When the bitter cold of a Wisconsin winter settles in and frost covers my window panes, I am always grateful for my homemade Calendula salve. It feels like a little burst of sunshine, a soothing reminder of summer's vibrant warmth and the magic of a well-tended garden. This salve is the perfect thing to lift my spirits when I'm craving the Summer days that feel so far away still. As I rub some salve into my dry, winter-battered hands, I know it won't be long before it's time to sow the next season's seeds and start the process all over again. Here is a super simple Calendula Salve Recipe you can make at home with just a few ingredients! 





I grow Calendula every year - it’s one of my favorite herbs. I love that it attracts pollinators to my garden and the way the bright blossoms add color and joy to my herb bed, but most of all I enjoy creating soothing salve with its flowers. I use this salve all winter long to soothe my dry hands during the cold weather. Not only does it nourish my skin, it helps me tap into the joy and warmth of summer days, even in the depths of winter. This salve is so much more than just a remedy for dry hands, it's a symbol of my connection to nature’s cycles and to my own creativity.







 

Calendula Salve Recipe - Supplies Needed:

*This recipe was adapted from a tutorial published on Homestead and Chill.



* Dried Calendula flowers (or fresh, plus an herb drying rack – The key ingredient for the salve’s healing properties.

* High-quality olive oil or other body-safe oil – For infusing the Calendula, providing a nourishing base for the salve.

* A small, one-cup glass container – To hold the dried flowers and oil for infusion.

* Cheesecloth – For straining the flowers from the oil after infusion.

* Beeswax pastilles – To bring the salve together into a stable mixture.

* Cocoa butter solids – For nourishing dry skin and to act as a carrier for the infused oil.

* A double boiler – To safely melt beeswax and cocoa butter.

* A pair of kitchen tongs – To safely handle your sterilized salve containers.

* A clean kitchen towel – To dry your containers and create a workspace for preparing the salves.

* Six to eight aluminum, screw-top containers (two ounce size) – For storing the finished salve.

* Some self-adhesive labels or a permanent marker – To label the finished salve with important details.



I'd love to tell you that the process of creating your own salve starts with the joy of harvesting the bright, beautiful blossoms, but the truth is, it takes quite a bit of thoughtful planning, organization, and time. From choosing which varieties to grow (I always opt for a mix of tested favorites and a few new ones to try out), carefully tending to my seedlings, and patiently harvesting only the mature blossoms, to precisely crafting the finished product, creating this salve requires time and care, far more than can be accomplished in a single afternoon.







 

Why Calendula?

Calendula, known for its vibrant orange and yellow blooms, is more than just a pretty flower. It’s a healing herb that's ideal for soothing dry skin and promoting skin health. Every year, I plant it in my garden, knowing its gifts will be put to good use come winter when I need it most.





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