How to Make Calendula-Infused Oil – Two Methods
Calendula-infused oil is one of those DIY staples that earns its place on the shelf.
Made by steeping dried calendula flowers in a carrier oil, it produces a beautifully golden oil with a warm, gently floral scent, and it shows up in everything from body oils and hair treatments to handmade soaps and scrubs.
This post walks you through two methods: a slow cold infusion that takes four to six weeks but requires almost no effort, and a warm infusion that’s ready in a few hours when you’d rather not wait. Both produce a quality infused oil. It simply comes down to your schedule and how you like to work.
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What Is Calendula-Infused Oil?
Calendula-infused oil is an infusion that results from dried calendula flowers steeping in carrier oil.
The slow steeping process draws the plant’s natural compounds and golden pigment into the oil, gradually transforming a plain carrier oil into something richer in color, warmer in scent, and more complex.
It’s important to understand at the outset that an infused oil is not the same as an essential oil. Infused oils and essential oils are two distinctly different products.
An essential oil is a concentrated aromatic extract produced through steam distillation of various plant parts.
An infused oil is simply a carrier oil that has absorbed what it can from plant material over time. The result is a gentle, versatile oil that retains the warmth and character of calendula without the concentration or intensity of an essential oil.
Calendula-infused oil has a distinctly golden to amber color, a mild, gently floral and herbaceous scent, and a feel that varies with whichever carrier oil you choose as your base.
It can be used on its own as a body or hair oil, or as a direct substitute for plain carrier oil in DIY recipes. Anywhere you’d reach for sweet almond oil or jojoba, your calendula-infused version can step in and bring a little more character to the finished product.
Calendula is one of the most popular flowers to infuse, but the same slow-steeping method works beautifully with other botanicals too. Rose, dandelion, yarrow, lavender, and coffee each produce an infused oil with its own distinct color and character.
Calendula has been used in herbal and cosmetic preparations for centuries, and calendula-infused oil remains one of the most widely made DIY infusions. This is both because the flowers are easy to source and because the oil is genuinely useful once you have it. A single well-made batch will carry you through body oils, scrubs, balms, soaps, and cleansers.
What You’ll Need to Make Calendula-Infused Oil
Ingredients
- Dried Calendula Flowers: Fresh flowers contain moisture that can cause the oil to go rancid. Look for organic dried calendula petals from a reputable herb supplier.
- Carrier Oil of your choice: See the guide below for help choosing.
Equipment
- A clean, dry glass jar with a tight-fitting lid (a quart mason jar works well)
- Cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer
- A dark amber or cobalt glass bottle for storage
- Labels and a marker
- For warm infusion: a slow cooker or small saucepan, and a kitchen thermometer
Choosing Your Carrier Oil to Infuse Calendula Flowers
The carrier oil you choose affects the texture, scent, shelf life, and feel of your finished infused oil. It also affects how it performs in different DIY recipes. Here’s a quick comparison of five popular options:
|
Oil |
Texture |
Scent |
Best Use Context |
Shelf Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jojoba Oil |
Light, waxy |
Neutral |
Facial blends, long shelf life DIYs |
2+ years |
|
Sweet Almond Oil |
Medium, silky |
Very mild, slightly nutty |
Scrubs, general-purpose DIY recipes |
12 months |
|
Olive Oil |
Rich, heavy |
Earthy, mild |
Body balms, hair treatments, large batch DIYs |
12-18 months |
|
Avocado Oil |
Rich, nourishing |
Mild, earthy |
Winter body oils, thick balms |
12 months |
A few things to keep in mind:
- Olive oil is the most traditional choice and is widely used in herbal preparations. Its richness makes it ideal for body use but heavier for facial blends.
- Jojoba is technically a liquid wax, which gives it its exceptional shelf life and makes it a good pick if you’re planning to store your infused oil for a while.
- Sweet almond is a reliable all-rounder with a pleasant, neutral feel.
- And if you want something especially rich for a winter body oil or thick balm, avocado oil delivers.
Method 1: Cold Infusion (Slow Method)
The cold infusion is the traditional approach. It takes four to six weeks, but the process is almost entirely hands-off. You’re simply letting time do the work.
Many herbalists prefer this method because the gentle, slow extraction preserves the delicate aromatic qualities of the calendula.
Step 1: Fill Your Jar with Dried Calendula Flowers
Fill your jar loosely to about two-thirds full with dried calendula flowers. Don’t try to pack the flowers tightly. You want the oil to be able to circulate through the petals. Make sure your jar is completely clean and bone dry before you start. Any residual moisture is the enemy of a good infusion.
Step 2: Pour Carrier Oil Over the Flowers
Pour your chosen carrier oil over the flowers until they are completely submerged, with at least an inch of oil above the petals.
Gently push down any flowers that are floating above the oil line. Exposed plant material can introduce moisture and lead to spoilage. Seal the jar tightly.
Step 3: Infuse for Four to Six Weeks
Place the sealed jar in a warm spot that gets indirect light. A sunny windowsill works well, as does a consistently warm shelf.
Shake the jar gently every day or every other day to help the oil move through the plant material. Over the weeks, you’ll notice the oil gradually deepening to a rich golden amber color.
Four weeks is a good minimum.
Six weeks produces a fuller, more richly colored oil.
Longer is fine if you forget about it. Just watch for any signs of moisture or spoilage (cloudiness, off smell).
Step 4: Strain and Bottle
Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set it over a clean bowl or large measuring cup. Pour the infused oil through slowly, then gather the cheesecloth and gently squeeze to extract the remaining oil from the flowers. Discard the spent plant material.
Transfer the strained oil to your dark glass storage bottle, label it with the date and carrier oil used, and store in a cool, dark place.
Method 2: Warm Infusion (Quick Method)
The warm infusion is for those days when you’d rather have your oil ready by this afternoon than in six weeks.
It produces a comparable result as the slow infusion method, though some herbalists feel the slow method gives a slightly more aromatic oil. Either way, it’s a practical option when time is short.
Important: When using the warm infusion method, low and slow is the key. You are warming the oil, not cooking it. Too much heat will degrade the oil and the calendula. Keep your temperature between 100°F and 120°F (38°C–49°C) throughout.
Slow Cooker Method
Add your dried calendula flowers and carrier oil to a clean glass jar in the same ratio as the cold method – flowers to two-thirds full, oil to cover by at least an inch.
Place the sealed jar in your slow cooker and fill the slow cooker with water to about halfway up the jar. Set to the lowest setting (Warm).
Leave for 4–8 hours, checking the temperature occasionally with a kitchen thermometer. You’re aiming for 100°F–120°F. If it’s running hotter, prop the lid slightly.
Turn off and allow to cool before straining as described above.
Stovetop Double Boiler Method
Place a heat-safe bowl or smaller saucepan over a pot of gently simmering water. Add flowers and oil to the top vessel.
Keep the heat on the lowest setting. Monitor the temperature with a thermometer — 100°F–120°F is your target. Do not let it boil.
Maintain for 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat, cool, and strain as described above.
How to Know When the Calendula-Infused Oil Is Ready
Whether you used the cold or warm method, a well-made calendula-infused oil has a few telltale signs:
- Color: A rich golden to deep amber. The more concentrated your infusion, the deeper the color.
- Scent: Warm, gently floral, and slightly herbaceous. It should smell pleasant, not fermented, rancid, or musty.
- Clarity: The oil should be clear, not cloudy. Cloudiness or separation is a sign of moisture contamination.
If anything smells off or looks cloudy, discard the batch and start fresh. It’s not worth using compromised oil in your recipes.
How to Store Homemade Calendula-Infused Oil
Store your finished infused oil in a dark amber or cobalt glass bottle in a cool, dark place. A cabinet away from the stove or a drawer works well. Light and heat are the two things most likely to shorten the shelf life of your oil.
Shelf life will depend on the carrier oil you use.
Olive and avocado will give you around 12 months, jojoba considerably longer.
Always check for any change in scent before using.
A good-quality infused oil stored well should have a pleasant, consistent smell each time you open the bottle.
Label your bottles with the carrier oil used and the date you made or strained it. If you make a few batches with different carrier oils, labeling makes it easy to reach for the right one when you’re mixing up a recipe.
How to Use Calendula-Infused Oil
Once you have a bottle of calendula-infused oil ready, it earns its place in a lot of different places. Here are some of the most satisfying ways to put it to work.
As a Body Oil
Warmed between your palms and smoothed over damp skin after a shower or bath, calendula-infused oil makes a simple, fragrant body oil. The golden color and gentle floral scent make it feel like a small ritual rather than just moisturizing. Olive or avocado-based infusions feel especially rich for this.
In DIY Recipes
Calendula-infused oil can be used as a direct substitute for plain carrier oil in most DIY bath and body recipes. It adds both color and scent to the finished product.
Add it to homemade bath salts and sugar scrubs. Substitute it for carrier oils in any recipe for a deeper, richer color and scent.
As a Hair and Scalp Treatment
Massaged into the scalp before washing, calendula-infused oil makes a pleasant pre-wash treatment. It has a light, non-greasy feel when used with lighter carriers like sunflower or jojoba, which makes it easier to rinse out than heavier oils. Work it through the ends of dry hair as a conditioning treatment before shampooing.
As a Cleansing Oil or Makeup Remover
A small amount of calendula-infused oil on a cotton pad removes makeup gently. The oil dissolves without stripping, and the warm scent makes it a pleasant end-of-day step. Jojoba-based infusions work particularly well for this because of their light, non-greasy finish.
A Few Things to Know About Making Calendula-Infused Oil
- Always use dried flowers. Fresh calendula contains water, which introduces moisture into the oil and can cause the batch to go rancid or grow mold. Source dried petals from a reliable herb supplier.
- Keep equipment completely dry. Even a small amount of water in your jar or bottle can spoil an oil infusion. Dry everything thoroughly before you begin.
- Patch test before use. Calendula is in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. If you have known sensitivities to plants in this family — such as ragweed, chamomile, or chrysanthemums — do a patch test before applying the infused oil to a larger area.
- Do not ingest. This is a topical oil intended for external use in DIY projects and body care only.
- Keep out of reach of children and pets. Store your infused oil and any products made with it out of reach, and consult your vet before using any essential oil-containing products around animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh calendula flowers instead of dried flowers?
I strongly recommend using dried flowers to make infused oil. Fresh flowers contain moisture that can cause the oil to go rancid quickly. Dried petals are the reliable choice for a stable, long-lasting infusion.
How much calendula do I use per cup of oil?
Fill your jar loosely to about two-thirds with dried flowers, then cover completely with oil. There’s no need to measure precisely. The ratio is forgiving when making infused oil.
How long does calendula-infused oil last?
Typical shelf life is about 6 to 18 months, depending on which carrier oil you use for the infusion. Store in a dark glass bottle in a cool, dark place and check the scent before each use.
Can I add essential oils to homemade calendula-infused oil?
Yes, you can, though it’s generally best to add essential oils at the point of use or when mixing a specific recipe, rather than into your storage bottle. This keeps your base oil versatile for different projects. Remember to adhere to dilution ratios.
What can I do if my calendula-infused oil looks cloudy?
Cloudiness usually indicates moisture contamination. If it also smells off, discard it. If the cloudiness is because the oil was stored in a cold place, bring it to room temperature and see if it clears. Some oils can appear hazy when chilled.
Ready to Make Your First Batch?
Calendula-infused oil is a satisfying project whether you take the slow, six-week route or the quick afternoon version.
Once you have a bottle ready, you’ll find it showing up in recipe after recipe. It brings a warmth and richness to DIY bath and body projects that plain carrier oil simply can’t match.
If you’re looking for a great first recipe to use it in, this honey calendula hand wash is an easy next step. The infused oil is one of the key ingredients, and it comes together in just a few minutes once you have your base oil ready.
