Lavender Rose Balm Recipe {with calendula}

This lavender rose balm recipe was requested by newsletter subscriber Patti, especially for her mom who gets sore from sitting in a wheelchair.

Patti’s mom loves lavender and roses so I combined the two scents together along with calendula in a balm designed to help soothe and heal chapped irritated skin.

To get the creamy texture shown, be sure to stir the balm frequently as it cools. If you’d rather have a smooth salve-like texture to pour into a tin, just skip the stirring part.

Both end products will work equally well, they’ll just have a different look and consistency from each other.

Ingredients & Why I Chose Them

• Sunflower oil – This is one of my favorite oils since it’s light and suitable for all skin types; it’s also extra protective of damaged skin.
• Calendula flowers – This soothing herb is well known for its ability to heal and repair.
• Beeswax – This natural wax thickens the oil so it becomes an easier to apply balm.
• Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)- Besides having a wonderful calming scent, lavender is helpful for many skin ailments.
• Geranium essential oil (Pelargonium graveolens)- Geranium is added for a rosy scent, but also encourages faster healing time (source, p 61).
• Manuka essential oil (Leptospermum scoparium) – This is an antiseptic oil that’s useful for treating sores, warts, blisters, diaper rash and much more (source, p 81).

(You can find all of the ingredients you need for this project at Mountain Rose Herbs.)

Substitution Ideas & Tips

• If you don’t have sunflower oil, try sweet almond, apricot kernel, rice bran, avocado, hemp, or another favorite oil.
• Instead of calendula, you could use plantain leaves, violet leaves, dandelion flowers, or elderflowers.
• For a vegan option, try using half as much candelilla wax as beeswax. You may need to remelt and adjust oil/wax amounts to get a consistency you like.
• If you don’t have manuka essential oil, try using a drop or two of tea tree essential oil instead, or leave it out completely. Manuka has a milder scent, so the fragrance of the finished balm will be different with tea tree.

How to Infuse Calendula Oil

1. Fill an 8 oz canning jar half way with dried calendula flowers.
2. Pour sunflower oil into the jar until almost filled.
3. Stir with a fork or chopstick to release air bubbles.
4. Cover lightly with piece of cheesecloth or scrap of old t-shirt, secured with a rubber band.
5. Place in a sunny window for at least 3 or 4 days, allowing the heat from the sun to infuse the oils.
6. Alternatively, place in a saucepan with a few inches of water, and heat over a low burner for 2 to 3 hours.

Related: Here are 10 Things to Make with Calendula Flowers.

Lavender Healing Balm Recipe

• 1.75 oz (50 g) infused sunflower oil
• 0.25 oz (7 g) beeswax
• essential oil blend (see below)

1. Weigh the infused oil and beeswax into an 8 oz canning jar or upcycled tin can.
2. Set the jar into a saucepan containing a few inches of water.
3. Heat over a medium-low burner until the wax is completely melted.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Stir in the essential oils and pour into a small glass jar.
6. Stir frequently as the balm cools, for a creamy texture.
7. Apply to chapped irritated skin as needed.

Essential oil blend:

For a light scent, try 10 drops lavender, 8 drops geranium and 8 drops manuka essential oils.

You can add more essential oils for a stronger scent, up to 48 drops total.

FREE RESOURCE

HERBAL SALVES & BALMS

Subscribe to the Monthly Maker and receive:

• Build Your Own Salve eGuide

• 18 Herbs & Flowers for Salves Chart

• Salve Building Printable Worksheet

• A Monthly Email with Natural Project Ideas

E-mail

First Name

YES, I WANT THIS!

By subscribing to our newsletter, you agree to the terms of our privacy policy.