Homemade Calendula Oil, the Slow Way and the Quick Way (Melissa K. Norris)
Calendula is one of those cheerful garden flowers that seems to keep blooming no matter what the weather does. Its bright orange and gold petals have a long history in home kitchens and on homestead shelves. This week we're sharing a short recap of a video we enjoyed from Melissa K. Norris of Pioneering Today, where she walks through how she makes homemade calendula oil.
Start with dried flowers
Melissa begins by drying her calendula flowers gently. Drying matters because fresh flowers carry water, and water doesn't belong in a jar of oil. Once the flowers are dry, she places them in a clean glass jar and covers them completely with olive oil. Olive oil is a common choice because most kitchens already have a bottle on hand.
The slow way: about six weeks
Her slow method is about patience. She lets the jar sit at room temperature for about six weeks, out of direct sunlight, and gives it a shake now and then. Over those weeks the oil takes on the warm golden color of the petals. There's something satisfying about a jar quietly working on the shelf while the rest of the household goes about its days.
The quicker way: a warm water bath
If six weeks feels like a long wait, Melissa shares a quicker way. She sets the jar in a pan of warm water on low heat for about twenty-four hours. The key word is warm: the water should never boil. Once the oil has infused by either method, she strains out the flowers and stores the finished oil.
What she makes with it
Melissa uses her calendula oil as a base for homemade salves, balms, and creams. Once you have a jar of infused oil, it can become the starting point for all kinds of simple homemade projects for the family's bathroom shelf.
An important note on allergies
Melissa points out that calendula belongs to the aster family, also called Asteraceae. Anyone who is allergic to plants in that family should avoid calendula. That's a good reminder to know your family's allergies before working with any new plant.
Her method, not a clinic order
Everything above is Melissa's method, shared in her words. We're passing it along as a practical bit of homesteading, not as a recommendation from our clinic. This post isn't medical advice and doesn't replace a conversation with your own doctor. If you have questions about whether something is right for you or your family, ask your doctor.
If you'd rather skip the six-week wait, Stanford Herb Shop carries Dr. Casey's Calendula Rub. We haven't listed a price here; stop by the shop Monday through Friday or check the online shop.
Credit
Inspiration only: Melissa K. Norris of Pioneering Today, "Watch What Happens When You Soak This Herb in Oil | Homemade Calendula Oil," on YouTube, along with her written recipe on her website. No footage from her video was used. Our short recap uses our own still images and music.
Stanford Clinic & Herb Shop · Lucedale, MS
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