Homemade Calendula Oil

We recently ran out my favorite baby product: Badger Baby Balm. It's an amazing olive oil based, chamomile and calendula scented balm. We use it every night on Winnie skin, whether it's for a bum rash or a dry patch or a boo-boo. It's my favorite addition to baby gifts as well, I just love the stuff!



I thought it would be fun to try making my own this time around. To start, I'm infusing some organic extra virgin olive oil with dried Calendula. Calendula (aka Marigold) has long been used as an herbal treatment for a variety of skin conditions, including acne, burns, cold sores, cradle cap, rashes and dry, itchy skin.

Homemade Calendula Oil
1. Fill any size of mason jar with dried Calendula flowers. Be sure that the herbs are dried and the jar is completely dry. Moisture = bacteria. We don't want that!



2. Pour extra virgin olive oil (or almond oil, if you like) into the jar until the blossoms are completely covered. Seal the jar and place in a cool, dry, dark place for 4 weeks. Try to remember to shake the jar every day. The oil will eventually turn a lovely golden color.



3. Finally, when the oil is ready, strain out the Calendula blossoms and store the oil in clean dry bottles. The oil will last up to a year in a cool, dry place.

You can use your homemade oil as is (like Weleda's Calendula oil) or, like me, you can add cocoa butter and beeswax and essential oils, turning the oil into lovely skin and lip balms.

The last time I did this I made Wintergreen and Cinnamon scented lip balms and Chamomile skin balms. I'm not sure what I'll make this time...but I'm thinking a lavender skin balm would be amazing! Stay tuned. I think these may end up in the "Christmas Gifts" series I do this December!