How To Make a Basic Vegan Salve That You Can Customize for Your Own Needs

Salves are wonderful additions to your medicine or beauty cabinet. Different from balms, which tend to have a thicker and harder consistency, salves are softer (semi-solid) and are ideal for rubbing into larger areas of the skin. Though they both tend to include the same ingredients, it’s the ratios that make the difference.

Many natural salves contain beeswax, but for those wishing to avoid bee-based products, there are a bunch of other waxes derived from the plant world that work just as well.

Salves are simple to make for yourself at home and require few ingredients. It is a great option if you are looking to move away from body products that contain questionable chemicals.

Different herbs and spices can be added to salves, making them useful for several ailments, from dried, cracked, or inflamed skin to sore and tired muscles and insect bites.

What Are Some Vegan Substitutes for Beeswax?

• Candelilla wax is derived from a plant native to northern Mexico and the southwest USA. It is a really good substitute for beeswax but is a little denser. As a result, you can often use half the amount of candelilla than you would beeswax.
• Carnauba wax comes from a particular type of palm tree native to Brazil. Before buying this wax, try to be sure that it comes from a sustainable source.
• Soy wax is another great option for making vegan products. When buying, try to look for organic, non-GMO soy wax pellets. The melting speed of soy wax is much quicker than beeswax, but sometimes it is thought to have a slightly grainy texture.

How to Make a Basic Salve

Basic salves simply contain wax and oil. The ratios of these two will depend on the wax you are using, so you will have to research each wax individually. The oil you use can be a plain oil such as coconut or olive oil, or it can be a herbal-infused oil that you have made in advance. As well, essential oils of your choice can be added to the salves to give certain aromas or medicinal properties.

Source: Mountain Rose Herbs/YouTube

Step 1:

You are welcome to buy herbal-infused oils online, but they are really fun and easy to make at home, as long as you have access to some medicinal plants. Lavender, chamomile, calendula, echinacea, arnica, comfrey, peppermint, and yarrow are all great plants for making herbal-infused oils and come with specific properties.

To make a herbal infused oil, first, collect your plant matter and make sure it is clean and dry. Next, fill half of a clean glass jar with your plants. Then, fill the jar with an oil of your choice, such as olive oil, almond oil, or coconut oil. Make sure that all of your plants are completely covered by the oil.

You can give the jar a shake every day for about a week. This agitates the mixtures and helps with the infusing process. Open your jar intermittently to check for any spoilage or rancid smell. Keep your oil ‘brewing’ for three to six weeks before using them to make other preparations.

Step 2:

Now that you have your infused oil, you can start to make your salve. First, you will need to melt your wax in a double boiler. Different wax has different melting points. Some can take quite a while, whilst others melt in a heartbeat.

Once the wax is in liquid form, you can carefully add your herbal oil. Stir these together over low heat until they are completely incorporated.

Step 3:

Take your mixture off the heat and add any essential oils that you wish to use. Different essential oils have different dosage recommendations, so research the essential oils you are using individually.

Step 4:

Pour your mixture into metal or glass containers and allow to set.

A basic recipe for a carnauba wax-based salve is one part wax to four parts oil. However, this is really up to you. Once your salve is set, see if you like the consistency. If it is too soft, remelt the mixture in a double boiler and add a little more wax. If the salve is much too hard, remelt the mixture and a little more oil. Before long, you will have mastered your perfect salve for whatever your needs.

This is for informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional before using herbal medicines. Do spot tests for allergies when using new products on the skin. 

Related Content:

• DIY Cough Syrup from Natural Ingredients
• DIY Fire Cider: From Apples to Medicine
• How to Make Your Own Herb-Infused Oil and Vinegar
• The Essential Guide to Herbs

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