The marigold (Calendula officinalis) impresses not only with its beautiful yellow andorange flowers, but also has a healing effect. Marigold ointment is a miracle cure that should not be missing from any medicine cabinet because of its numerous properties. In this article we show you how to make your own marigold ointment using various ingredients.
What is calendula ointment good for?
Because of its calming and nourishing effect, marigold ointment is very popular in naturopathy and natural cosmetics. The ointment made from marigoldsfinds wide application– it can help with various injuries and abrasions, soothe burns and care for dry or cracked skin. It also offers good wind protection for the facial skin and is also good for sore baby bottoms.
Make marigold ointment yourself – this is what you need
You can find marigold ointments and creams in every pharmacy and drugstore. But did you know that you can make marigold ointment yourself using just a few ingredients? Here you will find a list of everything you need for the different recipes.
- Marigolds – Depending on the recipe, you can use dried flowers or flower heads. Alternatively, marigold ointment can be made with marigold oil or tincture
- Carrier material – In addition to the flowers, you need an ingredient that gives the ointment its texture. The best options are beeswax (or carnauba wax if the ointment is vegan), coconut oil, milk fat, petroleum jelly, lard, lanolin
- Carrier Oil – In some recipes, the flowers are first placed in a carrier oil or heated to help them release their oils. For example, coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, etc. are suitable for this
- Optional: Essential Oils – Marigold has a mild, earthy scent, but is not very aromatic or floral on its own. Therefore, you can add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice such as lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, rosemary, etc. to the marigold ointment
- Optional: shea butter, propolis, honey, cocoa butter, vitamins
- Suitable dishes for a water bath
- Small jars or cans for storage
Make marigold oil yourself
If you have marigolds in the garden, you can use them to make your own oil extract! You then use this to make the marigold ointment. That's how it works!
1. Obtain dried marigold flowers. Either use your own, home-grown flowers that you harvest and dry yourself, or buy some.
2. Fill a clean glass jar with at least 3/4 of the dried calendula flower heads or about half of the dry petals. A mason jar works perfectly.
3. Pour your choice of cold-pressed carrier oil over the dried marigold flowers until the container is full and the flowers are completely submerged.
4. Place a lid on the container and store in a sunny, warm place to promote infusion. A bright windowsill is perfect for this. Allow the oil and flowers to steep for at least three weeks or up to a few months. Shake the mixture from time to time to prevent mold from forming.
Or: If you want to make marigold oil faster, you can try the following method. Mix the flower heads with the selected carrier oil and heat gently for about 15 minutes. Be careful not to let the oil get too hot, otherwise the flowers will be fried. You can also use the Thermomix for this method.
5. Once the oil is infused, strain the flowers from the oil using a cloth or strainer.
You can also apply the calendula oil extract directly to the affected areas.
Recipes for homemade marigold ointment
The beneficial effects of this plant should not be underestimated. Calendula may look pretty and delicate, but it is extremely effective and really helps speed healing. It does this by stimulating cell renewal and skin regrowth more quickly. It is also very soothing if the skin is injured or irritated. Here you will find a few recipes for a very simple ointment that you can make yourself at home.
Make your own marigold ointment with beeswax
To make the ointment, take the pre-made oil extract and weigh it. For 100 g of ointment you will need:
- 80 g marigold oil (homemade or purchased)
- 20g beeswax
- 5 drops of lavender or rosemary essential oil
- Optional: 2 tablespoons shea butter
Melt the beeswax with the oil and shea butter in a water bath over medium heat. Remove the pot from the heat and add the essential oil. Then pour into small cans or jars and let cool. When the ointment has cooled, it will harden to a nice, buttery consistency.
DIY marigold ointment with vitamin E
You can refine the basic marigold ointment with other ingredients such as vitamins and essential oils. Citrus oil, particularly lemon essential oil, is antibacterial and antiviral, which can help prevent infections. The addition of vitamin E helps repair damaged skin, reduce scars and also extends the shelf life of the ointment. You need these ingredients:
- 180 ml marigold oil
- 70g beeswax
- 1/4 teaspoon liquid vitamin E
- 10 drops of lemon essential oil
Grate the beeswax and melt it together with the oil over low heat in a double boiler, stirring occasionally.
Once the beeswax has melted, remove it from the heat and stir in the vitamin E and lemon essential oil until combined.
Pour the ointment into a small covered metal or glass container and allow it to cool.
Make your own marigold ointment with honey
Aside from being delicious and nutritious, isRaw honey incredibly beneficial for the skin. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, is rich in enzymes, antioxidants and minerals, making it an ideal natural healer. Adding this ingredient makes calendula ointment even more effective. Below you will find the ingredients and instructions for this soothing ointment.
- 2 tablespoons beeswax pellets
- 3 tablespoons marigold oil (extract)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons shea butter
- 10 drops of orange essential oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons raw honey
Mix the calendula oil with beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter. Add the mixture to the water bath and let it melt gently. Wait for the mixture to cool down. Add orange essential oil or other essential oils of your choice. When the mixture has cooled sufficiently, add the honey. Mix everything well, pour the mixture into a glass jar until it is still liquid and let it stand for 2 hours.
Calendula ointment recipe with propolis
You can also make a simple but highly effective marigold ointment yourself with propolis. Here are the ingredients:
- 100 ml marigold oil (extract)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons beeswax
- 10 g Propolis
First melt the beeswax in a water bath, then add the calendula oil extract and stir well. Allow to cool to around 40 degrees and add the propolis, stir well and pour into a suitable container.
