Elderflowers make a beautiful oil that can be used in skincare recipes.
Elder flowers have been used for thousands of years for their brightening, toning, and beautifying properties. They are astringent and anti inflammatory, helping to tighten pores, leaving skin feeling and looking softer, brighter. The oil can also help with muscle spasms and cramping.
You could, like many of our ancestors, use the oil alone, as a face oil. Or you could use the elderflower oil in other recipes like face creams and body butters.
The first step is to make the elderflower oil.
Elderflower Oil
The first step is to make the elderflower oil. Elderflowers are delicate by nature so I prefer to use the solar (some folks call it the slow or cold method) infusion method. Fill a clean glass jar half full with dried elderflowers. Cover the elderflowers with a carrier oil, up to the top of the jar. Apricot and jojoba oils are good choices as they do not have a strong scent and both are great for the skin on their own.
Put a lid on the jar and label it with ingredients and the date. Then place in a warm place for 4-6 weeks. At the end of the 4-6 weeks strain the herbs through cheesecloth into another clean glass jar.
You now have the infused elderflower oil to use in recipes, like the Elderflower Salve recipe below.
Elderflower Salve Recipe
1. Measure the elderflower oil into a boiler and add the beeswax and gently melt over low heat.
2. Once the beeswax is melted remove from heat and add the shea butter. It will slowly melt.
3. Give the oil mixture a few minutes to cool and then add the optional essential oils. Stir to combine.
4. Pour into clean jars. Carefully put the lids on the jars, this helps to keep the scent of the essential oils escaping. Place the jars in the refrigerator to cool, this helps the shea butter cool properly so that it does't bloom later. Blooming shea is when it forms little white fat crystals, it's harmless and also avoidable if cooled quickly after melting.
Enjoy!