How to Make a Chamomile Herbal Salve in the Crockpot

There is something wonderfully simple about making your own herbal salve. A handful of dried chamomile flowers, nourishing oil, beeswax, and a little time can become a lovely multipurpose balm for your home herbal cabinet.

Chamomile has been used traditionally for generations, including in topical preparations. Today, you can make a simple chamomile-infused salve without fancy equipment or complicated techniques.

And yes, you can make it in your crockpot.

The gentle, low-heat method makes it easy to slowly infuse the chamomile into the oil while you go about your day. Once the oil is strained and combined with beeswax, you have a soft herbal balm that can be poured into small tins or jars for personal use.

This is one of those old-fashioned homestead projects that feels a little bit like kitchen witchery. 🌼

What Is a Chamomile Salve?

A salve is a semi-solid topical preparation made by combining an oil-based herbal infusion with a natural wax such as beeswax.

For this recipe, dried chamomile flowers are gently infused into a carrier oil. The plant material is then strained out, and the infused oil is combined with beeswax to create a balm.

The finished salve can be used as a simple moisturizing balm for areas of dry, rough skin.

It is best thought of as a traditional herbal skin-care preparation, rather than a treatment for a medical condition. Research on chamomile's topical benefits is still limited, and natural products can cause reactions in some people.

Chamomile Herbal Salve

Ingredients

• 1 cup carrier oil
• 1/2 cup dried chamomile flowers
• 1 ounce beeswax by weight
• Optional: 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

Good Carrier Oils

You have several choices for the oil base.

Olive oil is inexpensive, readily available, and makes a wonderfully rich herbal infusion.

Sweet almond oil creates a lighter-feeling salve.

Apricot kernel oil is another lovely option for a softer skin-care balm.

Jojoba oil is technically a liquid wax rather than an oil and has excellent shelf stability, although it can make the finished salve feel somewhat different.

For a first batch, plain olive oil is perfectly fine.

Before You Begin

Use completely dried chamomile flowers for this recipe.

Fresh herbs contain moisture, and introducing water into an oil-based preparation can shorten its storage life and increase the potential for spoilage.

Choose clean, good-quality dried chamomile from a reputable source. German chamomile is commonly identified as Matricaria recutita or Matricaria chamomilla.

How to Make Chamomile-Infused Oil in a Crockpot

Step 1: Add the Chamomile and Oil

Place the dried chamomile flowers into a clean heat-safe jar or directly into the crockpot if your crockpot is clean and suitable for the method.

Add 1 cup of your chosen carrier oil.

The flowers should be well covered by the oil.

Step 2: Use Gentle Heat

For the easiest crockpot method, place the jar containing the chamomile and oil into the crockpot.

Add enough water around the jar to create a gentle water bath.

Turn the crockpot to its lowest heat setting.

You want gentle warmth, not hot cooking temperatures.

Cover the crockpot loosely so steam can escape.

Let the oil infuse for approximately 4 to 6 hours, checking occasionally.

The goal is to gently warm the oil and encourage the plant compounds from the chamomile to infuse into it.

You don't want the oil bubbling or the chamomile frying.

Step 3: Strain the Herbal Oil

Turn off the crockpot and allow the oil to cool enough to handle safely.

Strain the oil through a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or several layers of clean muslin.

Press the flowers gently to recover as much infused oil as possible.

Discard the spent chamomile.

You should now have a golden chamomile-infused oil with a lovely herbal aroma.

Step 4: Measure Your Infused Oil

Measure the strained oil.

For a reliable salve texture, use approximately:

4 parts infused oil to 1 part beeswax by weight.

For example:

• 4 ounces infused oil
• 1 ounce beeswax

This produces a fairly firm but spreadable salve.

If you prefer a softer balm, use a little less beeswax.

For a firmer salve, increase the beeswax slightly.

Step 5: Melt the Beeswax

Place the infused oil and beeswax into a heat-safe container.

Create a simple double boiler by placing the container over a saucepan of gently simmering water.

Warm slowly until the beeswax has completely melted.

Stir occasionally.

You don't need high heat. Once the beeswax has melted, remove the mixture from the heat.

Optional: Add Vitamin E

If you want to include vitamin E oil, stir it in after removing the mixture from the heat.

Vitamin E is commonly used in homemade oil-based skin-care products as an antioxidant. It is not a preservative, however, so don't treat it as protection against microbial spoilage.

Step 6: Pour Into Containers

Carefully pour the warm salve into clean, completely dry tins or small glass jars.

Allow the containers to cool uncovered until the salve has completely hardened.

Then add the lids and label each container.

Include:

Chamomile Salve - Date Made

That little label will save you from the classic homemade-herbal-product mystery six months later:

"What the heck did I put in this jar?" 😂

How to Use Chamomile Salve

Use a small amount on clean, dry skin and massage gently until absorbed.

A chamomile salve can make a lovely everyday balm for:

• Dry hands
• Rough elbows
• Dry knees
• Dry heels
• Cuticles
• Rough patches of skin
• General moisturizing

Avoid applying it to the eyes or directly into the eyes.

It is also best to avoid using homemade herbal salves on deep wounds, serious burns, infected skin, or unexplained rashes. Those situations deserve appropriate medical care rather than a jar from the kitchen cupboard.

Fun Additions and Herbal Combinations

Once you have the basic chamomile salve down, you can turn it into all sorts of variations.

Chamomile + Calendula

Combine dried chamomile with dried calendula flowers for a classic herbal-infused oil.

This is a beautiful combination for a traditional skin-care balm.

Chamomile + Lavender

Add dried lavender flowers to the infusion for a fragrant floral salve.

You can also use a small amount of lavender essential oil after the mixture has been removed from heat, but essential oils are concentrated and can irritate sensitive skin.

Chamomile + Plantain

Dried plantain leaf can be combined with chamomile for another traditional herbal salve.

Make sure you are using correctly identified, properly dried plant material from a trustworthy source.

Chamomile + Rose

Add dried rose petals to the infusion for a beautifully fragrant floral balm.

This makes a particularly pretty homemade gift.

Chamomile + Comfrey

Comfrey is sometimes included in traditional herbal preparations, but it deserves additional safety consideration and is not my first choice for a beginner salve.

When you're just learning herbal preparations, keeping your ingredient list simple is a smart move.

More Ways to Customize Your Salve

You can also change the character of the finished balm by changing the carrier oil.

Try:

• Olive oil for a rich, classic salve
• Sweet almond oil for a lighter texture
• Apricot kernel oil for a silky feel
• Jojoba oil for excellent shelf stability
• A blend of two carrier oils

You can even make several small batches instead of one large batch.

That way you can experiment with different herbal combinations without ending up with six jars of something you don't particularly love.

Make a Softer Chamomile Balm

If you want something that feels more like a body butter or soft balm, reduce the beeswax.

Try:

5 parts infused oil to 1 part beeswax

This will produce a softer texture that melts more quickly against warm skin.

Make a Firmer Salve

For a firmer salve that holds up better in a warm room, increase the beeswax slightly.

Try:

3 parts infused oil to 1 part beeswax

This can be especially useful for small tins that you want to carry in a purse, garden bag, or camping kit.

Technical Tip

Because different oils and beeswax vary slightly, the finished texture can change from batch to batch. If the cooled salve is too soft, remelt it and add a little more beeswax. If it is too hard, remelt it and add a small amount of infused oil.

Always test a small batch before making a large quantity.

How to Store Homemade Chamomile Salve

Keep your finished salve in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

A bathroom windowsill is usually not ideal because repeated heat and humidity can shorten the quality of homemade products.

Use clean, dry fingers or a small cosmetic spatula to remove the salve from the container.

For the best quality, make small batches and use them while the oil is fresh rather than trying to store homemade salves indefinitely.

If the salve develops an unusual smell, changes dramatically in appearance, or otherwise seems spoiled, discard it.

Homemade Salve Gift Ideas

Chamomile salve makes a sweet little homemade gift.

Try pouring it into:

• Small amber jars
• Metal salve tins
• Tiny glass cosmetic jars
• Vintage-style tins
• Small screw-top containers

Add a simple label with:

Chamomile Herbal Salve

Made With: Chamomile + Olive Oil + Beeswax

Date Made: __________

You could also make a little herbal gift basket with chamomile salve, homemade soap, dried chamomile tea, a lavender sachet, and a pretty garden-themed card.

Now we're talking serious cottage-garden energy. 🌿

Tips for Making Herbal Salves

• Always use completely dried herbs for an oil infusion.
• Keep moisture out of your finished oil and salve.
• Use gentle heat rather than trying to speed up the infusion.
• Keep the chamomile submerged beneath the oil.
• Strain the herbs thoroughly.
• Weigh your oil and beeswax for more consistent results.
• Start with small batches.
• Label every homemade herbal preparation.
• Keep finished salves away from heat and direct sunlight.
• Patch test before widespread topical use.
• Stop using the salve if irritation or an allergic reaction develops.

Chamomile Safety

Chamomile is generally considered reasonably safe for short-term topical use in adults and children, but allergic reactions can occur. People who are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, or related plants may be more likely to react to chamomile. Chamomile can also irritate the eyes, so keep this salve away from the eye area.

If you take medications or have a medical condition, check with your healthcare professional before using herbal products. Chamomile has reported and theoretical interactions with some medications, including warfarin and certain sedatives.

This salve is intended as a simple homemade skin-care product and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Do not use it as a substitute for medical care.

A Little Jar of Homemade Herbal Goodness

Making a chamomile salve is one of those projects that doesn't require a huge garden, expensive equipment, or an entire afternoon spent hovering over the stove.

The crockpot does the gentle work while you get on with your day.

Once you learn the basic formula of herbal-infused oil + beeswax, you can start experimenting with your own combinations and create a little collection of homemade salves for your herbal cabinet.

Chamomile is a beautiful place to start.

Simple ingredients. Traditional methods. A little patience.

That's pretty much the homesteading magic we're after. 🌼

Practical Note

Herbal preparations can vary depending on the herbs, oils, temperatures, and storage conditions used. Keep homemade products simple, use properly dried herbs, and adjust your methods based on your local climate and storage environment.