Simple DIY Calendula Salve Recipe (For Skin Healing)

An overhead shot of calendula salves in small glass jars. There are dried calendula petals nearby.

Nico

Simple DIY Calendula Salve Recipe (For Skin Healing)

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.

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Prep Time 15

Additional Time 42

Total Time 42 15

Servings: 1 jar

Course: Holistic Skin Care

Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients

.5 cups Dried calendula petals or the whole flower here's a dried, organic source
1 cup Carrier oil of your choice such as olive oil, sweet almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, or jojoba oil
3 tablespoons Organic beeswax pellets here's an organic source for beeswax (but try to find some locally to you first!). You can also use carnauba wax to make a totally vegan salve.
1 tablespoon Shea butter here's a raw, bulk source
10 drops Essential oil of your choice (optional) like tea tree oil for antimicrobial benefits or lavender oil to make it smell nice!

Equipment

Double boiler - If you don’t have one just use a small saucepan with a glass bowl on top.
A glass jar for extracting - I like these
Glass mason jar for storage - I like these amber glass salve jars
Cheesecloth or a mesh strainer - I like this unbleached cheesecloth
Small whisk

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.

Video

Notes

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!

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!