08/16/2026
How to Make Homemade Lavender Salve to Soothe Skin & Nerves
Note from Lavender Lady-the pictured salve is from Homestead and Chill’s product and is not meant as an example as ingredients must by law be listed in order of largest percentage to least. Please be sure to check local as well as federal regulations regarding label and sale of products.
HOMEMADE LAVENDER SALVE RECIPE
from Homestead and Chill�Ingredients
* 1 cup of lavender-infused oil (8 ounces) OR 1 cup of your carrier oil of choice, with extra lavender essential oils added as described below. Popular oil options for making salve include jojoba oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, and more. To help you decide which type of oil to use, see our lavender oil article. It goes over the unique benefits of a dozen different carrier oil options.�
* 3 to 4 tablespoons* of beeswax pastilles, or about 1 ounce if you’re using shaved, block, or other forms of beeswax. *If you opt to also add shea butter, you can use only 3 level tbsp of beeswax pastilles. However if you skip the shea butter, use 4 tbsp beeswax. Veganoptions: soy wax or candelilla wax.�
* Lavender essential oils (EOs). When using a lavender-infused oil base, I find we only need to add about 20-25 drops of organic lavender essential oil per cup of oil to obtain a lovely (and not overpowering) scent. However, if you skipped the infused oil and are relying on EOs alone, you could add as much as 12 drops of EOs per fluid ounce of carrier oil – or up to 96 drops per cup of oil. Note that is the absolute maximum amount recommended (per the safe dilution ratio for essential oils of 2%) and will result in a very strong-smelling salve. Start with half of that and adjust based on personal preference. �
* Optional: 2 tbsp of shea butter or cocoa butter. We love using shea butter, as it is highly moisturizing and rich in vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants.�
* Optional: other essential oils of choice. *note from Lavender Lady: if adding other essential oils, be sure to keep your total dilution percentage to 20% or less.
* Feel free to add a few drops of other essential oils that go well with lavender. For example, chamomile, rose, pink grapefruit, lemon, rosemary, sweet orange, ylang ylang, bergamot, geranium, or sandalwood. Have fun making your own custom blend. Each of these has their own distinct benefits as well!
Other Supplies Needed
* A double-boiler (or make-shift double boiler). For example, a pot within a pot, or a glass pyrex bowl or stainless steel bowl perched on top of a saucepan with water below. The use of a double-boiler is important, to avoid overheating the volatile lavender essential oils and thus reduce its healing potency!�
* Small glass jars or salve tins, for storage. We often use 2-ounce amber glass jars or larger 4-ounce jars for personal use or gifts, and these 2-ounce salve tins for easy shipping in the shop.
�Recipe yield
The amounts listed above will result in just over 1 cup of finished salve (about 10 ounces, or five 2-ounce tins). Feel free to scale up or down as needed. The general rule of thumb for salve is to use about 1 part of beeswax/butter to approximately 4-7 parts oil. A higher beeswax-to-oil ratio will result in a more firm salve, while going lighter on the beeswax will create a softer salve.
�A note on using quality and/or organic ingredients
Whenever we’re making salve, herbal oils, or other homemade body care items, we personally opt to use the best quality ingredients possible. Certified organic is all the better. The goal is to create a healing medicinal end product all! For example, I highly suggest using virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed oils. Some lesser-quality oils use solvent extraction, which contaminants them with hexane – a neurological toxin. I am also leery of non-organic essential oils. Just as the plant’s natural oils become highly concentrated in EOs, so does anything else on the plant!
Instructions
1. Have your salve tins, glass jars, or other lavender salve storage containers of choice ready and waiting.�
2. In the top portion of a double-boiler (or makeshift double-boiler), add 1 cup of lavender-infused oil (or other carrier oil) and 3 to 4 level tablespoons of beeswax (sliding scale notes above). Also add the optional 2 tablespoons shea butter if you choose to use it.�
3. Next, add enough water to the bottom portion of your double-boiler so that the top bowl or pot is in contact and resting in the water below.�
4. Heat the double-boiler over a medium-low heat on the stovetop. Remember, we want to avoid excessively heating the lavender oil more than what is necessary to melt the beeswax!�
5. Monitor and routinely stir the mixture until the beeswax (and shea butter) completely melts. Stir to thoroughly combine, and then remove from the heat immediately thereafter.�
6. Add the essential oils after removing the liquid salve from the heat. They are very volatile and therefore will dissipate quickly when exposed to high heat. Whisk to combine.�
7. While it is still hot, carefully pour the now-liquid lavender salve into your chosen containers. If it starts to solidify while you’re still filling containers, simply put it back on medium-low heat until it liquifies again.�
8. Finally, set the full lavender salve containers aside (lids off) and allow them to fully cool and harden.�
9. Enjoy healthy, moisturized skin! Use either clean fingers or a salve spoon to collect a small amount of salve and apply as needed. A little goes a long way!
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