salvation?
Jun 8, 2009 Next installation of tincture-mania: I tried to skip junior varsity tictures and cruise right to salves, but got smacked down like an uppidy freshman.
As you might remember, the last time we checked I was merrily hanging foraged rosemary and fennel in our kitchen windows. I decided to try a salve, which involved stewing the dried herbs in olive oil for a couple hours until the oil became green and herby. So I busted out the cutest enamel pot ever (from same generous friend who supplied those red glasses you all loved so much), and at this point I was feeling pleased as punch with myself.
Well, fast-forward a few hours and the smell was making my husband and me kind of sick to our stomachs. Which didn’t exactly bode well, as the finished salve was going to be a birthday present. Nothing like making a birthday girl puke on her big day.
It was just so unctuous and foodie smelling. And even though it was simmering on the very lowest flame, the heat crisped the delicate fennel. I perservered, even setting it all up in a cheesecloth. My wildly optimistic brain took over, thinking maybe I would strain the sickly smell out. But in the end, not even the dog wanted to go near it. And if I told you some of the things she’s attracted to, you would realize what an enormous thumbs down that is.
So has anyone out there had any success with salves? I think I’ll double-boiler it the next time, but beyond that, any other great tips? I know there is a master salve maker out there just waiting to illuminate us all.
Reader Comments (10)
a click and a click and another click and i wound up here on your super-lovely blog. i love it.
i'm not exactly a master salve maker, but i have made many a batch of salve and i am surely one who has smelled the stink of fried herbs in simmering oil. so i thought i'd chirp in. it is truly an overwhelming stink, isn't it? i've found salve making to always be a sort of stench-filled endeavor, but if you're able to really gently infuse the herbs in the oil (double boiler is good) it doesn't smell quite so repulsive. (hallelujah for those amazing herbs that work with cold infusion!)
I know nothing about salves. But this is probably my favorite post of yours. Ever.
Hi! I have followed your blog for a while and love it. I wanted to say that when I have made salves in the past, I've followed the traditional method of letting the herbs sit in olive oil in a warm window and warm, and disperse their goodness, over time (like a week or two, but you have to watch to make sure you time it right, and not too long). I read that a lot of times salve makers would put the jar in sand in a windowbox, which would keep the mixture warm. This prevents any nasty smells or crispy herbs. I've done it successfully with calendula, rosemary, lemon verbena, lemons, lavender, and peppermint.
Hope that helps!
i knew there would be some great tips after reading that post. i love the thought of herbs warming in the window....calendula for sure. good luck on the next try.
i had learned that some herbs required the hot-infusion method (low simmering for as long as you can stand) to be made into herbal oils and some required the cold-infusion method (the pleasant jar in the sunny window for two weeks). this was in regards to getting the full medicinal potency of your particular herbs. but, i just checked an old favorite (FAMILY HERBAL by Rosemary Gladstar) and discovered that any old herb should work by cold-infusion if you have the patience. good to know that salve making doesn't have to be so stinky!
I love you guys. Never again will this stench fill the kitchen, and instead I'll be cheered by little pots of herbs and oil on the windowsill. Thank you! And happy salving to all!
i used my heavy heavy cast iron pot on the lowest flame setting for herb simmering and that seemed to do the trip. i made calendula plantain baby booty balm with almond and olive oil and beeswax. it actually smells like banana bread.
What's the salve meant to be for? Fennel's pretty much only a culinary herb, or used as a stomach settler in tea or tincture form, so maybe it's not a good candidate for oil infusion. You can use a slow cooker on low to heat-infuse your oils, but you need to be careful not to deep fry the herbs. Rosemary Gladstar's got good advice on making medicines, so does Susun Weed.
Ingrid, thank you so much for your salve knowledge. I just had a kooky idea that fennel-rosemary would be a great combo for a gardening kind of salve, but I think maybe I'll stick with the non-culinary herbs in the future. I will definitely check our the ladies you recommend, thank you!
And Jess, banana bread booty balm -- sounds like a new product line to me :)
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