I just made my first round of salves. It was fun, very messy and I learned a lot! My only mistake? Scenting the base for all the varieties with lavender in the very beginning. While it seems the world universally agrees that lavender is a lovely scent, I do not. I'm not crazy about it. In fact, I'd rather smell the chaparral which drives most people mad.
I made a few varieties . . . I only wish I was better prepared with containers! I would have made many small sizes to give away.
In the end, I will surely continue mixing and trying things out but what blows me away about this process is that I've taken plants (calendula, lavender, to name a couple) and brought them through to salve. I even used my own bees wax. As a once consumer of fancy facial products, this is a big mind f*%k. I will never buy these items again. The list grows, "things i no longer buy" now includes creams and salves.
7 comments:
What recipe did you use for your salves and creams?
I made it up. Two varieties one primarily creosote (wild harvested) which I lightly scented with tea tree oil. And one calendula and lavender (both from the garden). The base was the same for both and based on my own preferences: bees wax (from my bees) about an 1oz per 5oz of salve; shea butter (about 4 tbsp per 5 oz salve); the olive oil used to make the herb oils mentioned above; and a bit of vitamin E as a preserve. I'm pretty happy with it. The shea cuts the otherwise oily feeling.
got any fav recipes?
I'm intrigued by the possibility of "nest egg" gourds (white gourds, size and shape of an egg) as containers for small amounts of stuff, like spices or medicine.
I think Baker Creek sells seeds for them.
I'm not sure they would hold oil as well as bottle gourds hold water, but it would be interesting to try.
I agree! We make our own salves, lotions and chapsticks now too. We're not going back! :) Hope you all are well...enjoy your travels NW.
does anyone have a good source for containers for lip balms, lotions etc??
Yes, Rose Mountain Herbs.
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
Hi Wendy,
My husband and I make herbal salves and chapsticks. I purchased 1 oz containers and chapstick tubes on eBay. I bought about 50 of each which is more than we need, but they make nice gifts. Of course on eBay, you can find all sorts of quantities available.
best regards,
Mindy
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