Last Updated on September 14, 2025 by Nico
Calendula salve is one of the best homemade herbal remedies to have on hand for bug bites, dry skin, minor burns, and more. This gentle but effective salve is easy for beginners to make and uses only a handful of simple ingredients.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis), also known as pot marigold, has been used topically for centuries in herbal medicine as a natural treatment for various skin issues. It was used to help reduce inflammation, speed up minor wound healing, calm bug bites, and more.
I like to make calendula tincture, which is another great way to preserve the nutritional benefits of the flower and take them internally. But calendula salve is my go-to way to enjoy the healing properties of the flower on my skin.
Benefits of calendula
Calms inflammation and redness – Calendula contains anti-inflammatory compounds like flavonoids and triterpenoids that help reduce redness, swelling, and other skin irritations.
Antiseptic and antimicrobial – Calendula has natural antiseptic properties that can protect minor cuts, scrapes, and wounds from infection.
Supports wound healing – Studies suggest that calendula can help skin recover from wounds like minor cuts, scraps, and burns more quickly.
Nourishes dry or damaged skin – Calendula is packed with antioxidants and fatty acids that help the skin keep its moisture. The flowers have emollient properties that can help reduce dryness and irritation caused by eczema or psoriasis. It’s a good choice for dry hands because it locks in moisture even as you go about your daily work.
Calms sensitive and reactive skin – Calendula is gentle and can be used by all ages and skin types. It has a soothing, calming effect that can help reduce itchiness and irritation from insect bites or mild rashes.
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Foraging calendula
If you’re foraging your calendula flowers from a garden, it’s best to harvest them in the mid-morning after the dew has evaporated but before the midday sun hits it. This will ensure that the plant’s medicinal essential oils are at their peak. You can then dry the flowers and use them to make herbal remedies (like calendula tincture and this salve) throughout the year.
Dried or fresh flowers
You can use either fresh or dried calendula flowers to make this salve but I would strongly recommend using dried petals. To make the salve we will be infusing an oil with calendula flowers, and fresh flowers have a lot of water in them. The water will cause the salve to spoil more quickly.
If you have fresh calendula, I’d recommend that you hang it to dry for 1-2 weeks and then make this salve.
Calendula salve recipe
Tools
Double boiler – If you don’t have one just use a small saucepan with a glass bowl on top.
Clean jars with lids – I use these
Glass mason jar for storage – I use these amber glass jars
Cheesecloth or a mesh strainer – I like these unbleached ones
Small whisk
Supplies
Dried calendula petals or the whole flower – Here’s an organic source for dried petals
Carrier oil of your choice – You can use jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, or even olive oil for a thicker salve
Organic beeswax pellets – Here’s a source for the beeswax pellets. You can use carnauba wax to make a totally vegan salve.
Shea butter – Here’s a source for raw bulk shea butter
Optional – You can add a few drops of vitamin E oil for added shelf life, a few drops of essential oil like lavender essential oil or tea tree oil for extra benefits, or calendula tincture for a stronger herbal effect.
For complete measurements, see the printable recipe card below.
Instructions
A note on beeswax: Make sure to use equipment that you don’t mind having beeswax on long-term. Once beeswax is melted, it’s pretty difficult to fully remove it. I bought a small glass bowl and whisk from a thrift store and use them as my dedicated beeswax tools!
Make calendula-infused oil
The first step is to infuse oil with calendula petals and then we’ll then use this herbal oil to make the salve.
First, add the dried petals or leaves into a clean glass jar.
Then cover everything with your carrier oil until the plant material is fully submerged. I usually use olive oil or fractionated coconut oil. You could also both 50/50 or try out your own combination.
Add a lid to the oil, date, and label it. Set it in a room temperature place for 5-6 weeks. You can leave it for a shorter time (3-4 weeks) but I prefer a slow infusion to ensure that the oil has the most amount of healing properties.
After 6 weeks, use cheesecloth or a strainer to strain off the petals from the oil.
Add the beeswax and shea butter to your double boiler and gently heat it until it’s fully melted. Make sure to use a low heat to avoid destroying some of the benefits in beeswax.
Turn off the heat and add the calendula-infused oil. You want to add about 1 tablespoon of beeswax per cup of oil.
You can also add in 2-3 droppers full of calendula tincture to the beeswax at this time if you have that on hand. This will boost the medicinal properties of the salve.
Use a small whisk to mix everything together and pour the mixture into your storage jar. If the beeswax hardens on the side of your bowl, you can gently heat it again and then pour it in. Make sure not to harshly heat or burn the oil because this will destroy some of the medicinal properties in the beeswax and calendula oil.
Allow the salve to cool and harden and that’s it! I hope this gives you the confidence to try making your own homemade calendula salve.
How much calendula salve to use?
A little bit goes a long way. You can apply a small amount (about a pea-sized dab) to the affected area, like minor cuts, bruises, or dry skin patches. You can use it up to 2-3 times a day as needed but always do a patch test first, especially if you have sensitive skin. Avoid using it on open sores and large or deep wounds, because it can trap bacteria.
How long does calendula salve last?
Like other DIY herbal salves, this salve has a long shelf life if its stored in a dark place away from direct sunlight and heat. I like to say it’ll last about 1 year if stored in a cool, dry place!
Disclaimer – I’m not a medical professional and do not intend to offer medical or health advice in any content I create. I offer information for educational purposes and, as always, get your physician’s advice or the advice of your health care provider before trying a new herbal remedy. There are always possible unintended consequences of trying a new herbal remedy such as an allergic reaction or unexpected side effects like interactions with other medication.
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Simple DIY Calendula Salve Recipe (For Skin Healing)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- A note on beeswax: Make sure to use equipment that you don’t mind having beeswax on long-term. Once beeswax is melted, it’s pretty difficult to fully remove it. I bought a small glass bowl and whisk from a thrift store and use them as my dedicated beeswax tools!
- The first step is to infuse oil with calendula petals and then we’ll then use this herbal oil to make the salve.
- First, add the dried petals or leaves into a clean glass jar.
- Then cover everything with your carrier oil until the plant material is fully submerged. I usually use olive oil or fractionated coconut oil. You could also both 50/50 or try out your own combination.
- Add a lid to the oil, date, and label it. Set it in a room temperature place for 5-6 weeks. You can leave it for a shorter time (3-4 weeks) but I prefer a slow infusion to ensure that the oil has the most amount of healing properties.
- After 6 weeks, use cheesecloth or a strainer to strain off the petals from the oil.
- Add the beeswax and shea butter to your double boiler and gently heat it until it’s fully melted. Make sure to use a low heat to avoid destroying some of the benefits in beeswax.
- Turn off the heat and add the calendula-infused oil. You want to add about 1 tablespoon of beeswax per cup of oil.
- You can also add in 2-3 droppers full of calendula tincture to the beeswax at this time if you have that on hand. This will boost the medicinal properties of the salve.
- Use a small whisk to mix everything together and pour the mixture into your storage jar. If the beeswax hardens on the side of your bowl, you can gently heat it again and then pour it in. Make sure not to harshly heat or burn the oil because this will destroy some of the medicinal properties in the beeswax and calendula oil.
- Allow the salve to cool and harden and that’s it! I hope this gives you the confidence to try making your own homemade calendula salve.
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