How To Make Calendula Infused Oil
An infused oil is simply soaking or macerating plant material in a carrier oil such as olive, avocado, sunflower, ect for an extended amount of time. Typically dried plant material is best (except for St. Johns Wort) when infusing an oil as fresh plant material can make your oil grow bacteria due to excess moisture in the plant. If you are using fresh plant material, I recommend drying or wilting it out for at least 12 hours to limit the moisture content in the plants.
There are so many benefits from creating an infused oil for our skin. Infused oils have beneficial compounds, fatty acids, volatile oils and medicinal properties that are drawn out of the herbs and into the surrounding oil creating a potent potion to use for an after shower body oil, salves, in butters and lotions, for hair care, and facial care.
Today, I'm going to walk you though how to make Calendula infused oil using the folk method, which is by far one of my favorite oils to make simply because Calendula has so many beneficial properties to it. When I say folk method I'm referring to how easy it is to create. The folk method is what the "common folk" have used for centuries without a scale or measuring. However, if you are someone who hates the idea of just winging it, feel free to bust out your scale and measure.
Before we jump into how to create this infused oil, lets go over some of the most common topical benefits of this plant. Calendula has a host of medicinal properties, however I will be focusing mainly on topical uses of this plant as infused oils are mainly used for that purpose.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is part of the Asteraceae family and grows in temperate climates all over the world. The flowers bloom in a bright fire orange, to a sunny yellow all throughout the Summer months.
Applied topically, Calendula is known for balancing and soothing the skin and is really great for small, minor cuts and scrapes, bites, stings, diaper rash, minor sunburns and skin irritation. It helps to relieve inflammation, dry and itchy skin, and helps to promote wound healing.
This power house plant has been used by herbalists all over the world for skin health and helps to improve elasticity and skin hydration. Its for this reason I love using this infused oil into lotions and body butters.
Calendula can also be used to decrease scar tissue, and can be a really great choice for expecting mothers for stretch marks, nipple care, and to help soothe mastitis. Used regularly, Calendula can be used to help decrease dandruff, and itchy dry scalp. For this purpose I like using it as a hair oil before shampooing.
What you'll need:
- Glass Jar With cap
- Dried Calendula Flowers
- Carrier Oil (I like using avocado, but use what you'd like)
Fill a clean jar 1/2 full with plant material and pour your chosen carrier oil over the herbs making sure to leave about an inch or so of headspace in case you need to add more oil. Cap your jar tightly and set in a cool, dark location for 4-6 weeks making sure to shake your jar at least once a day. If you are short on time, you can infuse your oil with gentle heat by using a double boiler and letting your oil and calendula infuse for up to 6 hours. After you have infused your oil, simply strain it out using a fine mesh strainer and cheesecloth or a tightly woven muslin fabric and rebottle for future use.
I hope you enjoy this recipe, let me know if you decide to make it yourself!