How to Make Calendula Oil | Easy Herbal Infused Oil for Skin

Learning how to make calendula oil is a simple skill that can help you build a well-stocked natural medicine cabinet using medicinal herbs you can grow yourself. 

Calendula oil is one of the most versatile herbal preparations you can make at home. Known for its soothing, moisturizing, and skin-supporting properties, calendula-infused oil is often used to help calm dry skin, nourish irritated areas, and serve as the base for homemade salves, lotions, lip balms, and other natural remedies. 

It's important to note that I am not a certified medical practitioner. This post is not intended to diagnose or treat but is for informational purposes only. Please contact your healthcare professional before introducing new herbal and natural remedies into your wellness routine. 

Watch Me Make Calendula Infused Oil

Benefits of Calendula Oil

The calendula flower is edible, so you could top your salads with it (if you enjoy the flavor), make tea, tinctures, ointments, or washes, or use it to make this herb-infused oil. 

• Beginner-Friendly - A great introduction to herbal preparations and home apothecary skills. Simple to make with just two ingredients, and requires no specialized equipment.
• Versatile - A critical ingredient in herbal remedies for summer and for winter. Some of my favorites are this herbal healing salve and this DIY sore muscle rub.  
• Family-Friendly - Safe for the whole family (even delicate baby skin).
• Supports healthy-looking skin
• Accessible - Uses calendula flowers that are easy to grow in most medicinal herb gardens.

Calendula is in the Asteraceae family, so if you have any allergies to plants in that family, you will want to be careful using calendula. 

What Is Calendula?

Calendula (Calendula officinalis), often called pot marigold, is a bright orange or yellow flowering herb that's been valued for centuries in traditional herbalism. Unlike ornamental marigolds, calendula is specifically grown for its medicinal and culinary uses.

Calendula flowers contain naturally occurring compounds that make them a favorite ingredient in skin care products and herbal remedies. The petals can be dried and infused into oils, made into teas, incorporated into salves, or added to bath and body products.

For homesteaders, calendula is one of the most rewarding herbs to grow because it produces abundant blooms throughout the growing season and readily reseeds itself in many gardens.

Harvesting Calendula

Harvest calendula when the flowers are fully open and the petals feel slightly sticky to the touch. This is when the blossoms are at their peak for making calendula oil and other herbal remedies.

Leave unopened buds to bloom, and allow some older flowers to go to seed. Since calendula is an annual that self-seeds readily, leaving a few blooms on the plant will provide flowers for next year's garden.

For medicinal use, harvest the bright orange or yellow flowers. Simply pinch or snip the flower head just below the bloom, as the beneficial compounds are concentrated in the petals.

I like to bring my dehydrator trays into the garden while harvesting, so I can spread the flowers out as I pick and easily see when I've gathered enough for a full batch.

Key Supplies and Ingredients:

A full ingredients list, including measurements, can be found in the recipe card below.

• Calendula Flowers - This recipe includes dehydrating instructions. Do not use fresh calendula flowers as they will mold.
• Carrier Oil of Choice - See tips below to help select the right carrier oil for you.
• Glass Jar w/Lid - A pint-sized mason jar works great.
• Fine Mesh Strainer - If you don’t have a strainer, you can use a cheesecloth or a flour sack towel.

How to Make Calendula Oil:

Step 1: Harvest calendula flowers and arrange them on dehydrator trays. Dehydrate calendula at the lowest possible temperature of your dehydrator.

Step 2: Measure the dried flowers and place them into a wide-mouth Mason jar (be sure your jar is large enough to allow for expansion).

Step 3: Using a wooden spoon or a kraut pounder, gently tamp down the flowers in the jar.

Step 4: Pour your oil of choice over the top of the flowers and cover the flowers until the oil is about one inch above the flowers.

Step 5: Add the lid to the jar, mark it with the date, and place it on a shelf, out of direct sunlight, to steep for about six weeks. Shake the jar periodically to redistribute the flowers throughout the oil. After six weeks, strain out the solids and store your oil in an air-tight jar.

Tips and Troubleshooting

• Quick Method - If you don’t want to wait for six weeks, follow steps 1-5. Then, place your jar of oil in an Instant Pot or a slow cooker. Add warm water to the pot until it reaches the same height as the oil in your jar. Turn the heat on low for 24 hours before straining.
• Use Only Dried Flowers - Fresh flowers contain moisture that can shorten shelf life and increase the risk of mold.
• Customize Your Carrier Oil - There are several oils to choose from, each providing unique benefits. Olive oil is a traditional choice because it is affordable and readily available. Sweet almond oil is lightweight and nourishing. Jojoba oil has a long shelf life and is excellent for skin care. Grapeseed oil has a light texture and quick absorption. Avocado oil is rich and deeply moisturizing.
• Keep Flowers Covered - Ensure all plant material stays completely submerged beneath the oil during infusion.
• Choose Quality Ingredients - The quality of your calendula flowers and carrier oil directly affects the quality of the finished infusion.
• Label Everything - Always label homemade herbal preparations with the ingredients and preparation date.
• Store Properly - A cool, dark pantry or cupboard helps preserve freshness and maximize shelf life.
• Make Larger Batches - Calendula oil stores well and serves as the base for many homemade herbal remedies, making it worth preparing in larger quantities.