Long summer days mean more sunshine (I hope!), and to celebrate the summer sun I thought it might be fun to highlight a very sunny flower: calendula, more commonly known as marigold! Not only is calendula lovely to grow in your garden, it adds a number of wonderful properties to soap. The herb has a long history of being skin soothing, and is great for people who want gentle additives in their soap. Because of its folklore of anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties, it’s also used topically (as an infusion or an extract) in acne and diaper creme formulations. Calendula petals are particularly versatile too, and I’ve used it the Sunshine Soap Cold Process tutorial and in the Infused Lip Balm tutorial. It’s my go-to oil infusion for any massage oils or tender skin care products. You can learn how to make your own calendula oil infusion here.
If you’re looking for an extract, we’ve got you covered too! Using both the calendula petals and calendula extract, you can make a skin-soothing oil infusion or super gentle calendula lotion. You can make most anything under the sun using this happy little flower =)
I ADORE calendula!! I make an infused olive oil with calendula, chamomile, and lavender for use in all of my soaps. And I’m in the process of creating a “premium” soap line right now using Bramble Berry clays and extracts. The combo of infused oil, natural clays, and extracts makes for an amazing bar of soap! ~Evie
Good morning, Evie!
That soap line sounds absolutely fantastic — especially with the herbally infused Olive Oil! If you have any pictures of this super skin-loving soap, we’d love for you to share it on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/BrambleBerry
Happy Soaping!
-Becky with Bramble Berry
“It’s also only of the only botanicals that doesn’t lose its color in soap, right? Why is that?”
Just guessing, as I don’t know this officially,but Calendula is high in anti-oxidants and the discoloration of herbs is due to oxidization.
Hi Michele!
That is our best guess as well (it’s still quite a mystery)! Because of the high amount of anti-oxidants in Calendula that it stays brighter, longer. If you come across any other research on why Calendula is so bright in soap, we’d love to see it.
Happy Soaping!
-Becky with Bramble Berry
I loooove Calendula. I make an infusion with Calendula and Chamomile for use in a skin cream that is just the best stuff ever.
Hi Michele!
Calendula is one of my favorite botanicals to use in soap and I know with the Chamomile it must make for a super skin-loving creme! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
It’s also only of the only botanicals that doesn’t lose its color in soap, right? Why is that?
Good morning, Bronwyn!
You are correct! Calendula is the only botanical that Anne-Marie has found that doesn’t lose it’s color while in soap (and that is why she loves using it). It is something about the nature of the calendula petals that prevents it from browning it in the soap. But, I’ll do a little more research and see what else I can come up with on why they don’t brown for you. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Hi Bronwyn!
Thank you for being so patient with us while we did a bit of research on the Calendula. It is actually quite a mystery to us, but our best guess is that the because Calendula is so high in anti-oxidants it tends to keep its color better and longer than any other herb or botanical out there. Herbs will brown because of the oxidation reaction and because of those high amount of anti-oxidants, Calendula stays much more colorful for longer. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry