How to Make Calendula Salve
Homemade calendula salve is one of the easiest herbal skin care products you can make. It is a two-step process. Using calendula-infused oil and natural beeswax, you can create a soothing salve that’s perfect for dry skin, rough hands, elbows, and other everyday skin care needs. This beginner-friendly recipe only requires a few ingredients and comes together in minutes once your infused oil is ready.
As a beekeeper, I appreciate the many uses for beeswax. When making salves and balms, I like using raw beeswax because it creates a beautiful texture and retains its natural aroma and color.
What Makes Calendula a Popular Herb in Salves?
Calendula has been used in herbal skin care for centuries, making it one of the most popular herbs for homemade salves.
The dried flower petals infuse easily into carrier oils, creating a richly colored herbal oil that blends beautifully with beeswax.
The natural salve helps moisturize dry skin, soften rough areas like hands, elbows, and heels, and protect skin from everyday wear and tear.
Salves are one of the easiest diy products to make at home. Though the words are often used interchangeably: a salve is less greasy than an ointment and a balm is firmer than a salve.
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Ingredients You’ll Ned
- calendula flowers – infused calendula oil
- raw beeswax
- nourishing oils – i.e. olive oil
- optional essential oils
Calendula Flowers
Calendula (Calendula officinalis- “pot marigold”) is one of the easiest herbs to grow-and one of the herbs that bees like too! Most gardeners have no idea about the medicinal qualities of this special flower.
Calendula has a long history of use in traditional herbal skin care.
Its dried petals are commonly infused into oils and used in homemade salves, balms, and lotions designed to soothe and moisturize the skin.
For this recipe, we will be using dried calendula flowers to make an infused- oil. (Stay tuned)
Raw Beeswax
The moisturizing properties makes beeswax perfect for skin care. It is easy to melt and work with and help seal in skin moisture.
Combined with infused calendula oil – we can achieve a perfect consistency for our salve. You don’t have to be a beekeeper to enjoy working with beeswax.
It is available in pellets, bars or chunks. You can purchase clean wax that is ready to go. If you purchase raw beeswax locally, make sure to clean the beeswax before getting started.
Vegan Alternative to Beeswax
If you are vegan and do not eat honey and do not wish to use beeswax, simply swap out the beeswax and substitute carnauba wax.
Essential Oils (Optional)
This recipe for calendula salve stands well on it’s own. However, if you choose to add a few drop of an essential oil – that’s okay too. (Lavender, Tea Tree and Rosemary are good choices.)
Tools You’ll Need
In addition to a few everyday essentials (measuring cups, spoons, stirrers), you need:
- access to a crockpot
- a small double boiler
- small containers
Before You Begin
This project is completed in two simple steps. First, you’ll infuse dried calendula flowers in oil.
Then you’ll combine that infused oil with beeswax to make the finished salve. If you already have calendula-infused oil, you can skip straight to the salve recipe.
Step 1: Make Calendula-Infused Oil
Before we can make our calendula salve using beeswax, we need some infused oil.
When making infused oil, it is best to use organic herbs known to be free of pesticides.
There are 2 methods for making the infused calendula oil. Harness the power of the sun – this is the slow method or use a heat source.
Slow Method
- If you are not in a hurry, place a cup of dried calendula flowers in a glass jar. Fill the jar with enough olive oil to cover the flowers. Put a lid on the jar and sit it in a bright sunny windowsill – but not in direct sunlight.
- Each day – gently shake the jar enough to mix the contents. In 4-6 weeks, you have infused calendula oil.
Faster Crock Pot Method
The faster method is to use a heat source such as a crock pot (this is what I do). I also use and recommend a crock pot plastic liner for easy clean up.
Place a layer of dried calendula flowers in the bottom and add just enough olive oil to cover the flowers. Leave the crockpot on low for 24 hours, and you have some beautiful aromatic infused calendula oil.
Remove the oil and strain (through a sieve or cheesecloth) to remove all flower petals. This process is very similar to my recipe for plantain salve.
Now the oil can be stored on the counter – (or in the refrigerator) for several months. Adding a little vitamin E oil will prolong storage (optional).
Step 2: Make the Salve
1. I am assuming (you know that is not good) that you have your infused calendula oil ready to use. Now we will make the salve.
Begin by melting the beeswax in a double boiler setup. This means a large pot of water on the bottom – holding a smaller pot inside it. This is the safest way to melt beeswax. I begin with the beeswax because it is a bit slower to melt.
2. Once the wax is liquid, pour in the infused calendula oil. The oil is cooler than the wax so you will notice it start to thicken some of the wax. Don’t panic, this is okay and it will soon be all melted again. Stir gently to combine.
3. Remove the mixture from heat. This is the time to add an essential oils or additives that you desire. Then, pour your calendula salve into smaller containers.
4. If you wish to spread a few flowers on top – just as the wax starts to skim over – that is fine. You do not have to do this. Leave it undisturbed until the salve has cooled completely. Then, add a lid or top.
How to Store
One of the advantages of homemade calendula salve is that it has a relatively long shelf life.
The salve typically keeps well for about a year, depending on the freshness of the infused oil you started with.
Adding a few drops of vitamin E oil may help slow oxidation.
Because this recipe contains only oils and beeswax (no water), it doesn’t require a preservative when made and stored properly.
However, if it begins to smell rancid – it is time for a new batch.
What’s the Best Container?
Store your salve in a clean, dry container with a tight-fitting lid. Small metal tins or glass jars both work well.
Metal tins are lightweight and travel well, while glass jars are easy to clean and reuse.
If you’re making gifts, choose containers with tight-fitting lids to help keep dust and moisture out.
Choose a container that’s easy to open and convenient to keep in a purse, bedside table, or first-aid kit.
Should You Use Amber Glass Jars?
Salve makers often use amber glass containers. This helps protect oils from light, which can slow oxidation during long-term storage.
If your salve will be stored in a cabinet or drawer, clear glass works just fine.
However, amber jars are a smart choice if the containers will be displayed on a shelf or exposed to light for extended periods.
Storage Tips at a Glance
✔ Store in a cool, dry place.
✔ Keep the lid tightly closed.
✔ Use clean, dry hands or a spatula.
✔ Avoid prolonged heat and direct sunlight.
✔ Use within about one year for the best quality.
Troubleshooting
If your salve doesn’t turn out exactly as expected, don’t worry—it’s an easy fix.
A salve that’s too hard simply needs a little more calendula-infused oil, while a salve that’s too soft can be remelted with a bit more beeswax.
If your salve develops a grainy texture, the oils or beeswax may have become overheated or cooled too slowly.
Gently remelting the salve and allowing it to cool at room temperature often improves the texture.
If the ingredients appear to separate, they likely weren’t fully blended before pouring.
Remelt the mixture, stir well until everything is completely combined, and pour it into the containers again.
How to Use
Apply a small amount of calendula salve anywhere your skin needs extra moisture.
It’s especially helpful for dry hands, rough elbows, cracked heels, cuticles, and other dry areas. Massage it into clean skin as needed.
Although calendula is a popular herb in homemade skin care, discontinue use if irritation occurs, and avoid applying salve to deep wounds or serious burns.
More Homemade Beeswax Recipes
Of course, this is not the only easy salve to make – try Herbal Dandelion Salve to sooth aches and pains.
And as yet another treatment for minor burns – this Honey Aloe Burn Salve is great.
What about those stuffy noses around cold and flu season? This all natural Beeswax Vapor Rub recipe might be just the thing.
And, if you want to have fewer petroleum products on your skin – why not try this natural petroleum jelly recipe (without the petroleum please!).
Everyone loves making beeswax lip balm. It is very inexpensive and you can use many different essential oils and flavors too.
And, for a really luxurious skin soother, try making this whipped body butter. It is wonderful and pretty too!
Finally
Making your own calendula salve is an easy way to create a nourishing skin care product using just a handful of natural ingredients.
Once you’ve mastered the simple process of making calendula-infused oil and blending it with beeswax, you’ll have a versatile salve that’s perfect for everyday use or thoughtful handmade gifts.
Calendula Salve Recipe
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Read my Disclosure.Supplies
- 1 pint olive oil
- 1 packet calendula flowers (dried)
- 1 oz beeswax
- 1 piece Small tins with lids (optional)
Instructions
- Infusing Calendula Oil: Let's begin by making our own infused calendula oil. If you buy some ready-made, you can skip this part.Place enough dried calendula flowers in the bottom of a crockpot to cover the bottom in a single layer. Add enough olive oil to just cover the flowers.Let steep on low for 24 hour. Now use a strainer or equivalent to strain the leaves out of the oil mixture.
- Making the salve: Melt your beeswax in a double boiler or similar set up. This is the safest way to melt beeswax. Beeswax has a low melting temp but the process can be a bit slow. Give it time to melt.
- Adding oil: It is time to add the infused calendula oil that we made earlier. Lower the heat setting to simmer because you do not want your infused oil to be subjected to higher temperatures than are necessary.You will need 1 oz (net wt) infused calendula oil for this recipe. Slowly add the infused oil to the beeswax mixture. Because the oil is cooler than the wax, you will notice the wax beginning to harden. That’s okay, just keep stirring and everything will reliquefy.
- Pour into containers: Once all ingredients are combined and melted, remove from heat. Pour into small containers of your choice. You can use tins or glass jars. If you are using glass, temper them first (heat with hot water from the faucet.) This prevents glass breakage due to pouring the hot mixture into a cold glass.
- Add flowers and cool:Once the surface of the calendula salve has started to set, you can sprinkle a few dried flower petals on top for looks.Set your containers aside in a safe location and allow them to cool overnight or at least 6 hours. Then your homemade herbal calendula salve will be set and ready to use.
- Label:Don’t forget to label the container. Otherwise, you may be like me and find yourself thinking… now what was this?
