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(Last updated June 2025)

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Dandelion salve is easy to make, and for most of us, dandelions are abundant. You can use this DIY herbal salve to relieve aches and pains, alleviate some skin conditions, and dry, cracked skin.

The whole dandelion plant, from roots to flowers, is edible and has many benefits, yet so many people all around the world spend a ridiculous amount of time and money polluting their yards and lawns with chemicals trying to kill dandelions. It’s insane. these “weeds” have so many more virtues than plain old grass.

So save your money, keep your dandelions and, if nothing else, use them for this lovely salve. It’s really easy and really effective.

Dandelion Salve Uses and Benefits

It’s surprising just how useful and effective dandelion salve is, given how often this little weed is overlooked. Dandelions are herbal powerhouses and, in salve, can help with a variety of issues. Take a look at the most common uses for dandelion salve.

Muscle and joint pain

Dandelion is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and those valuable substances that reduce inflammation are abundant in the oil you use in the salve, assuming you’ve infused it correctly. After a long day’s physical labor, an intense workout, several hours spent on horseback, or one of the many other ways we end up with aching muscles (I once threw the ball so hard and so many times for the dogs on the beach, I could barely move for three days!), we need some relief.

And that’s where this salve comes in. Rub it into the sore bits and within 15 minutes, you’ll start to feel some relief. It’s ridiculously good at relieving muscle and joint pain, and it smells fabulous, too. Plus, it’s not medicated, so you can still take some analgesics if you need to.

Arthritis relief

While there is a long anecdotal history of using dandelion preparations to relieve arthritis, there are also a number of scientific studies, like this one published in the National Library of Medicine. These have identified taraxasterol as the primary component responsible for the pain-relieving effects of dandelion salve on arthritis.

Simply rub the salve into the affected joints at regular intervals to enjoy anti-inflammatory pain relief.

Chapped skin

Dandelions are rich in anti-oxidants and vitamin C. And, when you turn the dandelion flowers into dandelion infused oil, then combine that with the wax and make dandelion salve, you get the healing power of the anti-oxidants and vitamin C alongside the nourishing, rehydrating effects of the wax and oils.

If , like me, you suffer from dry, cracked, or chapped skin, this dandelion salve recipe will bring relief. I work with my hands. A lot. Indoors and outside, in all weathers, and so my skin dries out and cracks fast. But this salve helps a lot. Just work a small amount into your hands at regular intervals.

Note though, that it won’t do much to help draw out splinters or draw impurities from minor wounds. For that, you’ll want to try our pine resin salve recipe – it’s astringent, antiseptic, and antibacterial.

Skin Conditions

Because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, plus its high quantity of vitamin C, dandelion salve can help to improve or alleviate some of the symptoms of many common skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, and acne.

The vitamin C boosts the body’s own healing capabilities and the detoxifying components help to rid the skin of toxins and pollutants that build up in the pores, which makes dandelions particularly useful in the fight against acne.

Anti-inflammatories in the dandelions and the soothing properties of the oils and wax help to relieve irritation, inflammation, redness, and discomfort, which is great for both psoriasis and eczema.

How to Harvest Dandelions for Salves and Herbal Preparations

The single most important tip I can give you for harvesting dandelions for making salve, any other herbal preparation, or for culinary use, is not to harvest them from a lawn that has been treated with pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Many of these chemicals are toxic, carcinogenic, endocrine disrupters, and more.

So the last thing you want to do on your quest for natural, chemical-free remedies is to harvest plants that have absorbed these chemicals, as you’ll ingest them when you consume the dandelions, or absorb them through your skin when you apply the salve.

Find a wild source for your dandelions instead. Or at least pick them from an area on your property that you now hasn’t been exposed to those awful chemicals.

For this particular salve, it’s the dandelion flower that we’re most interested in, so when harvesting, just nip each dandelion flower head off the stem and leave the rest of the plant. Unless, of course, you want to make any other herbal dandelion preparations or want to enjoy the leaves in a salad.

Tips for Making the Best Dandelion Salve

Dandelion flower salve is really easy to make, but there are a few tips that make the recipe foolproof. Use these tips for a better, more shelf-stable, longer-lasting dandelion salve.

Wash Fresh Flowers Before Use

Before you make dandelion salve or any herbal preparations from the flowers, give the flowers a good wash, first. You really don’t want traces of dirt or animal waste in your salve! So be sure to rinse them thoroughly under running water before you start to make your dandelion salve.

Tip: Use a salad spinner to quickly remove excess moisture from washed

Partially Dry the Dandelions

Drying the dandelion flowers in a dehydrator is a fast way to remove excess moisture. Removing moisture helps keep the oil fresh and the final salve shelf stable for longer. Too much moisture in the dandelion infused oil can result in cloudy oil, spoiled oil, or mold growth.

Dried dandelion flowers can also be stored for an extended period, so if you dry them thoroughly, you can make the salve a few months later, and the flowers will still be usable.

I like to dry my dandelion flowers in my trusty Excalibur dehydrator, because it’s super fast. You just lay your flowers on the trays, set your dehydrator to a low temperature, and leave them to dry out for a couple of hours or even overnight. They won’t be completely dried out by this time, but they’ll be dry enough to use in your salve if you’re planning to start your dandelion infused oil right away.

Note: A few of your flowers might turn into dandelion puffs during the drying process, but that’s fine. Keep them and use them in the salve!

You have a few other options for drying your dandelion flowers:

You can dry your fresh-picked dandelions by hanging long stems upside down in a cool, dark place with good air circulation (a pantry closet works well). You can also lay the flowers on clean kitchen towel and pop them on a sunny windowsill for a few days. For even drying, turn the flowers over every day.

Choose Your Dandelion Oil Infusion Method

There are a few different infusion methods for dandelion salve. I personally prefer either the low heat method or the traditional leave the jar in a cupboard for 6 weeks method.

Not every herb can tolerate even a low heat extraction process without the beneficial components breaking down. But dandelion flowers can. Providing you don’t get it too hot or raise the temperature too fast, you’ll still extract the vast majority of the anti-oxidants, vitamins, and other beneficial compounds.

Low Heat Dandelion Oil Infusion Method

To make quick dandelion infused oil will take a few hours. There are a two common methods. For the quickest possible infusion, take a canning jar and fill it roughly half to two-thirds full of semi dried dandelion flowers and then fill it with your chosen carrier oil (more about the best carrier oil choices below).

Leave the jar uncapped and sit it in a saucepan. Add a few inches of cold water to the saucepan and heat over a low heat for around 3 hours.

If you can wait at least 8 hours, fill the jar in the same way but sit it in a slow cooker with a few inches of water in the bottom. Set it on the lowest temperature setting and let it heat overnight.

Whichever method you choose, once the allotted time is up, turn off the heat, let the oil cool, then strain it.

Traditional Method Slow Infused Dandelion Oil

If you go the traditional route, it’ll take 4 to 6 weeks to make dandelion infused oil. Again, fill the jar one third to one half full with dried dandelion flowers, then will the jar with carrier oil.

Cap the jar and give it a vigorous shake. Pop it in a dark, dry, cool cupboard and leave it there for 4 to 6 weeks. Give the jar a good shake once or twice a week to stimulate the infusion process.

Choose the Right Carrier Oil

There are loads of options for carrier oils for dandelion oil. Here are some of the best options:

I like to use a mix of sweet almond oil, coconut oil, and rosehip seed oil. All of these oils are nourishing for the skin alongside being great carrier oils.

Note that rosehip seed oil is particularly excellent for dry and aging skin.

If using coconut oil, you’ll need to melt it first.

Get the Right Beeswax

Beeswax is not all of the same standard. Buy a high-quality beeswax that is 100% pure beeswax and is food grade or therapeutic grade. Avoid anything that isn’t rated for cosmetic or food use. Low-quality products branded as beeswax often contain dangerous impurities including paraffin wax and other petroleum-based products that can seriously harm your health.

If you’re still unsure, when you receive your beeswax, look at it and give it a sniff. It should be a rich golden color and it should smell like honey.

We recommend these beeswax pellets for the combination of purity and value.

How to Store Dandelion Salve

Dandelion salve can be stored in little lip balm tins or salve tins or jars. The key is not to let them get too hot and not to let them sit in direct sunlight. If your salve has set up correctly, you won’t need to keep it refrigerated – it’ll be pliable but not liquid at room temperature.

How to Use Dandelion Salve

Dandelion salve is super easy to use, like most good herbal remedies. Simply take a small amount of the salve and rub it into the affected area, whether that’s your dry hands, the psoriasis on your elbows, the acne on your face, or your sore, achy knees.

Tweaking and Customizing this Dandelion Salve Recipe

There are numerous changes you can make to this dandelion salve recipe to customize it to your specific issues and your tastes.

Can I Add Essential Oils to Dandelion Salve?

Yes! You can definitely add essential oils to dandelion salve. Just don’t add too much, otherwise you’ll ruin the balance of wax to oil and the salve won’t set up properly.

The oils you add depend on the properties you want to imbue the salve with.

I personally like lavender and peppermint essential oils for the skin and for pain relief. Palma Rosa is another great option for dry skin, skin conditions, and pain relief. You can even blend the oils to make your own essential oil blend.

Just don’t go mad and make it too strong. Aside from making the salve too runny, essential oils can burn you or irritate your skin if used in high concentrations.

For this recipe, I’d recommend no more than 30 drops of essential oil for the whole batch. And, just like with beeswax, make sure you choose high-quality, therapeutic-grade essential oils.

FAQ

If you prefer to avoid animal products, there are a number of vegan wax options suitable for dandelion salve. The best alternatives to beeswax for making salve are:

If you find your salve is a little too loose, add some extra beeswax. As a general rule, the ratio for oil to wax should be 4:1.

If you find your dandelion salve is a bit too firm, add a little extra oil, such as olive oil or coconut oil.

Yes, soy wax is a good option for making dandelion salve.

Homemade dandelion salve lasts for 6 to 9 months, as long as you don’t keep it in direct sunlight or let it get too hot.

Yes. Dandelion salve is great for the skin. This dandelion salve recipe, with its dandelion infused oil, essential oils, and beeswax nourishes the skin, promotes healing, and hydrates it. Plus, the dandelion oil contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that help soothe irritation, inflammation, and redness.

This dandelion salve recipe can be used for skin conditions, dry, chapped skin , sore muscles , and joint pain, and arthritis pain.

Yes, dandelion salve is good for most people with eczema. Because of the soothing nature of this healing salve it’s tolerated by most people, even those with skin conditions. For eczema, the dandelion oil in this healing salve helps to relieve inflammation, soreness, and irritation. Plus, it promotes healing.

Yes, the dandelion infused oil in this healing salve can help relieve the pain associated with sore joints and muscles and arthritis. It’s also useful for reducing the discomfort of chapped skin and a variety of skin conditions.

You can use whichever essential oils you want to go with the dandelion oil in this healing salve. I like lavender, peppermint, and rosemary, as they’re gentle, smell fantastic, and have potent soothing, pain relieving, and skin-nourishing properties.

Yield: 12 ounces