How To Make Calendula Oil, Plus 15 Uses
You've probably seen calendula oil in health food stores, but you may not know what it is or what it's used for. This natural oil is made from the flowers of the calendula plant, and it has a host of benefits for skin health. In this post, you'll learn how to make calendula oil and 15 ways to put this versatile oil to work for you.
How To Make Calendula Oil
Calendula oil is easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients. Here's what you'll need:
1/2 cup of dried whole calendula flowers
1/2 cup of olive oil or another carrier oil
A glass jar with a lid
To make the oil, simply add the dried whole calendula flowers to the glass jar and then pour in the carrier oil until the flowers are completely covered. Place the lid on the jar and shake well.
Then, store the jar in a cool, dark place for two weeks, shaking it once per day. After two weeks, strain the oil through a cheesecloth or coffee filter to remove the flower pieces.
Storing the infused oil in a glass bottle or jar and storing it in a cool dark place is ideal. After that, your calendula oil is now ready to use!
How To Make Calendula Oil Quickly
If you don't have two weeks to wait for your calendula oil to infuse, you can speed up the process by using a technique called double boiling.
Here's what you'll need:
1/2 cup of dried whole calendula flowers
1/2 cup of olive oil or another carrier oil
A glass jar with a lid
A pot that is larger than your glass jar
Water
To start, fill the pot with water and set it on the stove over medium heat. Then, place the glass jar containing the calendula flowers and carrier oil into the pot. The water should come up around the sides of the jar, but not reach the top.
Allow the water to come to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let the jar simmer in the water for one hour. After one hour, remove the jar from the pot and allow it to cool. Once it's cool, strain the oil through a cheesecloth or coffee filter to remove the flower pieces. Your calendula oil is now ready to use!
How To Make Calendula Oil: Pro Tips
There are a few pro-tips that will ensure your calendula oil is the most potent for healing uses.
The first is to lightly spritz your dried flowers with alcohol before adding the oil over them. Calendula is incredibly resinous and the alcohol helps to start breaking down the cell walls in the flowers so that the medicinal properties can more easily extract into your oil.
The second tip is that if you want to make calendula oil quickly, but also don’t have time to stand over a double boiler, consider putting your dusty crock pot to work. You can put all your ingredients in a jar, put about two inches of water in the bottom of your crock pot, and turn to low.
Leaving the lid off, set a jar lid in the bottom of the crock pot and place your jar on top of it. On the low setting, your jar will get very warm in a couple of hours, but not too hot. You don’t want your oil to heat over 100 degrees. Set a timer for 2 hours and come back and turn the heat to warm.
If the water level has gone down at all, add a bit more water so that it comes up on the sides of the jar to warm it. Leave your calendula oil jar in the crock pot for 12 hours, checking on it periodically. This is the lazy person’s fast way to make medicinal oil!
15 Ways To Use Calendula Oil
As a Salad Dressing
Calendula oil makes a delicious and healthy salad dressing. Simply mix one or two tablespoons of the oil with an equal amount of vinegar or lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste, then enjoy!
As Part of Your Oil Cleansing Method
Calendula oil can be used as part of your oil-cleansing method to help clear up acne. Simply add one or two tablespoons of the oil to your favorite facial cleanser and use it as usual.
Body Butter
Calendula oil can also be used as a natural body butter. Simply mix one or two tablespoons of the oil with an equal amount of beeswax, and then apply it to your skin. The body butter will help to soothe and moisturize dry skin.
Calendula Scrub
To use calendula oil as a scrub, simply mix one or two tablespoons of the oil with an equal amount of sugar. Apply the scrub to your skin and massage it in. Rinse the scrub off with warm water and enjoy your soft, smooth skin!
Calendula Soap
To use calendula oil in soap, add one or two tablespoons of the oil to your favorite soap recipe. The oil will help to soothe and moisturize dry skin.
Calendula Fizzing Bath Powder Gift
To make calendula fizzing bath powder, you will need:
1/2 a cup of calendula oil
1/2 cup of baking soda
1/4 cup of citric acid
A mason jar or other airtight container
To make the bath powder, mix together the calendula oil, baking soda, and citric acid in a mason jar or other airtight container. Shake well to combine. Then, store the jar in a cool, dark place and shake it once per day. After two weeks, the bath powder will be ready to use!
Calendula Oil as a Base Ingredient in Salve
To make calendula salve, you will need:
1/2 a cup of calendula oil
A mason jar or other airtight container
An immersion blender
A double boiler or pot and glass jar setup
To make the salve, add the calendula oil to a mason jar or other airtight container. If you're using a double boiler or pot and glass jar setup, place the glass jar inside the pot.
Stir the oil well to combine. Then, place the immersion blender in the oil and turn it on. Blend the oil until it's completely smooth. If there are any chunks remaining, keep blending until they're gone.
Once the oil is smooth, remove it from the heat and let it cool. Once it's cool, pour it into a clean glass jar and store it in a cool, dark place. The calendula salve should be ready to use after following these instructions!
Calendula-infused Lotion Bar
To use calendula oil as a lotion bar, you will need:
1/2 cup of calendula oil
A pot and glass jar setup
To make the lotion bar, add the calendula oil to a pot and glass jar setup. If you're using a double boiler or pot and glass jar setup, place the glass jar inside the pot.
Stir the oil well to combine. Then, place the pot on the stove over medium heat. Bring the oil to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for one hour. After one hour, remove the pot from the stove and allow it to cool. Once it's cool, pour it into a clean glass jar and store it in a cool, dark place.
Calendula-infused Spring Salve With Lavender
Making your own calendula oil is a great way to reap the benefits of this amazing flower. Not only can you use it in a variety of ways, but you can also customize it to suit your needs. This particular recipe includes lavender oil, which helps to boost the healing properties of calendula oil.
Standard benefits:
Soothes and moisturizes dry skin
Calms and relaxes the mind
Emotional benefits:
Provides a sense of peace and calm
Helps to promote restful sleep
Treats Diaper Rash
Calendula oil can be used to help treat diaper rash. Simply add a few drops of the oil to a damp cloth and wipe the rash area clean. Repeat as needed.
First Aid for Cuts, Scrapes, and Burns
If you're looking for a natural way to heal cuts, scrapes, and burns, calendula oil is the answer. This amazing oil has many healing properties that can help speed up the healing process. Plus, it's gentle enough for use on the skin of all ages.
Standard benefits:
Heals wounds quickly
Prevents infection
Soothes pain
Emotional benefits:
Provides a sense of security and calm in difficult situations
General Moisturizer
To use calendula oil as a general moisturizer, simply apply it to your skin after cleansing and before bed. You can also use it as a daily moisturizer for your face or body.
Healing Facial Moisturizer
To use calendula oil as a healing facial moisturizer, simply add a couple of drops of oil to your hands and massage it into your face. You can also add the oil to a moisturizer or face cream.
Homemade Baby Wipe Recipe
To make homemade baby wipes, you will need:
1/2 cup of calendula oil
1/2 cup of distilled water
1 roll of paper towels or 12-14 baby wipes
Mix together the calendula oil and distilled water in a bowl. Soak the paper towels or baby wipes in the mixture until wet. Wring out any excess
Relieve Insect Bites
Standard benefits:
Calendula oil is a natural antiseptic and can help to clean and heal insect bites
It is also anti-inflammatory, meaning it can help to reduce swelling and irritation
Emotional benefits:
Insect bites are often itchy and uncomfortable. Calendula oil can help to soothe these symptoms and speed up the healing process
Carrier Oil Options for Making Calendula Oil
What are carrier oils and what do they do?
Carrier oils are used to “carry” essential oils and help spread them evenly over the skin. They also help dilute the essential oil so it’s not as strong and less likely to irritate. Carrier oils have their own set of benefits that can help improve the overall quality of your calendula oil.
The benefits of using different carrier oils
There are many different carrier oils you can use to make calendula oil, each with its own unique benefits.
Some of the most popular carrier oils include:
Jojoba oil: This is a non-greasy, easily absorbed oil that helps to moisturize the skin and hair. It’s also thought to help regulate the production of sebum, making it a good choice for oily or acne-prone skin.
Sweet almond oil: This oil is a light, penetrating oil that’s ideal for dry skin. It helps to soften and soothe skin, as well as promotes healthy skin cell growth.
Grapeseed oil: It’s a light, astringent oil that’s great for oily or combination skin. It absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue and helps to reduce the appearance of pores.
Conclusion
Calendula oil is a great natural remedy for a variety of skin conditions. We've discussed how to make calendula oil and the many benefits of using calendula oil in everyday situations. This natural oil is great for treating conditions such as psoriasis to eczema, and it can also be used to soothe sunburns and other minor burns.
Additionally, calendula oil can be helpful in treating acne, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. It can be applied topically to the affected areas two or three times a day, and may also help promote the healing of the skin.
If you are looking for a great calendula oil, we invite you to shop Khela Herbs’s line of calendula oils. Our products are made with the utmost care and consideration to provide you with the best possible product. Learn more about our products and how they can benefit you!
How To Make Calendula Oil Related Questions
Can I use fresh calendula flowers?
Yes, you can use fresh calendula flowers to make oil. If you do so, you'll need to use a double boiler to heat the oil and water mixture.
What oil do you use for calendula oil?
There are a few different oils you can use for calendula oil, but the most popular choices are olive oil and sunflower oil. Some other oils you can use for making calendula oil include coconut oil, grapeseed oil, and sweet almond oil.
How much olive oil and calendula do you use to make the calendula oil?
The ratio of calendula to oil is 1:5. So, if you're using 1 ounce (28 grams) of calendula, you'll need 5 ounces (142 grams) of oil.
When measuring the amount of oil needed to make calendula oil, you'll also need to consider the size of your pot or pan. The pot or pan should be big enough to hold all of the ingredients, including the calendula flowers.
What do you do with your calendula flowers after you have infused your oil?
Once you have infused your oil with calendula flowers, you can strain the flowers out and compost them.
What are some other uses for calendula oil?
Calendula oil can also be used as a natural remedy for diaper rash, chapped lips, and minor wounds. Additionally, calendula oil is sometimes used in aromatherapy.
What is the shelf life of calendula oil?
Calendula oil has a shelf life of six months to one year. However, if you store it in a cool, dark place, it will last longer. You can also extend the shelf life of calendula oil by adding a few drops of vitamin E oil to the mixture.
