How To Make A Homemade Drawing Salve

Last Updated on September 16, 2025 by Nico

If you’ve ever had a bug bite, splinter, or patch of irritated skin that just wouldn’t go away, you’re going to love this homemade drawing salve. This is a great salve to have on hand throughout the year. Here’s how to make it!

Drawing salves are underrated natural remedies. They’re designed to “draw out” foreign objects, embedded toxins, and soothe skin irritations, all while nourishing and protecting the affected area.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the process of creating a rich, soothing homemade black drawing salve using ingredients like olive oil, bentonite clay, activated charcoal, and calendula flowers. This homemade salve recipe is beginner-friendly, and it has been an effective remedy for our family. I think it’ll make a great addition to your homemade natural first aid kit.

Why we like making our own drawing salve

• You control the ingredients
• You can avoid petroleum-based fillers that are common in store-bought equivalents
• You can customise based on seasonal herbs (foraged or homegrown)
• It’s cost-effective and sustainable

What’s in it

Here’s a breakdown of what’s in our salve.

Fractionated coconut oil or jojoba oil

Both are great carrier oils that help dry or irritated skin recover and extract the healing properties of plants during the infusion. 

Dried calendula flowers

Calendula has anti-inflammatory properties and can help to calm skin irritations, reduce redness, and speed up healing for insect bites, small wounds, and bug bites.

Activated charcoal

This salve has activated charcoal in it, which binds to bacteria, toxins, and other impurities in the skin. This helps to draw them out and support recovery. It can help with deep splinters, bee stings, or other foreign substances. 

Bentonite clay

The clay can absorb fluid and toxins while reducing inflammation. It also helps harden the salve to a workable consistency.

Beeswax pellets

Beeswax seals in moisture and helps to form a breathable, protective barrier over the skin. This helps keep the active ingredients in place for longer and can help to support the healing of minor puncture wounds, spider bites, or other mild issues.

Vitamin E oil

Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant that helps prevent the oil from going rancid and extends its shelf life.

Tea tree & lavender essential oils

Tea tree oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties, while lavender essential oil can help to calm inflammation (and it has a lovely scent!).

Homemade DIY drawing salve recipe

Ingredients

Calendula-infused oil (use any carrier oil of your choice, like olive oil or sweet almond oil and infuse that  with calendula flowers – full instructions here)

Activated charcoal – here’s a source

Bentonite clay – here’s a source

Beeswax pellets – here’s an organic source

Vitamin E oil – here’s a source

Tea tree oil – here’s a source

Lavender essential oil – here’s a source

Supplies

Double boiler (or a heat-safe bowl set over a pot of water)

Small saucepan (for setting up the double boiler)

Heat-safe mixing bowl or glass measuring cup

Mesh strainer or cheesecloth (if straining infused oil) – I like this unbleached cheesecloth

Small glass jars or tins (for storing the finished salve) – I like these amber glass jars

Instructions

The first step is to make the calendula-infused oil. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to make that!

Once your oil is infused, you’re ready to make the salve.

In a small glass jar or bowl, combine the calendula oil and beeswax pellets.

Place the jar in a small pan of water (a homemade double boiler) and heat over low heat or medium heat until everything is melted.

Remove the oil and beeswax mixture from heat and stir in the activated charcoal and bentonite clay.

Add vitamin E oil, tea tree oil, and lavender oil.

Stir well to blend and pour the warm salve into a small jar or tin.

Let cool to room temperature before adding a lid.

Label it and store it in a dark place.

Note – the salve is for external use only!

How long does it last

The shelf life is typically 6–12 months if stored in a cool place. Mine usually lasts a really long time, but to be safe, I normally say 6-12 months.

How to use it

To use, apply a generous amount of black salve to the affected area, then cover with a band-aid. Let it sit for several hours or overnight, then gently wipe clean. Reapply as needed, especially for stubborn splinters or mosquito bites. Avoid using it on an open wound.

It can be helpful for:

• Bug bites & insect bites
• Minor spider bites
• Bee stings
• Minor skin irritations
• Poison ivy
• Drawing out minor foreign objects

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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I hope you give this healing salve a try. If you enjoy it, please consider giving it 5 stars. Find me on Instagram @documentingsimpleliving and show me what you’ve made!