If you haven't read Outlander… and thus the concept of a Outlander herbal salve makes no sense to you… I apologize. Pretend like this is just an herbal salve instead.
But if you have read Outlander (specifically Drums of Autumn, I believe) you may recall a scene in which Jamie and Clair spend time massaging each other's callused and worn hands with said herbal salve. What may have seemed like a quite small and unimportant moment (especially considering the tidal wave of activity in these books) caught me at just the right moment.
The holding of hands. The beeswax melting with the body heat. The aroma of herbs. The companionship and service to the other.
Swoon!
Anyway. As soon as I finished the passage, I promptly ran out to the summer garden to grab all of the herbs and flowers mentioned: yarrow, rose, chamomile, lavender, calendula, and comfrey. The result was the most beautiful basket of colors and scents and the romantic in me was head-over-heels. The homesteader in me was equally excited, but more at the idea of having an herbal salve stored up to balm our hands and elbows with through the dry, harsh winter. Ain't nobody want chapped hands while they're milking the cow.
It's the little things, my friends. The little things that give your spirit lift! Don't overlook them.
Outlander Herbal Salve
As with most herbal salves, this herbal salve requires letting the herbs and flowers steep for a long period of time. Plan on making in the summer and finishing the salve off on the fall. If you cannot find the fresh herbs, dried herbs can be used as well at half the amount.
You will need:
1 cup fresh comfrey
1 cup fresh calendula
1 cup fresh lavender flowers
1 cup fresh rose petals
1 cup fresh yarrow
1 cup fresh chamomile flowers
16 ounces sweet almond oil, olive oil, apricot kernel oil, or oil of choice
1 cup beeswax
- Combine all of the herbs in a large glass jar. Press them down to release some of the oils and condense them a bit into the bottom of the jar.
- Cover the herbs completely with the almond oil.
- Put a lid on the jar and place it in a dark cupboard for 4-6 weeks.
- After the herbs have steeped in the oil, strain them out and reserve the leftover oil. Make sure to spend time squeezing out all of the oil from the herbs so that we capture as much of the oil as possible.
- Combine the herb oil and beeswax in a double boiler. Heat over low, stirring, until the mixture is completely combined.
- Quickly pour the herbal salve into whatever containers you like let cool.
Might I encourage you to spend some time rubbing this herbal salve into your loved ones hands. Massage their knuckles gently. Rub our fingers along their palm. Use the base of your hand to press firmly up their forearm. Work the salve in until the beeswax melts and absorbs into the skin.
This isn't lotion, my friends.
This is Outlander herbal salve.
Savor it.
McKayla
Love this idea! I love pretty jars 💜💜
Susan Hemann
when the wax has cooled, how do you store it? also do you have to reheat it to use it?thank you
LazyTengu
Salves are much like lip balms. You store them on the shelf and pull them out to rub onto your skin whenever you’d need them.
Marina
So beautiful! I’m finding an empty basket right this minute to follow suit!
Hot tip (if you care to learn from my mistakes): DON’T squeeze the herbs when you’re straining them from the oil if you used fresh herbs. You don’t want any water getting in your herbal oil – it wont keep as long and it’s much more likely to mold. But if you dried your herbs (I often at least wilt mine to remove some water/risk of mold), squeeze away to get every last drop of precious oil! Thanks again for the beautiful inspiration!
Sue Rhea
Thank you for sharing. I haven’t read the Outlander books but this salve is something I will make and use.
Rachael
I am feeling this so much! I love your description about just slowing down and being two people caring for each other. It reminds me to slow down, enjoy the moment, and get out of my mind and back into my body. Thank you so much, Shaye!
Allison
Could I use borage in place of comfrey since they’re in the same family? I only have borage! ☺️
Andrea
Hello and happy winter! I just finished off this lovely salve. Thank you for this recipe. It’s been really beautiful to have, quietly infusing, on my shelf. I have recently poured into 3oz. metal containers (the shallow & wide sort) to give as gifts. I’m very familiar with salves and know that you need to work the finished product a bit with your fingertips to warm it up for application – but this salve is a bit harder (and takes a wee bit more effort) than I’m used to. Could I have used too much beeswax? hmm…
Has anyone found any cardboard balm tubes that are of good quality and don’t leak? I think this salve would be easier to roll/glide on the body as opposed to digging it out of a tin. Any troubleshooting tips are greatly appreciated. 🙂
Warning
Oh boy Shaye… Infusing fresh plant material in oil is a BIG no no!!! This is DIY salve-making for beginners: Oil and water does NOT mix and the water is a source of contamination.
The water that remains in your fresh flowers is a recipe for mold and bacteria, not a recipe for a salve! I wonder if you actually used your infused oil after your recommended 4 – 6 week period? Because if you had, I suspect you would have seen the mold and scum growing with your own eyes.
Please people, if you are going to give this recipe a go, follow the standard rules for salve making and DRY YOUR PLANT MATERIAL FOR AT LEAST 3 DAYS FIRST!!!
Also, the ratio of beeswax is INCREDIBLY high for a salve (anyone making this salve with THAT MUCH beeswax is going to end up with a rock hard lump). You have recommended 1 part beeswax to 2 parts oil, but for a salve it should be more like 1 part beeswax to 5 parts oil… i.e. for 16oz of oil, you need LESS THAN a third of a cup of beeswax.