Spring is a wonderful time of year, especially after the cold, dark, and dreary weather of winter. I’m always so excited to see the first dandelions pop up, as that means that warmer weather is on its way and I can soon make homemade dandelion salve!
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Wildcrafting Weeds eBook
Before we get started with this dandelion salve recipe I want to let you know about my ebook!
Wildcrafting Weeds: 20 Easy to Forage Edible and Medicinal Plants (that might be growing in your backyard!) gives you foraging and identification tips along with full color photos and recipes for using your foraged weeds. Be sure to check it out!
Now for the dandelion salve recipe!
Dandelion Infused Oil
Foraging for dandelions isn’t difficult, as they are one of the most widespread and easy-to-identify “weeds” there is. There are so many wonderful things to do with dandelions, as every part of the herb is both edible and medicinal, even the root.
This salve is made using locally foraged dandelions and is the perfect spring project.
The first step in making dandelion salve is to make dandelion infused oil. After you collect your dandelion flowers, it’s best to dry them for a day or two to remove the excess moisture.
I like to do this on my homemade drying screens, but you could also lay them out on a clean towel.
Our neighbor’s yard was completely covered with dandelions, so we asked if we could pick some! If you do this, just make sure to ask first and confirm that they haven’t been sprayed with anything toxic.
After your dandelions have dried a bit, put them into a jar and cover them with oil.
The size of the jar depends on how much oil you want to make.
A pint jar should yield about a cup of oil after straining, which is the amount you will need for this recipe. I wanted more oil than that, and I had a ton of dandelions, so I used quart sized jars.
The kind of carrier oil that you use is up to you.
I prefer to use a blend of equal parts olive, coconut, and sweet almond as carrier oils when making my dandelion infused oil, as they are all nourishing for the skin in different ways. If you use coconut oil, it’s helpful to melt it first.
Let your dandelion oil sit in a dark place for a week or two, but not too much longer than that as it can spoil pretty quickly.
Strain out the flowers using a cheesecloth so that you can really squeeze all of the dandelion goodness out. You will end up with a lovely golden oil!
Get recipes for food, drinks, infusions, and self-care using dandelion flowers, leaves, and roots in my ebook, Dandelion Recipes From Flower To Root!
Dandelion Salve Recipe
Making this dandelion salve is easy once you have your dandelion infused oil made. First, you will need to warm the oil in a double boiler.
You can create a makeshift double boiler by putting a small bowl or a glass Pyrex measuring cup over a pot with about an inch of simmering water.
Put the dandelion oil and beeswax into the small bowl or glass measuring cup, and heat until the beeswax completely dissolves into the oil, stirring occasionally.
Add the shea butter and stir until it dissolves, then stir in the optional essential oils.
Carefully pour the mixture into small jars or tins and let sit until the salve sets up completely.
This recipe makes about 12 ounces of salve total, or six 2 ounce tins.
How to Use Dandelion Salve
Dandelion flowers have pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, so this salve is good for all kinds of aches and pains. It is particularly good for sore and tired muscles and joints.
Dandelion salve is also soothing and moisturizing for dry, cracked, and itchy skin. It would also work well as a lip balm for chapped lips.
I really love how this dandelion salve turned out! It smells wonderful and is perfect on my dry hands and feet. It’s really quite easy to make, too.
Dandelions are such an amazing plant, it’s too bad that they are so often thought of as a weed! What is your favorite way to use dandelions in the springtime?
Want more herbal salve recipes? Here are 10 for you to include in your natural skin care routine!
More uses for Foraged Dandelion
Did you know there are over 50 ways to enjoy this amazingly versatile backyard “weed”? Among them are:
- Dandelion Root Muffins
- Dandelion Tea
- Dandelion Jelly
- Dandelion Cupcakes
- Dandelion Lotion Bars
- Dandelion Mead
- Roasted Dandelion Root Coffee
- Dandelion Pesto
- Dandelion Kombucha
- Dandelion Soap
- Dandelion Vinegar
Dandelion Salve
Ingredients
Dandelion Herbal Oil
- 1 cup dandelion flowers wilted for a day or so
- 1 ½ cups carrier oil approximately; I like to use a blend of equal parts extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and sweet almond oil.
Dandelion Salve
- 1 cup dandelion infused oil
- 1 ounce beeswax
- 1 ounce refined shea butter
- 12-24 drops essential oils of your choice lavender and sweet orange work well (optional)
Instructions
Dandelion Infused Oil
- Put the wilted dandelion flowers into a pint sized jar and cover them with the carrier oil of your choice. If you use coconut oil, it's helpful to melt it first.
- Let your dandelion oil sit in a dark place for a week or two, but not too much longer than that as it can spoil pretty quickly.
- Strain out the flowers using a fine mesh sieve and a cheesecloth so that you can really squeeze all of the dandelion goodness out.
Dandelion Salve
- Create a makeshift double boiler by putting a small bowl or a glass Pyrex measuring cup over a pot with about an inch of simmering water.
- Put the dandelion oil and beeswax into the small bowl or Pyrex, and heat until the beeswax completely dissolves into the oil, stirring occasionally.
- Add the shea butter and stir until it completely dissolves.
- Stir in the essential oils.
- Carefully pour the mixture into small jars or tins and let sit until the salve sets up completely.
Notes
I used coconut oil and olive oil. I melted the coconut oil, but the oil solidified again overnight. Do I need to start over?
I just made this am in the UK it turned out beautiful thanks so much for the recipe
Can I use dried dandelion for this? I live in Florida and we do not have dandelions
Yes, if you can find them. They are hard to find dried because they usually turn into puffballs!
Hi, was just wondering, are the 40g dandelions meant before or after drying them? ;-)
Thank you!
Where is the most economical place to purchase the tins?
We love this recipe and have made it before! We would like to make lip balm this year as well. Any difference to the recipe we should make?
Hi Dorothy! I’m so glad that you love the recipe! I would just double the amount of beeswax, as that makes a better lip balm. Hope that helps!
If a person has allergies to dandelions could this salve still be used?
if it is sneezing /hayfever allergy then yes if it is topical rash then no. your doc can do a allergy test to tell you which it is.
Would this Salve be good for eczema I have a 10 yr who has really bad eczema.
I’m just curious if I could dry my dandelions in my dehydrator for this purpose. My mom has really bad eczema on the palms of her hands and I would love to make this for her to see if it helps.
Yes, I do it that way
Hi, I am wondering if it is normal for the salve to look like it is separating as it cools. I used small glass jars and it looks like the salve has layers now. Otherwise, i am very happy with it. Thank you
Do you was h the Dandelions before drying them, I am concerned about animal waste
If they are in an area where there might be animal waste I would probably not harvest them at all. But you could give them a quick rinse and dry well if you want to be sure.
I made my own version, dried dandelions for 2 days. Filled a quart sealer then added pure virgin olive oil and set the jar in a pot of water on the stove and let It infuse for 2-3 hours. Strained with cheesecloth when done. In new clean quart sealer melted my beeswax in the pot on stove and added my infused oil. Then put in the small jam jars to cool and the salve turned out beautifully. Enjoyed all the info shared ! Thank you!
Hi ! I have read in other places to make the dandelion infusion in a sunny window (as I have done with other infusions) for 2 weeks. Why do you suggest a dark place? Thanks.
Always use a dark place the sun will ruin it
Did i read you have a book, i would like to buy one .Thanks
Timing is perfect for this post as I am currently in the process of making the dandelion oil. I have a question about the length of time for it to “sit”. I was following another recipe that says to leave it sit at least 4 weeks in a warm area. Yours says a week or two in a dark spot. Now I am at a loss…
Hi Cindi, because fresh dandelion flowers are used (not dried) I don’t like to let it sit for more than a couple of weeks as it can cause the oil to go rancid and mold may form on the surface.
Hi there! Do you put both the lavender and sweet orange oils together in this salve, or just either one or the other per batch.
Hi Sarah, I use both, but you can do it however you like!
I am making my first dandelion infusion with olive oil! I let the blossoms dry out for 2 days and then covered them in the oil with a lid. I check on them everyday and clean the lid. Keeping it dry as possible. What are signs that it is spoiling? I do smell a sweet smell but it’s a mix of the olive oil and how dandelions smell? There’s also no mold.
Hi Taylor, that sounds perfect! The main sign of spoiling is mold forming on the top.
I have extra dandelion oil. How long will this keep and do I store in the refrigerator? This is just th oil, after straining the dandelions. Thanks.
When using fresh flowers the oil won’t keep as long as when using dried. I would say a month or two, but no longer.
Can the oil be canned in a pressure cooker? I’ve read some comments that it can set up botulism and I want to make sure that any germs are killed since I will be using the salve on my infant granddaughter.
Thanks.
I’m not sure about that to be honest. The risk of botulism is very low here. That said, for other reasons I wouldn’t use this salve on an infant. Calendula salve without the addition of any essential oils would be a better choice.
How do you use coconut oil with the olive and sweet almond as your carrier oils, doesn’t it solidify? I would also love to know if anyone knows of an olive oil that doesn’t have a strong scent, I find most olive oils too strong and thus am reluctant to make too many infused oils as they take on that scent which isn’t always desirable? I also am reluctant to use Grapeseed oil as it’s all grown from GMO seed, isn’t it?
I melt the coconut oil first, then when it is blended with the other oils it has less of a tendency to solidify. I’m not sure of an olive oil without a scent, but you can just omit it if you’d like.
High oleic sunflower oil is a very good alternative to olive oil.
Olivari Grapeseed Oil is Non-GMO. Most products will say in the label ig they are non-GMO.
On the coconut oil, does it matter if it’s food grade? Liquid coconut oil or solid?
I use extra virgin coconut oil that is solid at room temperature. I just warm it a bit to melt before combining it with the other oils.
Where would I find the tins you used for making the dandelion salve?
Amazon or mountainroseherbs.com
Try
Specialtybottles.com
Hello! Another recipe has you infuse for 4 to 6 weeks. I only did a week, as per this post. My other infusions I do about 6. I just don’t know which is better, and I want the benefits. But I don’t want rancid oil either…. Thanks for and clarification!
I am wanting to use the salve as a muscle relaxer. What oils should I use? peppermint? mint?
not finding instructions for the dandelion oil?
Hi Allanna, the instructions for making dandelion oil is in the post itself.
I don’t use animal products. Is there a substitution for beeswax that would work? If not, that is okay. I will just poke around your site for other fun ideas.
Carnauba wax
Candelilla wax is a bit denser than beeswax, so you will have to adjust your DIY skincare recipes if you are substituting it for beeswax. It is recommended that you use half the amount of candelilla wax as beeswax since it has twice the stiffening powers
… could I use mango butter rather than shae butter? Excited for my yard to turn yellow with dandilion blooms!!
Yes, you can definitely substitute mango butter for the shea butter!
How long does this keep? Would like to make some now to have as Christmas gifts.
As long as the dandelion oil is used in a timely manner, the salve will keep for a year or more!
What is the shelf life?
As long as the dandelion oil is used in a timely manner, the salve will keep for a year or more!
What about a preservative that it doesnt get moldy
I have started infusing my dandelion oil. It doesn’t seem to have a very pleasant smell. But really the dried dandelions didn’t smell that great to me either. It’s almost like a grassy smell. Is that normal?
Hi Sarah, yes this is normal!
Dandelion fritters are excellent!