RECIPE: Calendula Balm

Recipe by Jules @ MTNS ECO

I collect and dry calendula flower heads throughout the warmer months when they are abundant. It's important to collect the whole flower head as the sticky underside of the flower head gifts lots of skin healing resin to your oil. I pack the dried flowers heads into a jar and cover them with sweet almond oil. I label the jar with the date and then leave it in a dark cupboard to let the oil infuse slowly. The petals will gift their beautiful golden yellow to your oil. When the days get colder and slow down I make a batch of calendula balm that lasts me the whole year. I use it as a face cream, lip balm and wound healing salve. I also give little jars to friends who love it too, particularly friends with babies. Calendula balm is such a beautiful golden colour...it's like sunshine!

I keep my recipe in a ratio for 100g of oil. When I know how much infused oil I have I adapt the recipe to suit and it's easy maths.

RECIPE (adapt for how much inflused oil you have - aim for at least 500g to make a batch)

100g sweet almond oil (infused with dried calendular flower head)

12g bees wax

23g shea butter

7 drops lavender essential oil

Strain your infused oil through a muslin cloth and squeeze the flower heads to get as much goodness out of them as you can. Compost the flower heads. Heat the oil, bees wax and shea butter using the double boiler technique. Once melted, add the lavender essential oil and pour into small glass containers to set.