06 pm

      Calendula is Marigold flowers. So if Marigolds grow where you live, you are in luck because they grow like wild! We are in Colorado and they are very successful here.

      Reply

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Hello there! I’m Colleen.

I want to inspire you to live seasonally, become more self sufficient, and protect your health. I share information on foraging and wildcrafting, fermenting and preserving, cooking whole foods from scratch, permaculture gardening, and making herbal products. And that’s just the beginning! Learn more.

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