Have you discovered Calendula yet? This amazing herb is downright magical in its healing properties. With its beautiful orange or yellow flowers giving your lushish green garden a pop of color! Calendula flowers (Calendula officinalis) and commonly known as pot marigolds, have many medicinal uses and has been used medicinally for centuries now. Of all the ways you can use calendula, I often use it to make my own Calendula infused oil.
Continue reading to learn how easy is to make Calendula oil at home in your own kitchen - even if you don't grow your own in your backyard, yet! All that's needed to make your own Calendula infused oil is dried Calendula flowers and your choice of carrier oil. So let's get started!
What is Calendula Oil?
Calendula oil in the simplest terms is just dried Calendula flowers that have infused with a carrier oil. Whole dry flower heads or even just the petals are steeped in a carrier oil of your choosing for typically 4-6 weeks or you can use the oven infusion method for faster results.
While the dried flowers are steeping in the oil, the natural active medicinal properties within the calendula flowers are extracted and soaked up into the oil.
Once Calendula oil is ready to be used it can be used in a variety of ways either on its own, or used as an ingredient to creat all natural lip balms, salves, creams, and lotions. Calendula oil can be used directly on the skin to heal wounds, scars, prevent infections, calm inflammation, eczema relief, burns and so much more. You can even add Calendula oil to your next bath to reap all its benefits while soaking it up in the tub.
Making your own Calendula oil is more cost effective than some of the other name brand, high-quality products on the market. Plus, this way you know exactly what ingredients you are putting into it, a truly all-natural product made by you.
Instructions on How to Make Calendula Oil
- Obtain dried Calendula flowers, if you don't harvest your own you can always purchase some dried Calendula flowers in my shop.
- Fill a sanitized glass jar about 3/4 of the way full.
- Then fill the jar with carrier oil of your choice, until the jar is full or until the flowers are completely submerged in the oil.
- Stir dried flowers around in oil to make sure there's no bubbles and all parts of the flowers are completely covered (to prevent any mold).
- Secure lid onto the jar and let the oil infuse for 4-6 weeks or more in a cool, dark spot away from direct sunlight. And don't forget to label it with the date and what it is. *Oven Infusion method for faster results
- Once Calendula oil has infused, strain out the flowers using a fine mesh sieve lined with a cheesecloth (muslin bag or coffee filters work too). Squeeze any remaining oil out of the flowers once drained.
Calendula Oil Storage and Shelf Life
After you've secured the lid on your freshly strained Calendula oil, label it. Do it now before you forget! Trust me, I know you think you will remember what it is and when you made it, but you won't! So label the jar with what it is, for example Calendula Oil infused with olive oil or Calendula Oil infused with jojoba oil and don't forget to date it.
Calendula oil on average have a shelf life of 1-2 years if kept out of direct sunlight and heat. You can also store in the Calendula oil in your refrigerator to extend the shelf life.