Homemade Calendula Salve
How gorgeous is this Homemade Calendula Salve? Not only is it great for rough, dry skin and little nicks and cuts, but that color! It’s worth making it alone for that gorgeous color, right?
If you love making salves, creams, and lotions at home this is the recipe for you! Make some Calendula Salve today and save a little piece of summer in a jar.
Calendulas
Dreaming of summer? Then add calendulas to your garden plan. Not only are they gorgeous in the garden. Their cheery orange and yellow blooms grace our back porch and make it so lovely as they open in the morning light.
And they bloom profusely so you know our bees are loving them too. I’m excited to have a bunch of calendulas to use around the house this year. I’ve made this salve, but I also want to do a little fabric dying, make some Calendula Tea, and enjoy them on salads. They’re so versatile.
If you’re making this Calendula Salve please understand: I’m not a doctor or a nutritionist please do your research before using or ingesting any plant materials.
What do I need to make this DIY Calendula Salve?
If you already make salves, muscle rubs, and lotions at home you may already have the ingredients at home.
- Calendula Petals, you can use dried calendula or fresh calendula
- beeswax, be sure to use food grade or cosmetic grade beeswax
- natural oil of your choice, read up on carrier oils here
- strainer
- cheesecloth
- double boiler or jar and a saucepan with water (see notes below)
Why You Need a Double Boiler OR a Jar and Water
You need a double boiler or a jar in a pan of water because, while not likely, beeswax is still flammable. And can catch on fire. It’s a safety precaution that everyone making salves or rubs at home should get used to doing. Or use a microwave to melt the wax.
Melting Wax in the Microwave
Melting wax in the microwave can be done, it requires careful monitoring and adherence to safety precautions to prevent the risk of fire. If you’re not comfortable with the process, or if the quantity of wax is large, consider using a double boiler on a stovetop for a more controlled and safer melting process.
To safely melt wax in the microwave use a microwave-proof container. Warm in short bursts to keep it from overheating because you’re using pellets that melt quickly. Warm it, then stir it, often times it takes just one to two short bursts to melt the wax with stirring in between heat. If any gets spilled clean it up immediately.
How To Make Calendula Salve
Equipment
- cheesecloth
- strainer
- jars or tins for storage
- double boiler or use a jar and a sauce pan with water, notes below
Materials
- 3/4 cup calendula petals OR 1/4 cup dried
- 3/4 cup carrier oil see notes on carrier oils
- 5 tsp beeswax pellets
Instructions
- pour the petals into a small saucepan
- cover with oil
- warm over very low heat then let rest for 24 hours
- strain by placing the cheesecloth in the strainer and pouring it through into another pan or a bowl
- with clean hands squeeze all the oil out as much as possible
- pour infused calendula oil into a vessel for melting, then place that vessel in a pan with water about half way up the jar, you can use a double boiler as well, I just prefer the small batch method of using a jar in water
- warm gently over low heat
- when warm stir in beeswax
- stir to melt and combine
- pour in small tins or a jar
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