Do you wonder how to make calendula oil at home? There are two methods for making homemade infused calendula oil: The patient method and the “I don’t have time for mother nature to do its job” or “I want it now” method! I am more inclined to do the second method but I’ll let you judge of that!

Calendula oil is made from infusing the beautiful orange flower of marigold native to southwestern Asia, western Europe and the Mediterranean in olive oil or jojoba oil. It has a number of benefits for the skin and body and has been used for centuries.

How to use calendula oil

While calendula oil has many uses for health and wellness, it is most commonly used topically to treat skin conditions such as rashes, wounds, varicose veins, and eczema. It is naturally anti-inflammatory, hydrating and mildly antiseptic, making it well-suited to treating symptoms associated with sore, dry or itchy skin.

Where to buy calendula oil

If you prefer to buy calendula oil, you can find good options on Amazon. Just be sure to find a brand that is organic and additive-free like Herbal Choice Mari.

How to make calendula oil or calendula infused oil

Making your own infused calendula oil can help to ensure that you have a fresh oil with active ingredients – and it’s not difficult! To create your own oil, you simply need to choose a carrier oil such as jojoba oil or olive oil, and to obtain dried calendula flowers. If you have fresh calendula flowers, dry them first completely.

There are two methods to make homemade calendula oil:

1/ Sun infused oil – “The patient method”

• First, place dried calendula at the bottom of a glass quart-sized jar
• Ensure the flowers are 200% dried as you don’t want mold growing in your infused oil.
• Second, fill the remaining space with your carrier oil of choice, like olive oil.
• Third, stir thoroughly!
• Fourth, cover and place on a sunny windowsill. Leave in place for fourteen to twenty days, shaking the container lightly once a day to maintain mixture.
• Fifth, after about two-three weeks, strain out the calendula flowers using a cheese cloth

2/ Heat infused oil – “The quick method” using a crockpot

• First, place the dried calendula flowers in a glass jar, mason jar style.
• Second, cover the dried flowers with olive oil or jojoba oil and close with a cap. Ensure there is space for air at the top when the jar is close.
• Third, fill the crockpot with water and place a small towel at the bottom, then place the glass jar filled with oil and calendula on top of the towel. The glass jar should be almost immerse in water except the top.
• Heat the crockpot for 6 hours at a low temperature (between 100 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit) for six hours or until the oil takes on the color and scent of the calendula.
• Fourth, turn off heat and allow to cool overnight.
• Fifth, strain out the calendula flowers using a cheese cloth.

A bit of Vitamin E oil can be added at the completion of either method to help extend shelf life.

Calendula salve recipe

For an extra-soothing balm for skin, take it a step further to create a calendula salve! Now that you have learned how to make calendula oil, you can use it to create this calendula salve recipe below.

The ratio for making salve with beeswax is 1:5, meaning for one tablespoon of beeswax, you need 5 tablespoons of oil.

I’ve also used essential oils like eucalyptus, cinnamon, tea tree and clove bud that are antiseptic and healing. There are 1% dilution, total of 60 drops.

Ingredients needed for the calendula salve recipe.

As discussed above, calendula flowers are especially soothing to wounded or irritated skin, and can be used to treat the symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions like eczema. In addition to be anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, calendula also has antifungal properties. It’s an all-star for soothing skin!

Jojoba oil, created from the seed of the jojoba plant, also has antibacterial properties, and its naturally high content of Vitamins A and E make it a great choice to treat inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and even acne.

This recipe calls for beeswax or candellila wax to give the salve a thickness and staying power on the skin in order to soothe especially irritated or dry areas. Beeswax is derived from the honeycomb created by bees and it works well to create a protective barrier on skin. It is also a natural humectant, making it especially useful for adding moisture to dry skin.

Candellila wax is a vegan alternative to beeswax, derived from the candellila shrub. Candellila is rich in nutrients, and like beeswax, helps to provide a protective barrier for the skin to help prevent moisture loss.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this recipe and if you found that learning how to make calendula oil was helpful? Please comment below and don’t forget to rate this recipe 🙂