Equipment
- Double boiler (or a pouring pot placed in a small saucepan with water)
- Wooden spoon* (or disposable bamboo fork)
- Thermometer (optional, but nice)
- Sanitized containers for storing your salve (I use 2-ounce glass amber jars for storage)
- *If using a wooden spoon, you may want to use a new spoon dedicated to making salves as it may be a bit waxy afterward, and if it has been used to cook food, some unwanted aromas could transfer from the wood to the salve.
- Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 cups herbal infused oil*
- ½ cup organic beeswax pastilles
Instructions
- Gently heat the oil in a double boiler. Make sure that whatever you are using for a double boiler, there is no chance of water splashing into your oil. You want to heat your oil to about 140ºF (60ºC)—This is the lowest temperature that will also melt the wax.
- Add the beeswax pastilles and gently stir (I use a disposable bamboo fork). Make sure the wax melts fully.
- Take the salve off the heat. Pour the oil into an easy-pour container like a frothing pitcher (if it’s not already in a pouring pot), then carefully pour the oil into the jars.
- Let the salve cool fully (about 4-6 hours) before putting the lid on. You don’t want condensation to form on the top of your jar as this can cause the salve to mold.
- Your salve will have a shelf life of about one year. If you want to extend the shelf life, store it in the fridge, or at least avoid temperature extremes, especially hot or very warm temperatures, which could melt the salve.
Notes
*Follow the instructions for making Herbal-Infused Oil. For this salve, use equal parts dried calendula, comfrey, yarrow and plantain (½-ounce each) when making your infused oil. Alternatively, If you make your oil in single batches like I do, simply mix ½ cup each of calendula, plantain, yarrow and comfrey oil.
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