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Classic Calendula Salve

Posted by Lindsay Kluge on Tuesday, August 25, 2015

For anyone who’s ever wanted the most simple, nourishing, therapeutic and basic herbal skin salve (or lip balm), this one’s for you.

Last week, I posted my recipe for Calendula Infused Apricot Oil, a pure and basic combo of calendula flowers and apricot kernel seed oil. This post will utilize that decadent blend as the base for this essential salve. This has been my go-to herbal salve for everything from simple cuts and scrapes to deep wounds and itchy skin. I always keep this little tin with me when I’m out and about, and especially when I’m hiking and backpacking (which is essentially every weekend in the summer and fall). This blend incorporates the soothing, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties of calendula with the delicate, moisturizing base of apricot kernel oil with the additions of beeswax and essential oils. This is the perfect simple salve to make if you’re just beginning to make herbal topical remedies – super easy, and still a thorough process to really get you involved in the herbal medicine making process. It’s a relationship, after all.

For this recipe, I keep on hand most ingredients and supplies from Mountain Rose Herbs such as beeswax pastilles, apricot oil and small tins, but you can find many of these ingredients from your local health food store. If you’re lucky enough to have calendula flowers growing in your garden, use those!

 

Classic Calendula Salve

  • Calendula Infused Apricot Kernel Oil
  • Beeswax
  • Lemongrass essential oil
  • Orange essential oil

Measure the amount of infused oil that you have in a measuring cup and place it in a small pot (ideally with a pour lip). Turn on very low heat. 

(FYI - Just 1 cup of oil will make PLENTY of little salves...)

Add in beeswax pastilles, approximately 1 ounce of wax per cup of oil that you have. (Keep a small amount aside if adjustments are needed later.)

Warm this mixture on low heat until the wax if fully melted, stirring constantly. 

When the wax is fully melted, dip a metal spoon in the mixture to contain a small amount. Turn off heat. Put the spoon in the refrigerator for about 8-10 minutes to make sure it is solidifying to your liking. If too liquidy or not solidifying into a salve like consistency, add about 1/4 tsp bees wax at a time to the oil mixture and repeat the spoon test until the right consistency is reached. If it cools too hard, add a bit more oil to the blend. 

Once you've got it just right consistency, pour the oil into small 1 or 2 ounce tins and fill just below the rim. Let cool for about 1 minute, then add essential oils. I used Lemongrass and Orange essential oils. 3 drops Lemongrass and 2 drops Orange essential oil per tin. 

Place the tins in the refrigerator to cool until solidified. Cover and store until needed. Carry with you for a simple lip balm, cuticle salve or first aide balm.