Nature has everything your skin needs — you just have to bottle it.
There’s something timeless about taking a handful of dried flowers and turning them into a healing salve. Calendula’s sunny petals and the delicate blush of rose have been trusted for generations to soothe, protect, and restore the skin. This recipe carries that tradition forward, but with a thoughtful twist—layering in rich shea butter for cushiony moisture, tamanu oil for speedy skin recovery, sea buckthorn for antioxidant support, and a touch of vitamin E to keep everything fresh and nourishing.
I still remember the first batch I made. A jar of oil, heavy with petals, sat warming in a gentle double boiler, and the kitchen filled with a soft, honeyed fragrance edged with floral sweetness. As the beeswax melted in, the mixture shifted from translucent gold to a silky, buttery blend. When it finally cooled, I dipped a fingertip into the smooth surface and felt it melt instantly—velvety, comforting, and far more satisfying than anything I could have bought off a shelf.
Since then, this salve has become my small everyday luxury and my dependable fix-it: a dab after a day in the garden, a thin layer over chapped knuckles, a nightly treatment for heels that need a little extra care. I keep a jar by the sink and another on the nightstand, and I’ve lost count of how many I’ve gifted—people always ask when the next batch is coming.
In the steps ahead, I’ll show you exactly how to make it—from infusing oils with flowers to blending in those power-house additions—so you can pour your own jars of golden, skin-loving goodness. With a few simple ingredients, a bit of patience, and a warm afternoon in the kitchen, you can bottle up that feeling of handmade care and keep it close all year long.
Why Calendula & Rose?
- Calendula: Nature’s gentle healer. Anti-inflammatory, wound-mending, and perfect for calming sensitive or irritated skin.
- Rose: Deeply hydrating, naturally toning, and packed with anti-aging benefits. Plus, it lifts your mood every time you open the jar.
When these two herbs work together, they create a salve that soothes, repairs, and nourishes all at once.
The Secret Upgrades for Maximum Effectiveness
This isn’t just a simple infusion — it’s a skin repair kit in a jar.
Here’s the magic:
- Tamanu oil (10%): Speeds up healing and fades scars.
- Sea buckthorn oil (5%): Repairs sun damage and floods your skin with antioxidants.
- Vitamin E (1%): Extends shelf life while delivering extra skin nutrition.
- Shea butter (10%): Locks in moisture and makes the salve softer, creamier, and richer.
Ingredients (Upgraded Recipe)
- 1 cup dried calendula petals
- ½ cup dried rose petals
- 1 cup base oil (olive, almond, or coconut) – reserve 15% for special oils
- 2 tbsp tamanu oil (10% of total oil volume)
- 1 tbsp sea buckthorn oil (5% of total oil volume)
- 2 tbsp shea butter (10% of recipe weight)
- 2 tbsp beeswax (adjust for firmness)
- 1 tsp vitamin E oil (1% of recipe weight)
- Optional: a few drops rose essential oil or lavender essential oil
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Infuse the Oils
Fill a clean glass jar halfway with dried calendula and rose petals.
Pour in your base oil blend (minus the portions reserved for tamanu and sea buckthorn) until the petals are fully submerged.
You can:
- Slow Infusion: Place in a sunny window for 4–6 weeks.
- Quick Infusion: Use low heat for 4–6 hours, keeping oil warm but never hot.
2. Strain & Measure
Strain the golden oil through cheesecloth, pressing the petals gently to release every drop.
Measure your total oil, then stir in tamanu and sea buckthorn oils.
3. Melt & Blend
In a double boiler, melt the beeswax and shea butter together until fully liquid.
Pour in your infused oil blend, stirring slowly until smooth and unified.
4. Final Touches
Remove from heat.
Add vitamin E and any essential oils you choose.
Stir well, then immediately pour into clean, dry jars or tins.
How to Use Your Salve
- Smooth onto dry hands, cracked heels, or any rough patch of skin.
- Apply to minor cuts, scrapes, or insect bites.
- Use as an overnight hand or foot mask for intense hydration.
- Skip essential oils for a gentle under-eye balm or lip salve.
Storage & Shelf Life
Store in a cool, dark spot — away from direct sunlight and heat.
Thanks to vitamin E, your salve will stay fresh for 12+ months.
Variations
- Swap rose petals for lavender for a calming nighttime balm.
- Add chamomile for extra anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Use candelilla wax instead of beeswax for a vegan-friendly version.
How to Use Calendula Rose Salve
Calendula Rose Herbal Salve
Equipment
- Heatproof glass beaker or jar (about 2 cups / 500 ml capacity)
- Small Saucepan (double-boiler setup)
- Fine mesh strainer + cheesecloth (for infusion)
- Digital scale (0.1 g precision ideal)
- 6 2-oz amber jars or tins (sterilized)
Ingredients
- Dried calendula petals — 1 cup
- Dried rose petals — ½ cup
- Base oil for infusion (olive, almond, or coconut — enough to fully cover petals (yields about ½ cup infused oil for this recipe))
- Beeswax pastilles — 2 ½ tablespoons (≈ 1 oz)
- Shea butter — 1 ½ tablespoons (≈ 0.7 oz)
- Tamanu oil — 1 ½ tablespoons (≈ 0.7 oz)
- Sea buckthorn oil — 2 teaspoons (≈ 0.35 oz)
- Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols — ½ teaspoon (≈ 0.07 oz))
- Optional: 6–12 drops gentle essential oils (rose, lavender — about ¼ to ½ teaspoon max. (Skip for very sensitive skin.))
Instructions
- Infuse the oils: Add 1 cup dried calendula petals and ½ cup dried rose petals to a clean glass jar. Pour in enough base oil (olive, almond, or coconut) to fully cover the petals. Cap the jar and place it in a sunny windowsill for 4–6 weeks, shaking every few days. For a quicker method, gently warm the jar in a double boiler over low heat for 4–6 hours.
- Strain and measure: Strain the infused oil through cheesecloth into a measuring cup. You’ll need about ½ cup (118 g) of infused oil. Stir in 20 g tamanu oil and 10 g sea buckthorn oil to complete the blend.
- Melt and mix: In a heat-safe beaker set over a double boiler, melt 30 g beeswax pastilles and 20 g shea butter until smooth. Slowly stir in the infused oil blend, mixing until the salve turns a glossy golden color.
- Finish the salve: Remove from heat and add 2 g vitamin E oil. If desired, stir in 6–12 drops rose or lavender essential oil. Pour the mixture into clean tins or jars, leaving a little headspace.
- Cool and store: Let the salve cool completely at room temperature before sealing. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 12 months.
Notes
- Texture tuning:
-
- Softer balm → beeswax 12–13%
- Firmer/summer-proof → beeswax 18–20%
- Color warning: Sea buckthorn can tint balm deep orange; use clean fingers or a spatula to avoid staining fabrics.
- Sensitive skin: Start unscented; patch test on inner forearm for 24 hours.
- Jar choice: Amber jars protect carotenoids and delicate aromatics from light.
