Calendula spiced lotion bars
The days are colder and shorter, the rain has been a constant and welcome companion the last few days, the winter garden is ready, and we’ve even lit the first fire of the season yesterday. I haven’t seen the sun in some days and have dug up my knitted sweaters from the bottom of my wardrobe… Is it too early to start preparing Yule / Christmas presents?
It’s not that I’m that well-prepared, and I usually wouldn’t begin thinking of what to offer to friends & family before the solstice itself. But it so happens that I have been working on some creative commissions and pieces lately that have really got my creativity bubbling. And among the many ideas that don’t make it to the actual assignments, are recipes I want to test just for fun. Cue finished preparations piling up on my shelves. Cue presents. Christmas presents.
Maybe you like to start planning and stocking up on your offerings ahead of time, maybe you’re like me and leave it all to the last minute. And maybe you like to squirrel up all the nice things and keep them for yourself (let’s be honest, we’ve all done that. I have a little guilty collection of things I’ve made / purchased for others and that I ended up clandestinely holding on to)! Whatever hat fits, today’s botanical project might bring you joy, whether you want to make these for yourself or for sharing (and I assure you, the quantities listed below should give you just enough to pamper others and yourself!)
But before we continue, a little note on ingredients:
These lotion bars call for Calendula (Calendula officinalis) infused olive oil. This might be something you have around if you make herbal skincare, since Calendula is not only a very easy-to-grow herb, but is also one of the most commonly used herbs to externally support the skin, due to its anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, and anti-fungal actions, among others.
Although I use olive oil as my carrier oil in the Calendula infusion, because that is what is most available to me in my bioregion, you may have used a different oil for your infusion, or even a blend of carrier oils. That’s fine! Use what you have!
If you don’t have a Calendula-infused oil ready to be employed in the bars but want to make them before Yule / Christmas, you can prepare an infused oil using the quick double boiler method. Herbal-infused oils made the folk way take about 6 weeks to be ready, but this quick method gives you a lovely oil in less than an hour. Here is a tutorial you can follow! Simply scroll down to Double Boiler Herb-Infused Oil.
If you don’t have any Calendula-infused oil, and don’t have the ingredients to make it, or just want to skip it altogether, you can too! Your lotion bars will have the same feel and consistency, just won’t have the skin health benefits of Calendula.
I also want to address the use of essential oils. Essential oils are something I avoid using in my herbalism practice. Not only the production of them is an incredible waste of plant material and raises sustainability issues, but I feel they also alienate folx from working with the whole herb. Herbs are very different in their whole form than the transformed version that is an essential oil. In these bars, I use a small amount of essential oils, mostly for scent and their warming qualities. I wouldn’t recommend using essential oils more than sparingly and, when for scent, to use small quantities that create a subtle fragrance that feels like a small luxury. You may even want to skip the essential oils altogether here, which is what I usually do too! If you want to indulge in a little sensory stimulation this season, add them in.
Okay — now that we walked through the ingredient note, let’s make these lotion bars!
Calendula Spiced Lotion Bars
These lotion bars are nourishing and moisturizing, and can be rubbed on your skin like a lotion, or rubbed between your palms to melt slightly before applying using your hands. The addition of Calendula makes them extra soothing and supportive if you’re dealing with some kind of skin inflammation. Because Autumn is in full swing and I’m getting a bit carried away by warming spices, these lotion bars are subtly scented with aromas we commonly associate with the season - cinnamon, anise seed and cloves. They’re the perfect pampering for the cold days ahead!
(makes approx 6 lotion bars)
Ingredients
1/4 cup Calendula (Calendula officinalis) infused olive oil
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup shea butter
1/2 cup grated beeswax
20 drops Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark essential oil (optional)
10 drops Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) bud essential oil (optional)
5 drops Anise (Pimpinella anisum) seed essential oil (optional)
Directions
In a double boiler, or in a small pan fitted inside a larger pan filled with some water, bring together the oils and shea butter, and mix thoroughly. Add in the beeswax and keep on mixing until the beeswax has completely melted.
Remove form heat and add in the essential oils, if using.
Gently pour the liquid into silicon moulds (you could use cupcake moulds instead, for example!) and set aside to cool down and harden.
Let cool completely, which may take 1 to 2 hours, before popping out of the molds.
Store in a jar or metal tin (like the ones you would use for a salve!), or wrapped in parchment paper, in a cool place, like a a bathroom self (if kept in a warm place, they may melt). They will keep for about 1 year, but you will probably use them before that!
Hope you enjoy making these! They’re so easy and make thoughtful gifts. I know I’ll be handing a few around (and saving one for me, too!) 🐿️
PS. Did you spot the incongruence between recipe and pictures? I used star anise (Illicium verum) in these pictures which, although quite similar in scent and flavor, is a different botanical than anise (Pimpinella anisum) seed, which is used in these bars. Yet, by looking at the pictures, you’ll get a pretty good idea of these bars’ whimsical scent!