How to Infuse Calendula in Oil
Want to learn how to infuse oil with calendula? It’s super simple and perfect for whipping up your own skincare products at home.
With just a few steps, you can harness the beneficial properties of calendula for your needs.
Calendula, a vibrant golden medicinal herb, has impressive healing properties that have been recognized for ages.
It’s known for helping soothe cuts, wounds, and various skin conditions thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.
Learning how to infuse calendula in oil is a practical skill that allows you to make your own homemade skincare products and natural remedies.
This guide will show you a simple and effective way to capture these healing benefits, enriching your wellness and skincare routine.
Selecting Your Calendula
Start with High-Quality Flowers
For the most potent infusion, it’s crucial to begin with high-quality calendula flowers.
I harvest my own calendula, which I grow throughout my garden as a companion plant and for making my own skincare products.
This not only allows me to control the quality but also to perfect the timing of the harvest.
Air Drying or Dehydrating Your Flowers
Proper drying is crucial after harvesting. I prefer to air dry my flowers in a low-lying cardboard box, allowing them to dry completely.
Shaking the box occasionally ensures the flowers dry evenly.
If you’re using a dehydrator, arrange the flowers so they don’t touch and set the dehydrator to the lowest setting meant for herbs to preserve their potent medicinal properties.
Purchasing Dried Flowers
If harvesting fresh calendula isn’t an option due to time constraints or lack of access, buying pre-dried flowers is an alternative.
Mountain Rose Herbs is a reputable source that offers high-quality dried calendula, ideal for your infusion needs.
No matter your choice—drying fresh blooms yourself or opting for the convenience of pre-dried flowers—beginning with premium quality is essential for a successful calendula oil infusion.
Choosing Your Oil
The oil you choose acts as the base for your infusion and will carry the beneficial properties of the calendula into your final product.
Extra virgin olive oil is my personal favorite, but don’t hesitate to use other oils based on your preference or needs.
Coconut oil, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil are excellent alternatives, each bringing their unique benefits to your infusion.
How to Infuse Calendula in Oil
Place your dried calendula flowers in the glass jar, filling it to about three-quarters full. This allows enough space for the oil to saturate the flowers fully.
Pour your chosen oil into the jar, ensuring that the flowers are completely submerged.
The oil should cover the flowers by at least an inch, as this helps prevent any potential mold growth.
Tighten the lid on your jar and shake it gently to make sure the flowers are thoroughly coated with oil.
Store the jar in a dark, cool place. A cupboard away from direct sunlight or a pantry shelf is ideal.
Let your infusion sit for 4-6 weeks. This patience allows time for the oil to extract the healing compounds from the calendula flowers.
A longer infusion means a more potent oil, so resist the urge to rush this process.
After your infusion period, it’s time to separate the calendula flowers from the oil. Place your strainer over a clean container and pour the oil through it.
Press the flowers gently to extract as much oil as possible. For an even finer filtration, you can strain the oil through a piece of cheesecloth.
Transfer the strained oil into a clean jar or bottle for storage. Label it with the date and type of oil used for easy reference.
Stored properly in a cool, dark place, your calendula-infused oil can last up to a year.
Using Your Calendula-Infused Oil
Now that your calendula-infused oil is ready, there are plenty of ways to use it. It’s perfect for making salves, enhancing massage oils, creating lip balms, or adding to various skincare products.
Looking for a recipe to start with? Try my Calendula Salve with Shea Butter. This easy-to-make salve is buttery soft and deeply moisturizing.
How to Infuse Calendula in Oil
Equipment
- Glass jar with an airtight lid
- A strainer
Ingredients
- Dried calendula flowers
- Enough olive oil to completely cover the flowers in the jar (The amount needed will depend on the size of your jar and the amount of flowers you have.) See notes below oil variations.
Instructions
- Fill Your Jar: Place your dried calendula flowers in the glass jar, filling it to about three-quarters full. This allows enough space for the oil to saturate the flowers fully.
- Add the Oil: Pour your chosen oil into the jar, ensuring that the flowers are completely submerged. The oil should cover the flowers by at least an inch, as this helps prevent any potential mold growth.
- Seal and Store: Tighten the lid on your jar and shake it gently to make sure the flowers are thoroughly coated with oil. Store the jar in a dark, cool place. A cupboard away from direct sunlight or a pantry shelf is ideal.
- Wait: Let your infusion sit for 4-6 weeks. This patience allows time for the oil to extract the healing compounds from the calendula flowers. A longer infusion means a more potent oil, so resist the urge to rush this process.
- Strain: After your infusion period, it’s time to separate the calendula flowers from the oil. Place your strainer over a clean container and pour the oil through it. Press the flowers gently to extract as much oil as possible. For an even finer filtration, you can strain the oil through a piece of cheesecloth.
- Store: Transfer the strained oil into a clean jar or bottle for storage. Label it with the date and type of oil used for easy reference. Stored properly in a cool, dark place, your calendula-infused oil can last up to a year.
We love Calendula! Just started our seeds! Saving this recipe!
Great! I’ll be starting mine at the end of the month. 🙂
I love it! I want to try this now. I think I have some Calendula seeds, if not, I am going to get some.
Awesome! I always start from seed, too. 🙂
Saving this! This may be a silly question, but does it matter if the oil is “in date” if my sole purpose would be for topical use?
Hi Megan! I’ve heard different opinions about this. I’d probably use expired oil if it weren’t too far past the expiration date. Otherwise, I’d use a new oil.