Spring is a wonderful time of year, especially after the cold, dark, and dreary weather of winter. I’m always so excited to see the first dandelions pop up, as that means that warmer weather is on its way and I can soon make homemade dandelion salve!
Wildcrafting Weeds eBook
Before we get started with this dandelion salve recipe I want to let you know about my ebook!
Wildcrafting Weeds: 20 Easy to Forage Edible and Medicinal Plants (that might be growing in your backyard!) gives you foraging and identification tips along with full color photos and recipes for using your foraged weeds. Be sure to check it out!
Gather & Root Online Foraging Course
My online foraging course is a great way to learn about wild edible and medicinal plants! Learn more about the gather + root online foraging course here.
Now for the dandelion salve recipe!
Dandelion Infused Oil
Foraging for dandelions isn’t difficult, as they are one of the most widespread and easy to identify “weeds” there is. There are so many wonderful things to do with dandelions, as every part of the herb is both edible and medicinal, even the root.
This salve is made using locally foraged dandelions, and is the perfect spring project.
The first step in making dandelion salve is to make dandelion infused oil. After you collect your dandelion flowers, it’s best to dry them for a day or two to remove the excess moisture.
I like to do this on my homemade drying screens, but you could also lay them out on a clean towel.
Our neighbors yard was completely covered with dandelions, so we asked if we could pick some! If you do this, just make sure to ask first and confirm that they haven’t been sprayed with anything toxic.
After your dandelions have dried a bit, put them into a jar and cover them with oil.
The size of the jar depends on how much oil you want to make.
A pint jar should yield about a cup of oil after straining, which is the amount you will need for this recipe. I wanted more oil than that, and I had a ton of dandelions, so I used quart sized jars.
The kind of carrier oil that you use is up to you.
I prefer to use a blend of equal parts olive, coconut, and sweet almond as carrier oils when making my dandelion infused oil, as they are all nourishing for the skin in different ways. If you use coconut oil, it’s helpful to melt it first.
Let your dandelion oil sit in a dark place for a week or two, but not too much longer than that as it can spoil pretty quickly.
Strain out the flowers using a cheesecloth so that you can really squeeze all of the dandelion goodness out. You will end up with a lovely golden oil!
Dandelion Salve Recipe
Making this dandelion salve is easy once you have your dandelion infused oil made. First you will need to warm the oil in a double boiler.
You can create a makeshift double boiler by putting a small bowl or a glass Pyrex measuring cup over a pot with about an inch of simmering water.
Put the dandelion oil and beeswax into the small bowl or glass measuring cup, and heat until the beeswax completely dissolves into the oil, stirring occasionally.
Add the shea butter and stir until it dissolves, then stir in the optional essential oils.
Carefully pour the mixture into small jars or tins and let sit until the salve sets up completely.
This recipe makes about 12 ounces of salve total, or six 2 ounce tins.
How to Use Dandelion Salve
Dandelion flowers have pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, so this salve is good for all kinds of aches and pains. It is particularly good for sore and tired muscles and joints.
Dandelion salve is also soothing and moisturizing for dry, cracked, and itchy skin. It would also work well as a lip balm for chapped lips.
I really love how this dandelion salve turned out! It smells wonderful and is perfect on my dry hands and feet. It’s really quite easy to make, too.
Dandelions are such an amazing plant, it’s too bad that they are so often thought of as a weed! What is your favorite way to use dandelions in the springtime?
Want more herbal salve recipes? here are 10 for you to include in your natural skin care routine!
More uses for Foraged Dandelion
Did you know there are over 50 ways to enjoy this amazingly versatile backyard “weed”? Among them are:
- Dandelion Root Muffins
- Dandelion Mead
- Roasted Dandelion Root Coffee
- Dandelion Pesto
- Dandelion Kombucha
- Dandelion Soap
- Dandelion Vinegar
Dandelion Salve
Ingredients
Dandelion Herbal Oil
- 1 cup dandelion flowers wilted for a day or so
- 1 ½ cups carrier oil approximately; I like to use a blend of equal parts extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and sweet almond oil.
Dandelion Salve
- 1 cup dandelion infused oil
- 1 ounce beeswax
- 1 ounce refined shea butter
- 12-24 drops essential oils of your choice lavender and sweet orange work well (optional)
Instructions
Dandelion Infused Oil
- Put the wilted dandelion flowers into a pint sized jar and cover them with the carrier oil of your choice. If you use coconut oil, it's helpful to melt it first.
- Let your dandelion oil sit in a dark place for a week or two, but not too much longer than that as it can spoil pretty quickly.
- Strain out the flowers using a fine mesh sieve and a cheesecloth so that you can really squeeze all of the dandelion goodness out.
Dandelion Salve
- Create a makeshift double boiler by putting a small bowl or a glass Pyrex measuring cup over a pot with about an inch of simmering water.
- Put the dandelion oil and beeswax into the small bowl or Pyrex, and heat until the beeswax completely dissolves into the oil, stirring occasionally.
- Add the shea butter and stir until it completely dissolves.
- Stir in the essential oils.
- Carefully pour the mixture into small jars or tins and let sit until the salve sets up completely.
Notes
When you add essential oils, do you use both lavender and orange or just one of them?
I do one or the other, but you can use any essential you like, provided it doesn’t irritate your skin.
I ca hardly wait for the dandelions to appear- they should be poking their little heads out soon. I would to make a salve that would help with pain relief- as in joint pain and or muscle aches. Any ideas on what I could add- thanks Linda
I would try making both a dandelion-infused oil and a St. John’s Wort infused oil and then adding them in equal parts to this recipe.
I’m allergic to shae butter. Any alternatives to use while still making a great salve?
Hi Chanelle. I would try cocoa butter instead.
I’m really considering making up a batch of this salve! My question is..Can I use a dandelion root liquid extract which is super concentrated in place of the flowers? And if so, how much should I use?
Hi Ethel. Because it’s concentrated, I would only use a few drops as it could be irritating for topical use. I’ve only made this recipe with dandelion flowers, not the root or an extract, so it’s hard for me to say how much you should use.
Thank You! I do plan to whip up a batch and I’ll let you know how it goes, if that’s okay!
I used this recipe and have distributed the salve to my family and friends. We went on vacation and my husband (very sensitive skin) was very badly burned. He was skeptical about allowing me to put the salve on him. Within 2 days of applications, the burn was as almost completely gone and the pain was gone. He said “I’m a believer!” Now he asks me for it all the time. I’m getting ready to make my second batch.
That is so wonderful to hear, Andrea. Enjoy!
Hi, how long will the salve last?
Properly stored in a cool location out of direct sunlight, it’ll last many months, perhaps a year or more.
The best way I have found to dry the dandelions is to put them in a brown lunch bag with a few holes in it, seal it up and place in your car for a couple of days. Once dried you can put them in your carrier oil..
Thanks for the tip, Della.
Thanks so much for this, made my infused oil ages ago and have just today made the salve, it’s lovely. Really hoping for a little joint pain relief, but even if it just moisturises my skin I’m happy! Thanks again.
You’re so welcome. Enjoy!
Hello. When I began my dandelion infusion oil I placed root and all covered in a mix of my favorite oil carriers. I did wash the plants first which I see here you suggest not to. The initial blog I read said to leave the oil in a sunny window for several weeks, which I did for about 5 weeks. I’ve drained the infusion but it does have a very strong bitter smell to it and the lid to mason jar sort of “popped” when I opened it. I’m concerned about having rancid oil for my salve. Do the roots typically smell so strong?
Hi Sheila. Yes, using other parts besides the flower can cause bitterness and if it was in a sunny location, it may of caused it to go rancid if there was any moisture left in the plant parts.
How long should it take to set up?
A few hours.
Just finished a batch, waiting for it to set.
Wish I had picked up essential oils, I don’t love the smell. It’s not bad, and the oil smelled thos way the whole time it’s infusing, so I don’t think it’s turned. Hoping for good things!
I made a 2nd batch of oil, thinking I had more tins than I did. If I strain the oil, will it keep on its own, or no? It’s about 3 weeks old
Hi Danielle. Yes, the oil should keep for several months when kept in a cool, dark location.
Can I use unrefined shea butter? I am having trouble finding refined
Sure, it’ll work the same as refined.
Hi there. Can I use cocoa butter instead of shea butter?
Yes, that should be fine.
How long will the salve last after making??
A year or more when stored in a cool, dark location.
My dandelions were nice and fresh when I picked them but as they dried the white fluffy stuff is showing through underneath the yellow. Is it still OK to use to make my oil? Also, can I just pour enough carrier oil over the dandelions to cover them or do I need to measure both out? Thanks
Hi Jane. Yes to both of your questions!
Would you sell me some Dandelion salve?
Hi Renee. I’m sorry, I no longer sell my homemade salves.
How long will the oil keep if not made into the balm? Can the oil be made during dandelion season and used in later months?
Hi Christine. Yes, you can make and use just the oil if you prefer. It’ll keep for 6 months to a year (possibly longer when stored in a cool dark place).
When my kids were young dandelion oil was the ONLY thing that helped the growing pains they got in their limbs!
When I tried to dry my dandelions, they turned to white under the yellow tops. I only waited for about a day. Did I dry them for too long? Can I still use them?
Hi, I made the oil with coconut oil yesterday and placed it in a sunny window sill. Today it’s a solid again. I’m wondering what to do because I’m supposed to shake it every day? Please help!
Hi Josie. You’ll need to keep your infused oil in a warmer area. You could also try heating some water on the stove and placing your jar in it to speed up the melting process. Next time you make an herbal salve, I suggest using only liquid oils to infuse your herbs in.
Ok, I tried this today and I will admit it smells funky. I doubled the essential oils to try and cover it but you can’t even tell that I put oils in it. I’m using all organic ingredients. Any thoughts? I let my dandelion heads wilt for about 24 hours and they infused for 7 days. It’s setting up now in my tins… I guess smell aside we’ll see how the rest of it does lol
Hi Alexis. It’s really hard to say. My first thought is that you somehow introduced too much moisture into the oil and it spoiled quickly.
The same thing happened to me! I was looking up another recipe and it said to use a breathable lid to keep the oil in while it’s infusing that way it won’t spoil. I didn’t really think of that while I was doing it, and I just used a regular lid. I didn’t make anything, but it definitely went bad while infusing for me. Wasted a good bit of oil 😥 but at least I’ll know for next year!
Can I put my dandelions in a resealable tea bag using 1/2 cup oil per tea bag??
I’ve never considered it, but I guess you could so long as the oil doesn’t seep through.
Do you wash your dandelions first? Or just use straight? Thanks!
I use them as is to ensure no additional water content enters the oil (it’ll cause it to spoil rapidly).
If I want to make double that amount, would you recommend two separate batches or just doubling up?
Doubling up is totally fine!
Hello! How long would you say the salve stays good for in the tins once it’s made?
Stored in a cool dark place, salves will last for a year or longer.
Hi, I used your method last year to make the infused oil. I put it in my cabinet where it is dark and cool. I forgot about it, life got in my way. It looks fine and I am wondering if I can still use it to make salve or should I just start over?
Hi Lorrene, as long as it doesn’t smell bad, it should be totally fine!
Hi Colleen! Thank you for sharing and teaching us! I’m new to foraging, and am really enjoying your instructions how to forage and make wonderful foods and products! Regarding the lotion bars, if I sub cocoa butter for the Shea butter, do I use the same amount? Also, used another recipe before and the bars turned out really hard and cracked. I presume I need to cut back on the wax!? 🌱💕
Hi DJ. Yes, you can use cocoa butter in place of shea butter. I would definitely cut the amount of beeswax in half.