Basics of Creating Herbal Salves

Crafting Herbal Salves & Balms: A Beginner’s Guide

Have you ever wanted to create your own herbal salves and balms? These simple preparations allow you to care for your skin using simple ingredients with the freedom to tailor each blend to your own needs.

Herbal salves can be used to soothe dry or irritated skin, speed the healing of minor cuts and scrapes, and ease muscle tension. Best of all, the process is easy and rewarding. With a few basic supplies and a little patience, you can create remedies that serve your household well.

Let’s walk through how to choose oils, infuse herbs, and craft a simple, effective salve.

Choosing the Right Oils

Carrier oils form the foundation of each herbal salve. They extract and carry plant compounds into the skin while offering their own nourishing benefits. Different oils offer different textures, absorption rates, and skin-supportive properties.

Here are some popular and versatile options:

• Sweet Almond Oil - Lightweight, easily absorbed, gently moisturizing, and suitable for most skin types

• Apricot Kernel Oil - Light and silky, rich in vitamins A and E, well-suited for sensitive or mature skin

• Argan Oil - Deeply nourishing, antioxidant-rich, and excellent for dry, delicate, or aging skin

• Avocado Oil - Thick, deeply moisturizing, rich in fatty acids, supportive for dry, damaged, or inflamed skin

• Coconut Oil - Antimicrobial, soothing, and moisturizing, best blended with lighter oils due to its firmness

• Castor Oil - Thick and viscous, highly moisturizing, supportive for inflamed or irritated skin, best used in small amounts within blends

• Jojoba Oil - Technically a liquid wax, it closely mimics skin’s natural sebum, absorbs easily, and offers a long shelf life

• Olive Oil - Traditional salve base, deeply nourishing, antioxidant-rich, gentle, and well-suited for herbal infusions

• Shea Butter - Rich, protective, deeply moisturizing, ideal for dry or weather-exposed skin

• Tallow - Traditional animal fat rich in fat-soluble vitamins, deeply nourishing, protective, and highly compatible with human skin

Choose a single oil or blend several to achieve your preferred texture and skin feel. As you experiment, keep notes about your ratios and results, which will help you remember and refine your recipes over time.

Infusing Herbs into Oils

Herbal-infused oils are created by soaking plant material in oil, allowing beneficial plant compounds to slowly transfer into the carrier oil. In most cases, dried herbs are preferred, as moisture in fresh plants can increase the risk of spoilage and mold. Some herbs, such as St. John’s Wort, are best used fresh. Always consult reliable herbal references before using fresh plant material.

Slow Infusion Method (Recommended)

This method requires patience but produces a high-quality infused oil

• Fill a clean, dry glass jar halfway with dried roots or berries, or about three-quarters full with dried leaves and flowers

• Cover completely with oil, ensuring all plant material is submerged

• Leave a small amount of headspace, seal, label, and date

• Store in a cool, dark place for 4–6 weeks, shaking gently every few days

• Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer

• Label, date, and store in a cool, dark place

Quick Infusion Method

When time is limited, gentle heat can speed extraction

• Place herbs and oil in a heat-safe jar

• Set the jar into a pot of water to create a double boiler

• Heat over the lowest heat setting, trying to keep the temperature below 140°F, and warm gently for several hours

• Strain, label, and store

This method is fast and convenient, though it may not produce as effective or stable a product as the slow infusions.

Examples of makeshift double boilers

Making Your Herbal Salve or Balm

Now that you have your infused oil, it’s time to transform it into a salve!

Basic Salve Recipe

• 1 cup herb-infused oil

• +/-2 oz beeswax (adjust for preferred consistency; more beeswax = thicker consistency)

• Optional: essential oil(s)

In a double boiler, melt the beeswax over heat

Add the herb-infused oil, stirring until fully combined and melted

Remove from heat and let cool slightly before adding essential oils

• 0.5% - 20-24 drops per cup of oil, ideal for daily use

• 1% - 40-48 drops, great for occasional use

• 2% - 80-96 drops, for short-term use on areas that need extra attention

Pour into tins or glass jars and allow to cool completely before sealing.

Label and date your creations!

Final Thoughts

Congratulations on your journey into making herbal salves and balms! With a bit of experimentation, creativity, and proper documentation, you can craft personalized natural remedies to address various concerns. If you have not embarked on your journey to enhance your wellness, now is the best moment to begin. By substituting toxic body products with affordable, self-made, natural remedies, you will actively support and improve your well-being. Decreasing your exposure to chemical-laden products helps alleviate stress on your immune system and promotes overall wellness. Embrace the delightful process of crafting these rejuvenating skincare products, and feel free to reach out for assistance or explore ready-made options if needed.

If you are interested in learning to craft herbal-infused oils and salves, and keeping notes on your recipes and results, check out this notebook in my shop. Happy crafting!