Call me over-prepared, but yes, I'm making vapor rub in October, when it happens to be 75 degrees outside! I grew up using Vick's Vapor Rub, and there's just something about the smell that is comforting when I have a cold or cough. Due to the fact that OTC vapor rub contains petroleum derivatives, and the camphor in it can sometimes be too strong to use on kids, I have been wanting to make my own for a long time. I finally found the perfect base for the recipe over at Home Hearted - Madalyn's Natural Vaseline Recipe has an amazing texture and blends right into the skin without leaving a greasy feel. I simply added varying amounts of essential oils to the recipe in order to make the Baby/Kids and Adult versions. The smell is just as comforting to me as Vick's Vapor Rub always has been, and I'm elated to have a vapor rub on hand that I can use on myself and on the kids without having to worry about the presence of any nasty ingredients. Thanks, Madalyn, for the awesome Vaseline recipe!
According to an article on essential oils from the University of Minnesota, "As a rule of thumb, essential oils should be diluted in a carrier substance (vegetable or nut oil, or water) at no greater concentration than 3-5%. That means if you have one teaspoon (5cc) of carrier, you would add 3 drops of pure essential oil. This would make a 3% solution that could be used on a portion of the body...For infants, using a 0.25% solution is recommended (.5% for toddlers)." I used this information in the formulation of the following rubs.
Vapor Rub For Kids
2 Tbsp olive oil
1.5 Tsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp Vitamin E oil
1/2 tsp beeswax
2 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil (or less)
2 drop Peppermint Essential Oil (or less)
Directions: Place all ingredients in a microwave-safe glass bowl or cup and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, or until beeswax is melted. Remove from microwave and add the essential oils. Quickly pour into a tin or small glass jar. **For the Baby Version: Add only 1 drop of Eucalyptus oil and 1 drop of Peppermint oil.**
Vapor Rub For Adults
2 Tbsp olive oil
1.5 Tsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp Vitamin E oil
1/2 tsp beeswax
24-30 drops essential oils (a combination of Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Clove)
Directions: Place all ingredients in a microwave-safe glass bowl or cup and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, or until beeswax is melted. Remove from microwave and add the essential oils. I added approx. 18 drops Eucalyptus, 8 drops of Peppermint, and 4 drops of Clove. Quickly pour into a tin or small glass jar.
The recipes will make approximately 1 2-oz tin. **Please note that the scent is very strong when you first put the essential oils into the mixture, but it diminishes substantially upon drying.**
Looks great! Thanks for shout out : )
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