Calendula: The Golden Flower Every Home Apothecary Should Know

There are some herbs that seem to belong in just about every home apothecary, and calendula is one of them.

With its cheerful yellow and orange flowers, calendula is easy to grow, easy to recognize, and incredibly useful to have around. It has a long history of traditional herbal use, particularly for the skin, and it is one of those plants that can be turned into several different preparations.

Calendula is also one of the herbs I think is worth growing yourself. It doesn't require a huge garden or anything fancy, and having a jar of your own dried calendula flowers tucked away in the apothecary gives you a lot of options.

What Is Calendula?

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is sometimes called pot marigold, although it isn't the same plant as the ornamental marigolds commonly grown in gardens.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family, along with plants such as chamomile, yarrow, and dandelion.

The part most commonly used in herbal preparations is the flower. The bright petals are what most people notice first, but when you're harvesting calendula for your apothecary, you'll generally want the whole flower head rather than simply pulling off the petals.

Calendula flowers range from pale yellow to deep orange, and I particularly like the darker orange varieties for herbal preparations.

Why Calendula Belongs in the Home Apothecary

Calendula has been used traditionally in preparations for the skin for a very long time.

Calendula flower preparations are recognized by the European Medicines Agency for traditional topical use involving minor skin inflammation and minor wounds. The EMA notes that these uses are based on long-standing traditional use rather than strong clinical evidence.

That distinction is important.

Herbalism has a long history of observing how plants have been used, but that doesn't mean every traditional claim has been proven by modern clinical research. I think it's perfectly reasonable to appreciate traditional herbal use while being honest about what we actually know.

For me, calendula's value is also in how versatile it is.

You can use dried calendula flowers to make:

• Infused oil

• Herbal salves and balms

• Creams and lotions

• Herbal washes and compresses

• Tea or infusion preparations

• Bath and body preparations

And if you grow calendula yourself, you can have a steady supply during the growing season and dry enough to carry you through the rest of the year.

Growing Calendula

One of the things I like about calendula is that it isn't particularly fussy.

It does well in a sunny location and can be grown directly in the garden. Give it reasonably well-drained soil and regular water, and it will reward you with flowers throughout much of the growing season.

The more you harvest the flowers, the more the plant tends to keep producing.

That's especially useful when you're growing calendula specifically for your home apothecary.

Rather than waiting for every flower to go past its prime, keep an eye on the plants and harvest regularly. You'll get a much better supply of flowers that way.

And don't feel like you need a huge patch.

A handful of calendula plants can give you a surprising amount of flowers over a season.

Harvesting Calendula

If you're growing calendula for herbal use, choose flowers that are fully open and look healthy.

Pick them on a dry day, preferably after the morning dew has dried.

You can harvest the entire flower head and remove any excess stem.

Calendula needs to be completely dry before you store it. Any moisture left in the flowers can lead to mold or spoilage during storage.

Spread the flowers in a single layer on a screen, tray, or other clean drying surface, or use a dehydrator on a low setting.

Once they're completely dry, store them in an airtight container away from heat, light, and moisture.

A label with the herb name and harvest date is always a good idea.

I know it seems simple, but being able to look at your shelves later and know exactly what you have and when you harvested it makes working with your home apothecary so much easier.

Making Calendula-Infused Oil

One of the most useful ways to preserve calendula is by making an infused oil.

This is one of the first preparations I would make if I had a good supply of dried calendula flowers.

The dried flowers are placed in a carrier oil and allowed to infuse slowly over several weeks. The finished oil can then be strained and used on its own or turned into another preparation, such as a salve or balm.

If you've never made an herbal infused oil before, I've already written out my simple process here:

[How to Make an Herbal Infused Oil]

I prefer using dried herbs for oil infusions because excess moisture can create problems with the finished oil. Starting with properly dried calendula gives you a much better foundation for a preparation you want to keep around.

Calendula in a Salve

Calendula-infused oil is especially useful when making an herbal salve.

The basic idea is simple: infused oil + beeswax = a thicker preparation that is easy to apply.

The amount of beeswax you use determines how firm your finished salve will be.

This is one of those places where having a few basic herbal preparations under your belt really starts to pay off. Once you know how to make an infused oil and how to work with beeswax, you can make a variety of simple preparations without needing a complicated recipe for every single one.

And that's one of the reasons I like calendula so much.

It's not a plant you learn about once and then forget. It's a plant you can actually work with.

Calendula Tea and Other Preparations

Calendula flowers can also be prepared as an infusion.

Traditionally, calendula has been used internally as well as externally, but most of the practical home-apothecary use I associate with calendula is topical.

If you're just starting out, I don't think you need to make every possible preparation from every herb you own.

Start with the form that makes the most sense for you.

For calendula, that might be as simple as:

Grow it → dry it → make an infused oil → turn that oil into a salve.

That's already a useful little herbal skill set.

A Note About Safety

Calendula is generally considered a gentle herb, but "gentle" doesn't mean that reactions are impossible.

Calendula belongs to the Asteraceae family, and people who are sensitive or allergic to plants in this family may also react to calendula. Skin sensitization has been reported with calendula preparations.

As with any new herbal preparation, it's wise to start cautiously, especially if you have known plant allergies or particularly sensitive skin.

And remember that traditional herbal use isn't a substitute for medical care. A minor skin issue that isn't improving, is worsening, or looks more serious than something appropriate for home care should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Why I Keep Coming Back to Calendula

There are plenty of herbs that are interesting to read about.

Calendula is one that is actually useful to have.

It's easy to grow, produces a generous supply of flowers, stores well once dried, and can be turned into several simple preparations.

It also fits beautifully into the way I think about a home apothecary.

You don't need twenty shelves of herbs.

You need a handful of plants you know well enough to grow, harvest, preserve, and actually use.

Calendula is a good place to start.

And once you've got some dried calendula tucked away, you've got the beginnings of several different preparations sitting right there on your shelf.

That's the part of herbalism I enjoy most—not simply knowing the names of plants, but learning how to turn them into something useful.

Ready to work with calendula?

If you're new to herbal preparations, start with the simple stuff. Learn how to dry an herb properly, make an infused oil, and work with beeswax.

You don't need to do everything at once.

One plant and one preparation at a time is plenty.

[Learn How to Make an Herbal Infused Oil →]

Sometimes Self-Reliance Looks Like a Kitchen Full of Tomatoes

Yesterday was supposed to be a blog-writing day.

Instead, I went out to the garden to pick tomatoes.

And then I came back inside with 9.6 pounds of them.

That was the most I've ever picked at one time, and there were still plenty of green tomatoes left on the plants.

So the blog post didn't get written.

The tomatoes won.

And honestly, I'm okay with that.

Because sometimes self-reliance doesn't look like sitting down with a notebook and learning a new skill.

Sometimes it looks like standing in the kitchen with tomatoes covering the counter, jars waiting to be filled, and realizing that all those hours spent planting, watering, weeding, and waiting have finally turned into something you can put away for later.

I spent the day canning those tomatoes so we can enjoy them long after the garden is finished for the year.

There's something very satisfying about it.

You're taking something you grew yourself and preserving it for a time when you won't have it fresh outside your door anymore.

It's the same reason I enjoy making herbal preparations.

Whether I'm drying an herb, making an infused oil, melting down beeswax, or putting up tomatoes from the garden, I'm learning how to take what I have and make it useful.

None of these things are particularly complicated.

But they are skills.

And the more of those skills we learn, the more capable we become.

I think that's one of the things I enjoy most about this slower way of living.

It isn't about doing everything yourself.

It's about learning what you can do—and actually doing it.

So yesterday's blog post became a day of picking tomatoes, canning, cleaning up the kitchen, and feeling pretty good about a pantry that is a little fuller than it was the day before.

And today, I'm back to the blog.

Sometimes that's just how life goes.

And that's okay, too.

How to Make an Herbal Infused Oil

If you're beginning to make your own herbal preparations, an infused oil is one of the first things I'd recommend learning.

It's simple, doesn't require much equipment, and once you have a jar of infused oil sitting on your shelf, you can turn it into all sorts of useful preparations.

Herbal oils are used in salves, balms, lotion bars, massage oils, and other topical preparations. And while there are certainly more complicated ways to make them, you don't need anything fancy to get started.

The basic idea is really quite simple:

You take a dried herb, cover it with oil, give the plant some time to release its constituents into the oil, and then strain the herb out.

That's it.

There are a couple of different ways I make infused oils, depending on how much time I have.

Start With a Dried Herb

When I'm making an infused oil, I prefer to use dried herbs.

Fresh plants contain quite a bit of moisture, and adding that moisture to an oil can shorten its shelf life and increase the possibility of spoilage. Drying the herb first gives you a much more stable preparation.

You can use herbs you've grown and dried yourself or good-quality dried herbs you've purchased.

Just make sure the herb is completely dry before you begin.

A Few Herbs That Work Well for Infused Oils

There are a lot of herbs that can be infused into oil, but these are a few of my favorites:

• Plantain – traditionally used in topical preparations for minor skin irritations and everyday skin care.

• Yarrow – traditionally used externally for skin and minor wounds.

• Calendula – one of the classic herbs for soothing and supporting healthy skin.

• Arnica – traditionally used externally for bruising, soreness, and minor aches. Arnica oil should not be used on broken skin.

• Comfrey – traditionally used externally in preparations for supporting the skin and minor injuries. It is generally recommended for external use only.

• St. John's wort – traditionally infused into oil for topical preparations, particularly for irritated or damaged skin.

These herbs all have their own characteristics, so you don't need to have all six in your apothecary.

Start with one.

Learn how it grows, what part you harvest, how to dry it, and how you like to use the finished oil.

Choose Your Carrier Oil

The next thing you'll need is a carrier oil.

There are quite a few oils that work well for herbal infusions, and the best choice depends on what you're making and how you plan to use it.

If you're not sure which oil to choose, I've written more about that here: [Choosing Carrier Oils for Herbal Preparations].

For most of my infused oils, I like to choose a relatively stable carrier oil that works well for the finished preparation.

The important thing is to use an oil you like and that makes sense for what you're making.

What You'll Need

You really don't need much equipment.

• Dried herb

• A clean, dry glass jar

• Carrier oil

• A mortar and pestle, grinder, or other way to crush the herb

• Fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or other straining material

• Clean bottle or jar for your finished oil

• Label

And if you're using the quick method:

• A double boiler or similar setup

Step 1: Crush or Grind the Herb

Before putting the herb into the jar, I like to crush or grind it.

You don't need to turn it into a powder. The goal is simply to break the plant material down enough to expose more surface area to the oil.

The more surface area the oil can contact, the more opportunity there is for the plant constituents to move into the oil.

A mortar and pestle works well for smaller amounts, but you can use whatever method makes sense for the herb you're working with.

Don't overthink this step.

You're just giving the oil a little more access to the plant material.

Step 2: Fill Your Jar With Herb

Put your crushed herb into a clean, dry glass jar.

I generally fill the jar about one-half to three-quarters full with the dried herb.

Don't pack it tightly.

You want to leave some room because dried herbs can expand once they are surrounded by oil.

This is especially important with herbs that are light and fluffy.

Step 3: Add the Oil

Pour your carrier oil into the jar, completely covering the herb.

Make sure all of the plant material is submerged.

At the same time, don't fill the jar completely to the top. Leave some headspace to allow the herb room to expand and to make it easier to stir or shake the mixture.

Once you've added the oil, give the jar a good stir with a clean utensil to help release any air pockets trapped among the herbs.

If the herbs settle and you notice dry material sticking above the surface of the oil, add a little more oil.

You want the herb completely covered.

Step 4: Choose Your Infusion Method

This is where you have two choices.

You can let time do the work, or you can use gentle heat to speed things up.

The Slow Method

This is probably my favorite way to make an infused oil when I have the time.

Put a lid on your jar and place it somewhere dark and out of the way.

I let mine infuse for approximately 4–6 weeks.

Give the jar a gentle shake every so often and check that the herbs remain completely covered with oil.

This method takes patience, but that's part of the fun.

There's something satisfying about putting a jar of herbs and oil on the shelf and knowing that, over the next several weeks, you're slowly making something useful.

The Quick Method

Sometimes you don't have four to six weeks to wait.

For a quicker infusion, you can use gentle heat.

Place the jar or a heat-safe container containing your herb and oil in a double-boiler-type setup and warm it over low heat for approximately 3–6 hours.

The goal here is gentle, steady heat—not cooking the herbs.

You don't want the oil boiling or getting excessively hot.

Keep an eye on the water level in your double boiler and make sure it doesn't evaporate completely.

I think of this method as a way to gently encourage the same process that would happen naturally over several weeks.

Step 5: Strain the Oil

Once your infusion is finished, it's time to separate the oil from the plant material.

Place a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth over a clean container and pour the infused oil through it.

Let the oil drain through naturally, then press the herbs to get as much of the oil out as you reasonably can.

For some herbs, I'll strain the oil more than once to make sure I remove as much plant material as possible.

The finished oil should be relatively clear of bits of herb.

Any remaining plant material can contribute moisture and shorten the storage life of your oil, so good straining is worth the extra effort.

Step 6: Bottle and Label

Pour your finished infused oil into a clean, dry bottle or jar.

And label it!

I know it seems obvious when you first make it, but six months from now you may not remember exactly what is in that jar.

At minimum, I like to include:

• The herb

• The carrier oil

• The date it was made

If you've made several different oils, you will be very glad you took the extra minute to label them.

Store your finished oil somewhere cool and dark.

How long an infused oil lasts will depend on the carrier oil you used, how thoroughly the herbs were dried, how much moisture made it into the preparation, and how it is stored.

If it develops an unpleasant or rancid smell, changes significantly in appearance, or shows any signs of mold or spoilage, discard it.

What Can You Do With Herbal Infused Oil?

This is where it gets fun.

Once you have a finished infused oil, you can use it as-is for appropriate topical applications or turn it into another preparation.

One of the easiest things to make is an herbal salve.

Simply combine your infused oil with beeswax and allow it to cool into a soft, spreadable preparation.

And if you've been following along with my beeswax post, you'll know that I like to have my beeswax already portioned and ready to weigh out. That makes the next step even easier.

You can also use infused oils as an ingredient in balms, lotion bars, and other topical products.

A single jar of infused oil can become the foundation for several different preparations.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

As simple as this process is, there are a few things worth remembering.

Use completely dried herbs. Moisture is the enemy of a good herbal oil.

Keep the herb covered. Any plant material sticking above the oil is more likely to introduce moisture and spoilage.

Don't rush the heat method. Low and slow is the goal.

Use clean, dry equipment. You don't want to introduce water or contaminants into your oil.

And, as with any herbal preparation, make sure you know the herb you're working with and understand its appropriate uses and precautions.

A few herbs also have specific considerations. For example, arnica is generally used externally and not on broken skin, while St. John's wort preparations can increase photosensitivity when applied to the skin.

Start With One

If you've never made an herbal infused oil before, don't feel like you need to make six different jars.

Pick one herb.

Plantain is an easy place to start. Calendula is another classic. Yarrow is a wonderful herb to learn if you have access to it.

Make a small jar.

Watch what happens.

Learn how the finished oil looks and smells. Use it to make a simple salve.

Then make another one.

Before long, you'll have a little collection of infused oils in your apothecary, and you'll have learned something much more valuable than simply following a recipe.

You'll have learned how to take a plant and turn it into a useful preparation.

And that's really what herbalism is all about.