Ummm... Can I save moldy salve?

Fist, let me put Rose Mountain Herbs' instructions for making safe herbal oils. In that article is a link to how to safely turn the oil into a salve. Which does not mention vitamin E as a preservative. Hmm.

I have been making salve for 18 years. Last year's batch of comfrey and plantain salve has developed what may be mold. This has never happened to me before. I have had salves last more than 2 years in the past.

I used the heat method to infuse the oil.
I used more beeswax than in most previous batches. (1pt beeswax to 4lt infused oil)
Water did not get in the salve.
Vitamin E as a preservative is not on the ingredients list, I think I was out of it.

Can it be filtered and saved? Is it trash?

EDITED FOR CORRECT LABELING and clarity.
Firstpic is 2023 salve, still good(with vitamin E).
Second pic is problem salve.

Is the mold throughout  and smelling?

The second photo looks greener to me but I don't see spots of mold?

I don't use vit E in my salves but I jar them up in small jars and keep the extras in the refrigerator ....and I have kept an old batch out for 2 or three years previously until used up with no vit e or mold.

My recipe sounds similar...do use dried plantain leaves?  I read that somewhere and I do dry them first.   If fresh that could be a source of excess water?

I had to correct the above the above post.
I always use dry material in my salves
The first pic is the good jar is from 2023.
The second jar is from 2024, and looking suspicious. It is darker. Maybe it was infused for more time? There are discolored spots. It does not yet smell "off". The discoloration is on the salve, the top, and down the sides of the jar. Discoloration does not appear to be below the surface of the salve.
I don't have room in my fridge to keep them in there.

I also don't use vitamin e. But, I've never had a salve do that. I don't think I'd feel comfortable using it.

I would toss it.  My comment is not based upon anything other than my personal fears.

Joylynn Hardesty wrote:I had to correct the above the above post.
I always use dry material in my salves
The first pic is the good jar is from 2023.
The second jar is from 2024, and looking suspicious. It is darker. Maybe it was infused for more time? There are discolored spots. It does not yet smell "off". The discoloration is on the salve, the top, and down the sides of the jar. Discoloration does not appear to be below the surface of the salve.
I don't have room in my fridge to keep them in there.

Do you have any more of the 2024 batch to compare?

I've had some that green but no dark patches and I wonder if they are unfiltered plant material?
What do you strain through...mesh or coffee filters?

I guess it's that time of year where it's easy enough to make some more but it would be too bad to throw it out if there's nothing really wrong....maybe remove some of the dark areas to a plate or something and see of it grows anything? 🫤

I have 2 jars left. They both have this problem. Sigh. I just did a new batch today, on the stove. I warmed it for 1 1/2 hours, below boiling point. It came out very light green. I usually heat it in the crockpot for 24 hours, and it comes out darker. Presumably more potent. Weird.

Oh, I strain through coffee filters.