How to Make Calendula Salve

How gorgeous is this Homemade Calendula Salve? I mean not only is it great for rough dry skin, and little nicks and cuts but that color! Calendula Salve is incredibly easy to make and doesn’t require too much in the way of ingredients you might not already have on hand. Make some Calendula Salve today and save a little piece of summer in a jar.

I grew calendulas this year for the first time in ages, they really love our Alaskan summers, just warm enough to bloom and cool enough to thrive. Their cheery orange and yellow blooms grace our back porch and make it so lovely as they open in the morning light. And they bloom profusely so you know the bees are loving them too. I’m excited to have a bunch a calendulas to use around the house this year. I’ve made this salve but I also want to do a little fabric dying, make some tea and enjoying them on salads.

If you’re making this Calendula Salve please understand: I’m not a doctor or a nutritionist so do your research before using or ingesting any plant materials.

The first thing I made with my calendulas was this super soothing salve that’s perfect for small abrasions, cuts and burns. We have 13 and 11 year old sons, you can bet we have lots of little wounds that need just a little something to help them feel better. I saw the directions in Taproot Magazine and looking at the whiskey barrels full of calendulas on the back porch I couldn’t pass up the chance to make some.

I’ve been using the salve on my hands which really suffer from all the gardening and dish washing I do on a daily basis in the summer. I use it at night before bed, massaging it into my hands. I also make sure to hit my elbows which always seem to be dry as well.

How to Make Calendula Salve

You will need:

• 3/4 of a cup of calendula petals OR 1/4 cup dried
• 3/4 of a cup of oil-you can use olive or almond or any other carrier oil you like
• cheesecloth
• strainer
• 1 Tablespoon+1 teaspoon beeswax pellets-you can find them in most independent health food stores
• jars or tins for storage

To make the salve:

• pour the petals in a small sauce pan
• cover with oil
• warm over very low heat 6-8 times over the course of 24 hours
• strain by placing the cheesecloth in the strainer and pouring it through into another pan or a bowl
• squeeze all the oil out as much as possible
• put infused calendula oil in a clean sauce pan
• warm gently over low heat
• stir in beeswax
• stir to melt and combine
• pour in small tins or a jar

**Be sure you don’t fry your calendula petals, you really just want to warm them**

See how easy that is? And once you make a batch and have purchased some beeswax you’ll be really to keep on making it because it’s so nice to have on hand. If you poured it in little tins it would make wonderful gifts for friends. So fun!