Simple Homemade Salve or Balm Recipe (Flexible and Customizable)
Learn how to make salve or balms with this simple flexible recipe, including oil and wax options, herb-infused oil, essential oils, butters and more. Once you know the basics, the options to be creative are endless!
Equipment
- Double boiler pot
- Measuring cups and/or kitchen scale
- Storage containers (tins, glass jars, or lip balm tubes)
- Heat-safe pitcher, glass measuring cup with pour spout, or confectionery funnel
Ingredients
- 1 cup herbal oil or plan natural oil of choice e.g. jojoba oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, etc or homemade herb-infused oil
- 1/4 cup beeswax pastilles or pellets
- 1-2 Tbsp (optional) shea butter, cocoa butter, or mango butter
- 1 tsp (optional) essential oils up to 1 tsp or 100 drops maximum for safety, but a strongly scented salve). We use 1/4-1/2 tsp or less
- 1/2 tsp (optional) vitamin E oil
Instructions
- Measure and/or weigh the oil, wax, and optional butter and add it to the top portion of a double boiler. Be sure to put water in the lower portion of the double boiler; enough so the bottom of the top pan is resting in water.
- Heat the ingredients over medium-high heat until all of the ingredients are completely melted and combined. Stir occasionally. Do not cover the pot while heating; any condensation (water) can negatively impact the salve or balm.
- Remove from heat before adding essential oils and/or vitamin E oil.
- While it’s still hot, carefully pour the liquid into storage containers of choice. It may be easiest to transfer the melted mixture into a heat-safe pitcher, confectionery funnel, or glass measuring cup with pour spout (in batches if needed) and then use that to fill the containers.
- If the mixture starts to harden before you’re finished pouring, simply return to heat to re-melt.
- Once the balm or salve has completely cooled and hardened, add lids or caps and labels. This will take several hours or potentially overnight.