Homemade Calendula Salve
Calendula salve is a popular homemade skincare recipe. It's simple to make and has been traditionally used to support skin health. Many find it gentle enough for the whole family. Discover how to craft this salve, commonly applied for dry skin, rashes, bug bites, minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
Servings 12 ounces
Cost $12
Equipment
Ingredients
Calendula Infused Oil
- 1 cup dried calendula flowers
- 1 1/2 cups carrier oil I like to use a blend of olive oil, melted coconut oil, and sweet almond oil
Calendula Salve
- 1 cup calendula infused oil
- 1 ounce beeswax
- 1 ounce refined shea butter optional
Instructions
Calendula Infused Oil
- Put the dried calendula flowers into the jar about 3/4 of the way full. Then fill the jar with a carrier oil (or a blend of oils) of your choice.
- Cap the jar with a lid and let the oil infuse for 4-6 weeks (or more) in a cool spot out of direct sunlight.
- Once the calendula oil has infused, strain out the flowers from the oil with a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth. Squeeze the remaining oil out of the flowers in the cheesecloth.
Calendula Salve
- Heat the calendula infused oil in a double boiler on your stove. 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.
- Add the beeswax and stir occasionally (a wooden or bamboo skewer or chopstick works well for this) until the beeswax completely dissolves into the oil.
- Then remove the oil/beeswax mixture from the heat and add in the optional shea butter, stirring quickly and constantly until it melts.
- Pour the salve mixture into tins or jars.
- Let the salve set up for several hours or until it is completely cooled before using.
Notes
- This calendula salve recipe is easily adapted to smaller or larger batches. Simply double it for a larger batch or cut it in half for a smaller batch.
- Olive oil is a great choice as a carrier oil and is easy to find. I often use a blend of about 50% olive oil, 25% coconut oil, and 25% sweet almond oil. Each oil has its own benefits and it’s really up to you which one you’d like to use.
- You can alternatively use the quick method for making infused oils by heating the oil and dried flowers in a pot on low heat for up to 12 hours, but the infused oil may not be as potent.
- This salve will last for a year or more if kept in a dry place out of intense heat and sunlight.