All-Natural Vapor Rub Recipe
Ugh, it’s cold and flu season. I have a rotten cold, which is why I haven’t been around as much as usual. I suppose it’s not a terrible time of year to snuggle in and watch about 20 movies in a row (give or take), but when you are hit hard and need a little relief from chest pain and cough there is nothing like camphor and menthol, otherwise known as the active ingredients in commercially purchased vapor rub.
Always one to make the most natural of just about anything (check out the Natural Skincare Series for more natural recipes), I thought that making my own might be just what the doctor ordered. If you would like to make a nice natural version of the stuff, here is the recipe. This makes 3 x 4 oz tins.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 cup coconut oil
- 3/4 cup grated beeswax
- 35 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 30 drops mint essential oil
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
- 15 drops rosemary essential oil
- 10 drops camphor essential oil
Make it!
Melt the oils and wax over a double boiler. Stir in essential oils. Pour into metal tins and let set. Re-melt to add more essential oils if you want it a bit stronger.
To Use:
Rub balm on your chest to help sooth congestion and cough. Rub under nose for stuffy nose and sore skin from scratchy tissues. Have someone rub some on your feet just because it feels good to get a foot rub when you have a rotten cold.
Thank you so much for this recipe. I use essential oils all the time and they really work. I order mine online from Young Living Essential Oils.
Yours in art,
Pamela
Thanks for sharing the recipe and all the others that I have seen on your blog page. I have a quick question ~ When the recipe calls for coconut oil, is the measurement in the semi-solid state or after it is liquidfied? I’m never sure
Hi Deborah, you are very welcome!
I measured it for this recipe in the solid state but really packed it into the measuring cup.
This is fantastic! My daughter is suffering a bad cold right now, and we just bought the ‘other’ kind :-(
I would love to give the all natural rub a try! Do you know how long it lasts shelf-life wise?
Thanks so much for sharing!
How long does this last for?
Hi Cerena, I can’t be 100% sure, but since coconut oil is antifungal and antibacterial as is the lavender and rosemary oils, it should preserve the rub for a while. I would say that if you keep it in a fairly cool and dark place, perhaps 6 months to a year. I would just keep a eye (and nose) out for any strange colour changes or odours. If you notice anything that doesn’t look or smell right, throw it away and make another batch. Thanks for stopping by.
Ahhh this is perfect for flu season! I’m so excited to make this!
Rub some on the bottom of your feet when you have a cough, I swear it calms a cough! Tried & true! My 11 year old will ask for it to be able to go back to sleep on nights she has a cough. W*O*R*K*S!!!!
What a wonderful idea. I am going to try this one. Thank you for sharing x
lavender is a super disinfectant…should last at least a year. BTW lavender, red clover, and chamomile make a great restful tea that can assist in curing infections and also will make you sleep. Be carefu drinking this then driving though.
Is there something to use in place of the lavender? I’m highly allergic to it but want to try to make my husband his own “Vicks” because he uses the stuff religiously.
Allison, just leave the lavender out. It will not change it’s effectiveness.
Sweet. Thank you!
This is something I never thought I would be making myself, but I’m going to give it a try. Thanks for the recipe.
Are the rosemary & camphor oils necessary?
Hi Leslie, rosemary – no, but the camphor is the active ingredient in Vapo Rub.
hello there
Thanks for this wonderful recipe. Please tell me, is it safe to be used when pregnant?
Hi Karen, I have read that there are certain essential oils to stay away from while pregnant such as camphor and eucalyptus. I’m not sure what the reasons are so I would talk to one of your practitioners about it. While I can’t speak to it’s safety for you, I made these up while pregnant myself and had no issues.
Thanks very much for your advice Stevie.
Can you please tell me where I would find the tins for this or what is an alternative. Thanks
I love this idea!! If any one need some of the best Essential Oils on the market contact me or go to Doterra.com….. THESE OILS ARE AMAZING!!! ..VERY LOW SHIPPING IF YOU CONTACT ME [email protected] Enjoy
Is this safe for toddlers/infants?
Hi Tiffany, The ingredients in this rub are more natural versions of what is in the commercial one. The commercial one has camphor and so does this, but the store bought version has been tested and this is an untested home recipe. The oils and waxes are quite safe on anyone, but it would be best to check with you health care provider as with the use of all essential oils. Essential oils can be powerful and it’s hard to know how any one person will react. I hope this helps!
Hi Joanie, I found some 4 oz tins here http://amzn.to/1aKFo48
What other oil would work with this? I’m allergic to olives.
Where can i purchase all these Oils at. Would you get them at Body and Bath in stores like that or Walmart ..
The recipe calls for “mint” essential oil. What kind of mint? I’m guessing peppermint but want to be sure. Thanks
Pegg, choose what you love. Peppermint is fine, so is spearmint. I use a mint medley that is a combination of both.
I have a question – I’m highly allergic to anything MINT! Is there anything else I can use in place of this oil? I’m also wondering where is the best place to purchase these oils if you can’t do it online? I live in Minneapolis, MN and am willing to go to a brick and mortar store if there is any close to me.
Thanks.
Hi Yvonne, leave out the mint then for sure. It should work just fine without it. I will add some links to where you can buy the oils online as well. Just click the essential oil names above to find them.
This is pretty awesome! As an avid vicks vapo rub user I love this all natural alternative. Thanks for sharing the recipe :)
Yes, me too Tracey!
What a great idea! Excuse me I have to Pin this ASAP
Thanks for sharing…I’m a Vicks girl!
Is there a vegan alternative to beeswax that I could use? It seems like an important ingredient so I wasn’t sure if just leaving it out was an option.
Hi Collin, yes, you can try Candelilla Wax http://amzn.to/1bbFWwu
How young would you recommend this dilution to be safe for?
Hi Kristen, please have a look at my response to Tiffany above. I just can’t say how any person or child would react to essential oils, but as I explained there, this has the same active ingredient at Vick’s, but more natural alternatives to the other ingredients.
I was wondering if there is an alternative to coconut oil because my daughter is highly allergic to coconuts
I’m wondering how long it will keep. Without going rancid?
Can I use it my 6 months old baby? Do you have any idea?
Hi Nihan, I’ve mentioned in the comments a few times that I can’t recommend the use of essential oils for any particular child as I have no idea what they might react to, but this recipe is a more natural version of the one sold in stores which is intended to be used on children. This recipe is my homemade version and not tested in a lab so proceed with that in mind. I would suggest that you discuss it with your health care provider to be safe.
I made this a few weeks ago and since I couldn’t find camphor at my local health store, I substituted tea tree oil. I rub my daughter’s feet with this almost every night before bed, then put socks on her. The nights I do this, she sleeps well and doesn’t wake up coughing (she is waiting to see an ENT to get ear tubes due to bad drainage – coughs frequently when laying down). If I forget to do this, she wakes up coughing. This is a life saver for us. For us, we don’t even miss the camphor :)
Just found this vaporub recipe. Thank you! Rosemary –I am allergic to it. Can something else be used instead? Or should I just leave it out?
Just leave it out, Deborah. It should still work well.
What, other than the melting point, would happen if I left out the beeswax? Does it change the effectiveness?
Please and thank you!
Hi puresilverstyle, the wax holds the balm together (otherwise it wouldn’t become a solid) and also serves to hold moisture on the body where it is applied.
Hi,
I am glad to have found this, but I am wondering if you have any suggestions as to an alternative to coconut oil. I am severely allergic to coconut and tree nuts. All these sort of healthy/natural rubs contain it and I don’t know what to do about it. Any ideas?
I showed this to my girlfriend last night and it made sense
Just found your recipe and already have a question. How many 3×4 containers will this recipe make? Thanks!
Hi Carrie, try olive oil but you may have to adjust the beeswax content.
TheSweetSnazzoo – this makes 2 cups or 16 oz. If each tin is 4oz it will make 4 of them.
I’ve read a lot about Rosemary and Eucalyptus oils not being safe for kids under age 10. It can slow respiration in some children due to the constituent 1,8-cineole.
I would have to agree with you, Emily. I have done some reading about it as well and there is varying research on the ages and which oils, but I would say that eucalyptus, rosemary, and camphor should be avoided with young kids.
Also for when the kids have a cough you could rub the bottoms of there feet with this and the coughing will stop in about 20 min. That is the greatest trick of all.
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There are other things to use for coconut oil-Cocoa butter, Kokum butter,Mango butter and shea butter also a natural vegan was is emulsifying wax but it is not as firm as beeswax.