Homemade salves are an easy way to put your herbs and essential oils to work. They only take 3 ingredients and are super simple to make. You may stumble through it the first time, but once you get the hang of it? You’re off to the races!
Why make salves
If you’ve read many of my blogs, I may sound like a broken record by now. However, the main reason to make your own salves is control! Not because you’re a control freak, mostly, but because you need to know what’s going into you and your family’s systems!
The skin is the largest organ in the body. Some studies show it absorbs 60 – 70% of what it comes into contact with. Why put dangerous chemical on it?! That just seems nonsensical.
Even if a company says its using “natural” products, that doesn’t mean they aren’t full of pesticides and who knows what else!
When you make your own salves and balms, you can be sure all of the ingredients are organic and natural, making them safer for your body to consume. You can even use herbs from your own garden and control everything from seed to salve.
Our bodies weren’t designed to process these unnatural chemicals!
What are the Ingredients for a DIY salve?
Well, first you need to decide if you will be using infused oils or essential oils. In this article I’m using both in two difference salves. There is no right or wrong way, just what you have and what you plan to make. Basically in the end you will need 3 ingredients minimum.
If you have an herb garden, making infused oils is a great use of the healing herbs you may already have. Making, and even buying, essential oils can be pricey. Use infused oil when it makes sense. However, I don’t grow eucalyptus, for example, so I have to buy the essential oils.
Do what makes sense for you and your lifestyle!
Healing Agent
Weather infused in oil or made into an essential oil, you need the star of the show! This is the herb, flower, etc. that will give your salve it’s purpose. Here are a few examples:
Calendula is an antimicrobial, helps skin knit faster and can sooth eczema. It can also be used for diaper rashes! Plus it’s a pretty flower to jazz up your yard or garden beds.
Oregano is so many things! Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-fungal. Man. Power herb! It also tastes great in a steak marinade!
Turmeric & Ginger can be used for pain.
You get it! The possibilities are basically endless. What do you need in your life?
These agents can be turned into an infusion or an essential oil. Either way works!
In this article, I’m making two different salves. My healing salve with oregano & calendula infused oil. This is basically homemade antibiotic ointment in a salve.
I also make a nasal salve for my Son with eucalyptus essential oil. He has a lot of sinus issues related to allergies and the eucalyptus helps clear him up. He hates having to fill up a diffuser, so this salve is an easy alternative.
Oil Infusions
An oil infusion is a carrier oil that has been infused with natural healing remedies, such as herbs and flowers. These healing herbs sit in the oil and steep, adding their healing properties straight into the oil. I make mine the old fashioned way, and sun steep them. Easy, peasy!
If using infused oils, you only need 2 ingredients. The infused oil and your wax of choice.
Be sure to drain all of your herbs before adding them to the salve.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are a concentrated extract from plants and herbs. Because it is so concentrated, you really only need a few drops, but it will need a carrier oil for the salve.
If using essential oils, you will need 3 ingredients. The essential oil, the carrier oil and the wax of choice.
WARNING: Be careful when purchasing essential oils! Not all oils are created equal!! Many companies make synthetic versions of the natural oils. While great for scents and aromatherapy, they have none of the healing properties in them so won’t be good for salves.
Do research on the process the company uses to be sure they are not creating synthetic oils.
Check out small businesses that make them as they are more likely the do it the “right way”.
Wax
Adding wax to a homemade salve or balm may seem weird, but it’s a necessary step. For one, this is the agent that solidifies everything for storage & application. Even coconut oil, normally a solid if food grade, once heated will stay in a mostly liquid state.
Wax also creates a layer that keeps the salve in place and help protect the skin from pesky invaders like bacteria. This is super important when creating a healing salve designed for cuts and rashes.
You can use beeswax or even candelilla wax (which I haven’t tried). There are a few alternatives to beeswax if using it make you uncomfortable. These can be purchased in pellets online.
In my photos, I’m using beeswax provided by my Aunt and Uncle who have multiple hives on their property. That’s why it’s in little wedges. They store the wax in round, little cakes that I break up as needed.
Here is a link to some beeswax on Amazon. Help support Small Business!
Equipment needed
Not a lot! This is really a simple process. Just a double boiler or a pot and large bowl. I’ve decided never to buy a double boiler. Why waste the cash and fill by cabinets more? If you already have one, sweeeeet!
You’ll also need either tins or small containers to add the completed salve to. I like the little .5 oz. tins from Amazon. The small size allows me to put them in different places, like in my office, in a first aid kit, in our camping supplies, etc.
Click here to check out the .05 oz tins seen in the photos.
You can reuse empty containers that you have saved or even those small storage containers that we don’t normally use. Whatever works for you, will work for this process.
- Double boiler or a pot and a bowl
- Container(s) to put completed salve in
- Glass measuring cup (optional)
- Towel or oven bit (that bowl gets hot!)
Ratios for Ingredients
Ratios of oil to wax is 4 to 1.
As in, 1 part wax, 4 parts oil. So if you have a cup of oil, use 1/4 cup of wax.
Since I’m not using pellets, I have to use a kitchen scale and go by weight in oz.
Ratio for essential oils to oil
Start by making 2 oz. of salve. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but part of essential oils is scent preference & experimenting. Plus the salve goes farther than you may think.
I wouldn’t go less than 5 drops for 2 oz. of salve to get the healing properties. However, some people go as much as 20. Some people being me.
I used 20 drop for my kids nasal salve because it’s more for the aroma therapy than direct contact and healing. So thats 5 drops per small .5 oz container.
Steps to Make Your DIY Salve
- Melt Wax
Start boiling water and put your wax into a bowl (or the top of your double boiler) and place onto the pot of boiling water. If the water level is too high, it will come out from between the two, so pour a bit out if this happens. No biggie.
Stir the wax as it melts to speed the process along. You can stir with whatever you’d like. But I like this little tiny whisk. It’s functional and just so dang cute.
2. Add Other ingredients
Once the wax is melted you can add in your other ingredients and turn off your heat. If making a large batch, additional heat may be needed to heat throughly again.
When adding essential oils, don’t put them directly into a heated pot or put them in the microwave, as they are heat sensitive.
Simply add everything into the bowl with the wax.
3. Mix and melt well
Your infused oil or carrier oil, depending on your choices from above, will cool the wax back down a bit. That’s ok, just keep the bowl over the hot, steaming water and continue to stir.
Everything will start to heat through. Just be sure it’s completely liquid and melted to prevent grainy or chunky appearance.
4. Pour & let Cool
Put a glass measuring cup into the microwave or boiling water to heat it up. Pour liquid from your bowl into the warm, dry measuring cup.
Since it’s warm now, the ingredients will take a bit longer to start solidifying. They cool quickly so this helps.
Using the cup isn’t necessary, but you’ll find it easier to pour everything into small container openings.
Pour into your chosen containers but keep the lids off. You don’t want steam to catch on the lids and create moisture on the salve!
Let everything cool down and watch it solidify. It’s actually pretty satisfying to see! Once cool, put on your lids and label.
Done!
Clean up is easier than it may seem when you look at your supplies. Promise! Hot tap water is enough to melt the wax and rinse everything out. Then just wash up like normal.
Homemade salves can last 1-2 years. This is why I make small batches. To prevent throwing anything out.
Congratulations Medicine Maker! You’re on your way to a more self-sufficient life style.
Until Next Time!
PJtxGirl
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you thicken salves?
The wax. This is 1/4 of the contents and when cooled, they force everything into a soft solid.
How long will homemade salves last?
If making oil based salves, 1-3 years.
What is the best oil for salves?
Olive oil and coconut oils are the most common. They are cost effective, natural and readily available. I’ve also heard of people using sunflower oil to make salves, but almond and avocado are great choices too! Anything with a more mild smell.
Can you use Vaseline for salves?
Yes. Vaseline is also known as petroleum jelly. This are great if making lip balms, for instance. It is softer than wax once the wax is cooled.
You simply mix the oil and essential oils straight into the petroleum jelly and you’re done. No melting needed.
Petroleum jelly is made from mineral oils and waxes.
What can I use instead of beeswax for salves?
The most common alternative is canelilla wax. However, there are a few other options. Carnauba wax, soy wax (which is debated for it GMO seed source) & bayberry wax.
All have pro and cons, so check into these before using!
What are the ingredients for homemade salves?
Healing agent (herb or flower), carrier oil, & wax. That’s it!
Do salves penetrate the skin?
Short answer? Yes!
Longer answer, is that since they have a waterless moisture source, the oil, these are able to penetrate, sooth and heal. Many sources will say skin applications don’t work, but this stems from lotions that are high in water so don’t penetrate as well.
Plus check your sources. If they are studies funded by oral meds…food for thought.
What is the ratio for salves?
1 part beeswax to 4 parts oil. 5 + drops of essential oil(s) if using.
Can you use soy wax in salves?
Yes, but there is debate in the natural healing community if this is wise. People like it due to it’s price point, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Most US soy is grow using GMP seeds. Just do your research before making a choice.
Do salves need preservatives?
Nope. Sense they are waterless, they will last longer without the ick.
What’s the difference between a salve & a balm?
Other than lip balm (which may not be well named) balms tend to be harder than salves.
Salves are designed to be softer and more readable across your skin.
Can I use just wax and essential oils for my salve?
Unfortunately, you cannot. The oil thins down the wax to make it softer and more spreadable across your skin. To do this with only essential oils would be incredibly costly and likely too strong to apply directly to the skin.
Many essential oils can cause irritation is applied directly to the skin. Remember they are a concentration of the herbs they are made form .
Why is my homemade salve grainy?
Likely due to not melting and mixing everything properly. If there were small pieces of wax, it can give the salve a “grainy” feel or appearance.
You can scrape everything out of the container(s) and melt it back down. Just be sure to heat completely and stir until smooth.
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