I love the effects of a certain famous little pot of vapor rub, that's been around seemingly forever. But, when I was old
enough to read the label and understand EXACTLY what those ingredients meant, I stopped buying the stuff. I don't want it absorbed into my skin, much less do I want it inhaled into my lungs. So, I started looking around to see if there was a way to make it, at home. Every single recipe was either too wimpy or was coconut oil based - or both. Now, don't get me wrong, I love coconut oil! Just not anywhere near my face. It's commedogenic - tends to clog the pores, and I'm highly susceptible to that. Ugh. But, I make a lot of my own cosmetic, health, and hygiene products. Almost all, in fact. This is probably one of the easiest ones, and a perfect little something to have on hand, in the cold seasons, to comfort and ease the symptoms of a stuffy nose , or as we call it, in our family, a 'tuffy niffer'. Enjoy!
Carla's Vapor rub
Yield: 4 ounces
¼C good quality tallow
¼C shea butter or mango butter
25(kids)/50 to 70(adults) drops eucalyptus essential oil
20(kids)/40(adults) drops peppermint essential oil
15 lavender essential oil (kids)/ or 30 drops camphor essential oil (adults)
10(kids)/20(adults)drops lemon essential oil
Melt tallow and shea or mango butter in a bowl over hot (not boiling)
water. Cool to almost room temperature, and stir in essential oils.
Pour into a 4oz jar, or a couple smaller ones, cap, and store in a cool, dark place. To use, scoop out with a clean utensil, to avoid contamination. If you find that you're going through it slowly, put some in the fridge, or even the freezer, and only keep out what you think you'll use in a couple months.
Alternatives:
This recipe can also be whipped, until fluffy, once it reaches room temp.
If the shea or mango butters are just not in the budget, you can do it with all tallow, or if imagine even lard.
If you'd prefer a liquid form, substitute macadamia, jojoba, or set almond oil - or a blend, for both the tallow and the butter.
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