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DIY Simple Salve: An All Purpose, All Natural Ointment and Carrier Oil

Avatar for Gaye Levy Gaye Levy  |  Updated: November 30, 2021
DIY Simple Salve: An All Purpose, All Natural  Ointment and Carrier Oil

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It has been a year since I first proposed that you ditch the petroleum jelly in favor of a more natural DIY salve.  At the time, I named the salve I came up with “Plain Ole’ Salve”.

During the ensuing year, I have turned to this easily made salve over and over again.  Not only is it a superb moisturizer, but because it is fragrance free, it has become the perfect base for all of my many essential oil concoctions.

DIY Simple Salve - Backdoor Survival

Making your own Simple Salve is a cinch and it only takes a few minutes using just three ingredients. Here, once again, is the recipe and directions.

How to Make BDS Simple Salve

Those of you familiar with  Miracle Healing Salve already know how to make Simple Salve.  Basically you take the same recipe and leave out the essential oils.  That’s it.

But there is more.  You can make a more budget-friendly, colorless and odorless version by using “pure” olive oil instead of extra virgin olive oil.  I actually prefer it.  At the opposite end of the spectrum, you can use a combination of oils, mix and match, such as Jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil and more.  The options are limitless.

Backdoor Survival Simple Salve – The Recipe

Ingredients:
1  Cup Coconut Oil
1  Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Pure Olive Oil
5 to 5 1/2 Tbl. Organic Beeswax Pastilles

Containers:
8 x 2 ounce jars (mason jars or ointment jars) ** OR **
4 x 4 ounce jars (mason jars or ointment jars)

Directions:
1.  Put a pot of water on the stove to simmer.  While the water is heating, put the coconut oil, olive oil and beeswax pastilles in a heatproof jar or measuring cup.

DIY Simple Salve - Backdoor Survival

2.  Set the jar filled with the coconut oil, olive oil, and wax into the water and leave it there until it melts, giving it a stir from time to time.  You want a slow, gentle melt so take your time.  It could take 15 or 20 minutes depending on the temperature of the water bath.

DIY Simple Salve - Backdoor Survival

3.  Pour the melted oils into each of the smaller jars and allow to cool.

4.  Set the jars aside for up to 24 hours.  Although the salve will start to firm up within minutes, it takes at least 12 hours to complete the firming process.  If you are in a hurry, you can refrigerate the salve and it will solidify in just a couple of hours.

DIY Simple Salve Cooling - Backdoor Survival

5.  Store in a cool location or even in the refrigerator.  The shelf life should be six months but in my home, it does not last that long.

Note:  For a budget friendly version, skip the coconut oil and use two cups of pure olive oil (I use the Kirkland brand).  If you do this, I suggest adding an extra teaspoon of beeswax pastilles.  The therapeutic qualities of coconut oil will be gone but this will still create an amazing salve.

How to use BDS Simple Salve

First and foremost, BDS Simple Salve makes it easy peasy simple to blend essential oils into a custom salve.  By scooping some salve into a small jar (I like these 1/2 ounce jars that run about 50 cents each), you can add a few drops of this and a few drops of that to come up with your own healing concoction.

In effect, you are using you homemade Simple Salve as a carrier oil.

There are a few ways to do this.  The first, and the easiest, is to scoop some Simple Salve into the palm of your hand, add a few drops of essential oil, the apply the oil topically.  The second method, as I have described above, is to scoop some into a jar, add your oils, and stir like crazy to mix them up.

DIY Simple Salve - Backdoor Survival

The third method, and the one I prefer, is to first melt the Simple Salve in your small container of choice.  After it has reached its melting point, add your essential oils, cap the jar and shake it up to blend.  After blending, take the cap off, and allow the enhanced salve to set up and cool before using.

Note: I use a microwave but you can also place your jar of salve in a hot water bath to melt. As long as you do not overheat the salve and take it just to melting point, you can add your oils right away without harming them.

That is really all there is to it.  After dropping a roller ball filled with precious oils and breaking it to bits, I have begun to use Simple Salve as a base carrier oil instead of fractionated coconut oil.  That is not to say that I don’t use FCO for some things, but Simple Salve has become my carrier oil of choice.

The Final Word

With this article, I am renaming Plain Ole’ Salve BDS Simple Salve” or just “Simple Salve”.  Simple Salve better describes the this very special blend of oils and also reflects the simplistic nature of this all-natural, all-purpose, salve.

Where do we go from here?  I am glad you asked.

Over the past eighteen months, I have created specialized essential oil salves that I use for blood pressure management, psoriasis, arthritis, charley horses, colds and flu, and common cuts, scrapes, burns and “owies”.  Each starts with a base of Simple Salve and while some of these recipes have already been shared, others will be showing up soon.

Why not be ready with a batch of Simple Salve set aside and ready to go?  It really is wonderful stuff!

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye

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Below you will find  everything you need to make your own Simple Salve.

Beeswax Organic Pastilles, Yellow, 100% Pure 16 Oz:  I ordered the white pastilles but have since learned that the natural yellow pastilles are better.  That said, the difference may not be discernable – just be sure that what you purchase is cosmetic grade.

Coconut Oil:  Coconut Oil from Tropical Traditions is my preferred coconut oil.  I love it so much I purchased a 5 gallon tub.  Really, I did!  I find it very silky to work with and love the taste when used in cooking.  Note that no refrigeration is required and although it solid at room temperature, it melts at 76 degrees.  The Nutiva brand from  Costco works well too.

Kirkland Brand “Pure” Olive Oil:  This is the brand I use.  When I can, I purchase it at Costco but it is also available online.

White Plastic Jar with Dome Lid 2 Oz (12 Per Bag):  I chose to use these small ointment jars rather than Mason jars for my salve.  I also have similar jars in the 1 ounce size and 1/4 ounce size (my favorite for mixing up various salve and essential oil concoctions).

Ball Jar Crystal Jelly Jars: Used with the optional plastic lids, these are perfect for your DIY Simple Salve.

Mason Jar Storage Caps Set of 8: These are fantastic!  These plastic lids screw onto a mason jar and are perfect in the pantry or to cap you salves.  There is both a regular and a wide mouth version.  I can’t believe I have not mentioned these before!

Spark Naturals Health & Wellness Kit - Backdoor Survival

Spark Naturals Essential Oils:  One of my favorite SN products is the “Health and Wellness Kit” which includes all of my favorites plus everything you need to make my custom salves.   Be sure to use the discount code BACKDOORSURVIVAL to receive a 10% discount.

NOW Foods Essential Oils:  I use essential oils from Spark Naturals.  For healing purposes, I feel they are superior.  On the other hand, NOW Foods has decent essential oils at a budget price.  Here are a few to get you started:  NOW Foods Rosemary Oil, NOW Foods Peppermint Oil and Now Foods Lavender Oil.

Glass Droppers, Pack of 6: I bought a package of these and loved them.  When I went to re-order, I accidentally ordered plastic instead glass droppers.  Learn from my mistake.  The price is the same go get the glass ones.

flower

Essential Oils Desk Reference 6th Edition:  I thought long and hard before purchasing this book myself, but once I did, I was so grateful I took the leap.  The information is cross referenced in many ways making it easy to find what you are looking for.  When searching for a particular remedy, you may see multiple oils listed and any will work but they are presented in order of typical efficacy.  The nice thing is that if you do not have #1 on hand, you can move down the list.  I have found the recommendations to be spot on.

Help support Backdoor Survival. Purchases earn a small commission and for that I thank you!

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9 Best Essential Oils for Your Survival Kit | Backdoor Survival

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59 Responses to “DIY Simple Salve: An All Purpose, All Natural Ointment and Carrier Oil”

  1. Regarding your BP salve. My essential oils book says to avoid rosemary when dealing with high blood pressure. Rosemary is for low BP. I have borderline high BP, and am interested in your salve, but not sure of rosemary.

    • As far as Rosemary EO, Rosemary itself is a great stress reliever. On the other hand, I have learned that the use of Rosemary can actually raise BP in some individuals but not others. For that reason, I now tend to leave it out except during particularly stressful periods.

  2. Gaye,
    Do you by chance a good recipe for homemade lip balm? I tried you blood pressure recipe and love it.
    Thanks for the good results of your experiments.
    DJ

    • I just started using castor oil myself so I do not have a lot of experience with it. It is very thick and sticky which leads me to believe the salve will not be as silky smooth as with the coconut oil. If I were going to experiment, I would substitute just a portion the coconut oil, or instead, perhaps 1/3 to 1/4 of the olive oil.

  3. I am looking for something to help with outbreaks on my legs and arms. The itching is driving me crazy!
    Dermatologist says it is eczema which can be controlled but not cured. I don’t subscribe to that theory. I have even made ointment with coconut oil, cocoa butter and some herbal pot. It has helped a bit with the itching, but one area heals and another breaks out. HELP!!

    • Have you tried Aloe Vera gel for the itching? Something we are playing with relative to Shelly’s psoriasis (which flared up again) is Hemp Seed Oil covered with plastic wrap overnight then followed up with organic ACV in the morning. It is all but gone after just 2 weeks.

  4. Could I use all coconut oil instead of olive or is a different oil required? I look forward to trying this on my palms which have something like plaque psoriasis although the Drs never gave me a definite answer. I am a diabetic of 35yrs and have been looking for something organic with positive results. Thanks for the great information.

  5. Wow! I googled using essential oils for high blood pressure and TADA!!! your site came up and within an hour I made your recipe for Simple Salve so I can use it for my unexplained, recent occurence of high blood pressure, and……also saw some comments about neuropathy which got me totally excited because I am trying to find something to help the constant pain of my peripheral neuropathy. I am so excited to try both remedies as I am all for not using drugs to alleviate these problems and I love, love using essential oils for cleaning solutions and pesky pests! Thank you for all the wonderful things you share.

    • No, however you could use shea butter as a substitute for some of the coconut oil. The beeswax is needed to thicken up the salve and help it set up. As an alternative, you could also use Carnauba wax.

  6. I started making your salve, after UrbanSurvival a few year’s ago (Dec 2013) , had comments and a link to your site. It was then called “miracle healing salve”. I still make it the way the article at the time suggested, Vit E (optional), rosemary, peppermint and lavender essential oils. I do not make it plain but will with other recommendations you may suggest for other healing. The original “healing” salve is a wonderful superb salve. I have given it to people I know using it for eczema (using ea tree oil)with great success. Thin skin brought on by diabetes to assist the body in giving the skin back moisture it needs in the affected areas. Family members with fungus issues. It has proven to be a generally good healing salve and the oils used give it great scent. Next I want to try your arthritis salve as family and my hands are feeling the pain! Can you tell me where to get the roller ball bottle? I will start using the glass mason jars as I prefer glass to plastic. Thanks for your experimenting to bring us such great naturally healing salves.

    • Thank you for the feedback and kind words. I have tried all types of roller balls and find that these cobalt blue ones from Amazon are the best: Link

      Some of the others I have tried work okay for awhile but then the roller ball falls out and I have a mess as well as wasted oils on my hands.

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