How to Make Calendula Oil Plus Uses and Benefits
Calendula oil has so many beneficial uses.
I have recently discovered the calendula flower. It has now become one of my favorite flowers.
The calendula flower has many medicinal uses, is easy to grow, attracts pollinators, is edible and is a beautiful flower!
Calendula is a type of marigold, but not the same marigold that is commonly grown in flower and vegetable gardens. Calendula is an annual or short-lived perennial herb in the daisy family and originates from southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean area.
I grew calendula in my raised garden this summer. I bought the seeds and raised gardens from amazon. They were very easy to grow! I made my first batch of calendula oil, salve and lotion bars before I had time to grow my own and used this dried calendula from Amazon.
I found the calendula flowers so beautiful. They are so dainty and all look different from each other.
Skin Care Benefits of Calendula and Calendula Oil
According to this article, calendula petals are rich in naturally occurring compounds called flavonoids. These compounds are said to have anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombogenic, antidiabetic, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects. The article also states that calendula has been used to treat a variety of skin conditions, such as diaper rash, wounds and other conditions.
If you look at skin care product labels, you’ll probably notice calendula as a key ingredient in many natural skin care products, and for a good reason!
To deliver the healing benefits of calendula to your skin, use a calendula oil or salve! Calendula oil is oil that has been infused with dry calendula flowers. The dry flowers are steeped in a carrier oil such as olive, almond or jojoba oil using one of the infusion processes included below. Infusing allows the natural active resins within the calendula flowers to be extracted and drawn into the oil.
The finished calendula oil can either be used on its own, or used as an ingredient to create other natural salves, lotion bars, creams and lip balm! See my calendula salve, lotion bar, and lip balm recipes.
Another great reason to make your own calendula oil and salves, etc. is that store-bought skincare products contain synthetic fragrances, harsh preservatives, and other harmful chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin and contribute to long-term health concerns. Plus making your own calendula is easy to do and much more affordable than store-bought skin care products.
Uses for Calendula Oil
There are many uses for Calendula oil
- As a Moisturizer
- In DIY skincare recipes, such as homemade salves, body butters, lotion bars and lip balms
- Soothe rashes
- Sunburn Relief
- Promote healing for cuts, wounds and burns
How to Make an Calendula Infused Oil
To make the Calendula infused oil, I started with dried calendula flowers that I ordered from Amazon, since my flowers were not ready when I made the salve.
I did later dry my calendula petals. You can dry herbs and flowers by spreading out on a paper towel or plate or a drying screen or by using a dehydrator.
The next step for the diy calendula salve is to make an infused oil with the dried flowers by steeping the dried flowers in a carrier oil. The calendula-infused oil is created by steeping dry calendula flowers in a carrier oil of choice over a period of time. As the dry flowers infuse in the oil (later strained), the natural essential oils in the calendula flowers are drawn out and into the carrier oil. Different kinds of oils can be used including sweet almond oil, safflower oil, avocado oil, sweetgrass oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil or coconut oil.
Add the dried calendula to a glass jar. I like to use a mason jar.
Add about twice as much oil as your dried flowers. For example, you can add the flowers to a pint jar about halfway and then fill the jar almost to the top. If you want less, you can fill the jar about 1/4 up with herbs and then 1/2 way with oil.
There are several options for making the Calendula oil infusion:
Slow infusion method: Just add the lid to the jar and put it away in a dark place for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake the jar every once in a while. You can also put the jar in direct sunlight for a couple weeks to infuse the oil.
Fast double boiler method: Place the jar in a saucepan of a couple inches of hot water and heat the water on low for about 2 hours. Or add the oil and dried Calendula flowers to a double boiler pan and let it simmer but not boil for 1 to 2 hours.
Fast crockpot method: Add your dried Calendula flowers and oil to the crockpot, make sure that the oil covers the herbs. Heat the oil slowly and keep the crockpot on warm. Try to keep the temp between 120-130 F. Let it heat for several hours.
Enjoy!
Enjoy your homemade Calendula oil that has so many benefits and uses. It is wonderful to make your own skincare items that do not have preservatives and chemicals. Plus it saves money!
More Great Recipes and Simple Homestead Information
For more of my DIY skin care recipes, favorite recipes and canning recipes, plus posts about other homestead-type activities, such as gardening and raising chickens, go to my website at www.HawkPointHomestead.com. For updates, please follow my Facebook page at Hawk Point Hobby Homestead
Homemade Calendula Oil Recipe
This homemade Calendula oil is easy to make and can be used as a moisturizer, soothe rashes, sunburn relier, for cuts, wounds and burns. It is also used in different skincare recipes, such as homemade salves, body butters, lotion bars, and lip balms.
Ingredients
- Dried Calendula Flowers
- Carrier Oil, which can include sweet almond oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil
Instructions
1. To make the Calendula oil recipe, the first step is to pick the Calendula flowers.
- Slow infusion method: Just add the lid to the jar and put it away in a dark place for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake the jar every once in a while. You can also put the jar in direct sunlight for a couple weeks to infuse the oil.
- Fast double boiler method: Place the jar in a saucepan of a couple inches of hot water and heat the water on low for about 2 hours. Or add the oil and dried herbs or flowers to a double boiler pan and let it simmer but not boil for 1 to 2 hours.
- Fast crockpot method: Add your dried herbs or flowers and oil to the crockpot, make sure that the oil covers the herbs. Heat the oil slowly and keep the crockpot on warm. Try to keep the temp between 120-130 F. Let it heat for several hours.
2. Next is to dry the flowers. The drying process can include air drying by spreading them in a single layer on a dish towel or paper towel and letting them dry for several days. The other option is to use a dehydrator set at a low setting to dry. You can also purchase dried Calendula.
3. The next step to make an infused oil is to steep the dried Calendula in a carrier oil over a period of time. As the dried Calendula infuses in the oil (later strained), the natural essential oils in the leaves are drawn out and into the carrier oil.
4. Add the dried Calendula to a glass jar. I like to use a pint mason jar.
5. There are several options for making the oil infusion:
