If you read my calendula herbal profile, you’d know calendula has been used internally and topically for centuries to heal wounds, burns, and rashes. It even has antifungal properties. You may wonder how you could get these benefits, and the simple answer is a calendula salve.

This recipe is perfect for getting you hooked on making your own natural remedies. This simple salve combines three (or four) ingredients, oil, calendula, beeswax, and optional essential oils, to make a solid ointment with healing and soothing properties. Apply to diaper rashes, sunburn, kitchen accidents, and more. My dad even used it when he had shingles! I keep this salve in the refrigerator for a little extra cooling and soothing relief when burns happen.

The wonderful part about this salve is the potential to customize it with your favorite essential oils. I recommend avoiding essential oils that cause photosensitivity, like angelica root, bergamot, orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, and mandarin. Instead, I recommend checking out my posts, Essential Oils for Skin Health and How to Safely Use Essential Oils.

Before I go over my calendula salve recipe, I figured I would share some premade calendula salve options for those who may not be ready to start creating homemade herbal remedies:

• MJ’s Herbals Calendula Salve uses the freshest, chemical-free, and highest-quality ingredients carefully sourced directly from the best U.S. suppliers and farmers. No shortcuts are taken, and every single jar of MJ’s Herbals has been carefully and lovingly handmade and smiled upon by MJ herself.
• Sunset Farm Calendula Salve is made with our farm-grown calendula leaves and flowers. Our herbal salve doesn’t have any artificial scent added. The leaves are steeped in avocado oil to draw out the plant benefits. It is created in small batches to ensure freshness.

Now, for the moment you’ve been waiting, how to make homemade calendula salve.

EQUIPMENT

• 2 16-ounce mason jars (I like Ball mason jars)
• 4 oz. container to put your salve in (I like Vivaplex Amber Jars)
• Wooden utensil (for stirring, I use reusable bamboo chopsticks)
• Canning jar lifter (this is optional, but I use the Norpro Canning Jar Lifter)
• Cheesecloth or coffee filter (this is optional, but I use unbleached coffee filters)
• French press (this is optional, but I use a Mueller French Press)

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
• 1/3 cup calendula flowers (I use Anthony’s Goods’ Organic Calendula Flowers)
• 1.5 tbsp. of beeswax or candelilla wax
• Optional: 36-144 drops of essential oils for skin health

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add dried calendula and extra virgin olive oil to the mason jar and close it.
2. Fill a pot with water and place the jar in the pot (the water should cover 3/4 of the mason jar).
3. Simmer for 1-2 hours. Start with medium heat and then drop to a low simmer when it starts bubbling (anything hotter may cause the glass to explode). Be sure to check the water level every 15 minutes and add water to the pot as necessary.
4. When the oil is infused, it should be golden/orange. When it has reached that color, remove it from the heat with a canning jar lifter and strain it into the second mason jar (I use a fine mesh strainer covered with an unbleached coffee filter).
5. Optional: Use a French press to extract the remaining liquid.
6. Pour out some of the pot’s water from the infusion process, leaving just enough water to cover half of the second mason jar.
7. In the second mason jar holding the calendula infusion, add beeswax and place on the stovetop over medium heat to melt. Mix occasionally with a wooden utensil.
8. Optional: Add essential oils if you’re using them.
9. Pour it into the container of your choice (I like using a dark-colored, glass, airtight container like Vivaplex Amber Jars) and let it cool. You can place it in the fridge to speed up the process. Once solidified, it’s ready to use.

NOTES

• You can use this for any skin issues your family might be experiencing as frequently as you’d like.
• When stored in a cool, dark place, such as a cabinet (or the refrigerator), it will last 12 months.

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Homemade Calendula Salve

The perfect recipe for getting you hooked on making your own herbal remedies. It is a simple salve combining olive oil, calendula, and beeswax. The combination of ingredients creates a solidified ointment with healing and soothing properties for all occasions.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time2 hours hrs

Servings 4 ounces

Recipe by: Sarena-Rae Santos (The Holistic Hipppie)

Equipment

• 2 16-ounce mason jars (I like Ball mason jars)
• 4 oz. container to put your salve in (I like Vivaplex Amber Jars)
• Wooden utensil (for stirring, I use reusable bamboo chopsticks)
• Canning jar lifter (this is optional, but I use the Norpro Canning Jar Lifter)
• Cheesecloth or coffee filter (this is optional, but I use unbleached coffee filters)
• French press (this is optional, but I use a Mueller French Press)

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
• 1/3 cup calendula flowers (I use Anthony's Goods' Organic Calendula Flowers)
• 1.5 tbsp. of beeswax or candelilla wax
• 36-144 drops of essential oils for skin health (optional)

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

• Add dried calendula and extra virgin olive oil to the mason jar and close it.
• Fill a pot with water and place the jar in the pot (the water should cover 3/4 of the mason jar).
• Simmer for 1-2 hours. Start with medium heat and then drop to a low simmer when it starts bubbling (anything hotter may cause the glass to explode). Be sure to check the water level every 15 minutes and add water to the pot as necessary.
• When the oil is infused, it should be golden/orange. When it has reached that color, remove it from the heat with a canning jar lifter and strain it into the second mason jar (I use a fine mesh strainer covered with an unbleached coffee filter).
• Optional: Use a French press to extract the remaining liquid.
• Pour out some of the pot’s water from the infusion process, leaving just enough water to cover half of the second mason jar.
• In the second mason jar holding the calendula infusion, add beeswax and place on the stovetop over medium heat to melt. Mix occasionally with a wooden utensil.
• Optional: Add essential oils if you’re using them.
• Pour it into the container of your choice (I like using a dark-colored, glass, airtight container like Vivaplex Amber Jars) and let it cool. You can place it in the fridge to speed up the process. Once solidified, it’s ready to use.

Notes

• You can use this for any skin issues your family might be experiencing as frequently as you’d like.
• When stored in a cool, dark place, such as a cabinet (or the refrigerator), it will last 12 months.

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