Making mullein salve involves infusing dried mullein leaves or flowers in a carrier oil, then thickening that oil with beeswax to create a spreadable balm. The standard ratio is 1 part beeswax to 4 parts infused oil by weight, which produces a smooth, medium-firm salve that holds its shape at room temperature. The whole process takes about a day of mostly hands-off work, plus time to infuse your oil beforehand.
Why Mullein Works as a Salve
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) contains saponins, flavonoids, vitamin C, and a group of compounds called phenylethanoid glycosides that give it anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. When you infuse the plant material in oil, these compounds transfer into the oil and can be applied directly to skin.
Traditionally, mullein salve is used for minor skin irritations, small burns, hemorrhoids, and dry or chapped skin. Its emollient quality helps soften and protect irritated areas. Mullein combined with garlic has also shown promise for wound care, and mullein-infused oil on its own is a well-known folk remedy for earache. Two clinical trials involving over 250 children found that an herbal ear oil containing mullein-family ingredients reduced ear infection pain as effectively as a standard anesthetic ear drop. If you plan to use mullein oil in the ear canal, it needs to be warmed to room temperature first, and the eardrum must be intact.
What You Need
Gather these supplies before you start:
- Dried mullein leaves, flowers, or both: About 1 cup of loosely packed dried plant material per cup of oil. Fresh mullein introduces moisture that can cause mold, so always dry it thoroughly first.
- Carrier oil: Olive oil is the most common choice and has a two-year shelf life. Jojoba oil and fractionated coconut oil both last two years or longer and resist going rancid, making them good alternatives if you want a lighter feel or plan to store the salve for a while.
- Beeswax: Pastilles (small pellets) melt faster and measure more easily than a block.
- Fine straining material: Cheesecloth, cotton tea bags, coffee filters, or even a paper towel all work. This step is critical with mullein because the plant is covered in fine hairs (trichomes) that can irritate skin.
- A double boiler or slow cooker
- Small tins or jars for storage
Step 1: Infuse the Oil
You have two options here, and the one you choose depends on how much time you have.
Cold Infusion (2 to 6 Weeks)
Pack your dried mullein into a clean glass jar and cover it completely with oil, leaving about an inch of headspace. Seal the jar and place it in a sunny windowsill. Shake it every day or two. After two to six weeks, the oil will have taken on a golden or greenish color and a mild herbal scent. This slow method preserves heat-sensitive compounds, including volatile oils that can be altered by high temperatures.
Heat-Assisted Infusion (4 to 8 Hours)
Place your dried mullein and oil in a double boiler or slow cooker on the lowest heat setting. You want the oil warm to the touch but never simmering. Hot temperatures burst plant cells and release compounds faster, but they also degrade some of the more delicate volatile oils. Keep the heat gentle and let it go for four to eight hours, stirring occasionally. A slow cooker on its “warm” setting is ideal because it holds a steady, low temperature without much attention.
Step 2: Strain Thoroughly
This is the step that matters most with mullein specifically. The entire plant is covered in tiny, hair-like trichomes that can cause skin irritation in some people, though sensitivity varies. If any of those hairs end up in your finished salve, they can cause itching or redness exactly where you’re trying to soothe.
Strain your infused oil through a fine-weave material. Cheesecloth works if you fold it into several layers. Cotton tea bags and coffee filters catch finer particles. Some people strain twice, first through cheesecloth to remove the bulk plant material, then through a coffee filter to catch remaining hairs. Squeeze the cloth gently to extract as much oil as possible, then discard the spent plant material.
Step 3: Combine Oil and Beeswax
Measure your strained oil by weight. For every 4 ounces of infused oil, use 1 ounce of beeswax. This 4:1 ratio produces a salve that’s firm enough to hold its shape in a tin but soft enough to spread easily on skin. If you prefer something closer to a lip balm consistency, use a 3:1 ratio. For a very soft, almost ointment-like texture, go with 5:1.
Set up a double boiler (a heat-safe bowl or smaller pot over a pot of simmering water). Add the beeswax and let it melt completely, stirring occasionally. Once the beeswax is liquid, pour in your mullein-infused oil and stir until everything is fully combined. This only takes a minute or two.
To test the consistency before you pour, dip a spoon into the mixture and set it in the freezer for 30 seconds. The cooled sample on the spoon will feel like your finished salve. If it’s too hard, stir in a little more oil. If it’s too soft, add a bit more beeswax and let it melt in.
Optional Additions
The basic two-ingredient salve (infused oil plus beeswax) works well on its own, but you can customize it depending on what you plan to use it for.
- Lavender essential oil (10 to 15 drops per 4 ounces of oil): Adds a calming scent and mild antiseptic quality. Stir it in after you remove the mixture from heat so the volatile compounds don’t evaporate.
- Vitamin E oil (a few drops): Acts as a natural antioxidant that extends shelf life by slowing oxidation of the carrier oil.
- Calendula-infused oil: You can infuse calendula flowers alongside your mullein, or blend a separate calendula oil into your mullein oil before adding beeswax. Calendula is another traditional skin-soothing herb and pairs naturally with mullein.
- Garlic-infused oil: Mullein combined with garlic has traditional backing for wound care. If you go this route, infuse a few cloves of garlic in oil separately and blend it in at a ratio that suits you. Be aware that garlic oil has a strong smell.
Pouring and Storing
Once your oil and beeswax are fully blended and off the heat, pour the liquid into tins, small glass jars, or lip balm tubes. Work quickly because the mixture begins to set within minutes as it cools. Don’t move or tilt the containers once poured, or you’ll get an uneven surface as it solidifies.
Let the salve cool completely at room temperature. It will firm up and become opaque as the beeswax sets, usually within an hour or two. Once solid, cap your containers tightly.
Stored in a cool, dark place, mullein salve lasts about a year. If your carrier oil has a longer shelf life (jojoba or fractionated coconut oil), the salve may stay fresh even longer. Signs that a salve has gone off include a rancid smell, discoloration, or an unusual texture. Adding a few drops of vitamin E at the blending stage helps push the shelf life further by slowing the oil from oxidizing.
Using the Finished Salve
Apply a thin layer to dry, irritated, or chapped skin as needed. Mullein salve is gentle enough for use on the hands, feet, elbows, and lips. For minor scrapes or burns, clean the area first and apply the salve as a protective barrier. It melts on contact with warm skin, so a little goes a long way. Keep in mind that this is a folk remedy, not a substitute for medical treatment of deep wounds, infections, or burns larger than a small patch of skin.