All Natural DIY Vapor Rub Recipe to Heal Stuffy Noses

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DIY All Natural Vick's Vapor Rub
I must say-Homemade Vick’s Vapor Rub is an absolute staple in my home during every season of the year. We are constantly using this homemade organic balm to decongest and heal. Needless to say, we have our fair share of allergies and colds and raw, stuffy noses are quickly and safely relieved now that we have a steady supply of organic, petroleum free all and natural vapor rub!!

Why Ditch Vick’s Vapor Rub?

As most of you know, I am on a mission to rid my house of toxins. Making essential oils balms like DIY Neosporin, DIY Tiger Balm and now DIY Vick’s Vapor Rub is just the beginning! This journey of mine began when I started getting very leery of the skin care industry.

I have been an Aesthetician for over 10 years and have been using and selling professional lines of skin care until about four years ago. I realized that even if a product is found in a high end salon or claims to be “natural” it most likely couldn’t be further from actually being good for your skin.

The laundry list of harmful ingredients that are put in skin care is staggering. I won’t bore you with statistics and hard to pronounce ingredients but this is serious. I wanted to simplify what I was doing to my skin and I wanted to use the most pure ingredients I could find. I started to formulate my recipes and it quickly led to revamping almost everything my family and I use!

So today, I wanted to share with you a simple recipe for DIY Vick’s Vapor Rub! Unlike Mentholatum or Vick’s Vapor Rub, this recipe contains beeswax, not petrolatum or turpentine which is typically contaminated with PAHS (a highly toxic compound linked to cancer).

If you are like me, you often have runny noses dripping around your house, not to mention allergies are always just around the corner! This recipe is so nourishing for the skin while also being a powerful decongestant. Essential oils are potent and deliver great results without the side effects and toxic ingredients.

If you’re new to essential oils, you might be interested in my beginner’s guide to essential oils.

DIY Vapor Rub Recipe

How to Use Homemade Vapor Rub:

The most common way we use our vapor rub is by adding a small amount under and around the nose. Not only does this help with clearing the air ways, it also helps accelerate healing of raw, sore noses.

Another effective way to reap the benefits of vapor rub is to apply it to the bottoms of the feet. The largest pores are on the soles of the feet which makes it easy for the body to absorb oils. Plus, the bottoms of the feet aren’t sensitive like the rest of the body so this is a great place to apply balms and essential oils on children.

Homemade vapor rub can also be applied down the spine of the back. This helps break up chest congestion and keeps children from being able to reach it and then touch their mouth or eyes. The spine is a great option for babies.

Using your vapor rub as a chest rub can also help break up congestion and improve breathing. The vapors are further away from the nose this way if you or your child is sensitive to breathing in essential oils.

Essential Oils for a DIY Vapor Rub:

Eucalyptus can open up airways by simply inhaling it.
Peppermint is cooling and can promote deep breathing.
Rosemary is soothing to the respiratory tract.
Scotch Pine is a gentle decongestant.
Cinnamon is a powerful immune-booster
Clove also has immune-boosting properties.
Frankincense is perfect for sensitive skin and added healing.
Lavender promotes relaxation and healthy sleep and smells amazing!
Lemon boosts the immune system and helps with healthy respiratory function.
Thyme is good for a dry cough.
Marjoram promotes healthy respiratory function.

*Since I have posted this recipe, I have learned that rosemary essential oil is not recommended for children 10 and under. I’ve replaced it with Fir Pine Essential Oil which also has decongestant properties if you are making this DIY vapor rub for children under 10.

For more information on kids and essential oil safety, I found THIS post super helpful!

Also, if you’re pregnant or nursing, I have written a guide on which essential oils are safe for pregnant or nursing mothers.

More DIY Balm Recipes:

DIY Healing Salve (neosporin)
Gardner’s Hand Salve
DIY Tiger Balm
Badger Sleep Balm Recipe
Hand & Foot Balm
Thieves Balm Recipe
Activated Charcoal Healing Balm

DIY Vapor Rub Ingredients

DIY Vapor Rub Ingredients:

I prefer to use unrefined coconut oil as the base of this salve due to the extremely healing powers of coconut oil. It’s great for over blown sore noses! Refined coconut oil will work but not as well. Refined means it is highly processed so many of it’s healing properties have been removed. Refined coconut oil has no scent.

I also add cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is nourishing and high in antioxidants. It is great for replenishing irritated skin.

However, if you only have coconut oil you can just use it or vice versa for olive oil. Avocado oil is also a fantastic oil to use if you have it rather than coconut or olive oil.

Beeswax is what thickens the oils and makes them into a butter like balm. It also provides a barrier to protect the delicate nose tissue.

Properly Diluting Essential Oils for Vapor Rub Recipe:

This recipe will make about 4 ounces of vapor rub.

Adults: 30-40 drops of essential oils
Children 10 and under: 15-20 drops essential oils
Babies under 1: 8-10 drops of essential oils

DIY All Natural Vapor Rub Recipe

DIY Vick’s Vapor Rub Recipe

1/4 cup Coconut Oil (find it HERE)
1/4 cup Olive Oil (find it HERE)
1 heaping TBSP Beeswax (find it HERE)
20 drops Eucalyptus essential oil (find it HERE)
15 drops Peppermint essential oil (find it HERE)
5 drops Rosemary Essential Oil (find it HERE) or Pine Essential Oil (find it HERE)

You can replace any of the essential oils using my other suggestions above! However, in my opinion, eucalyptus essential oil is a must.

Directions:

Fill a medium sized pot 1/2 way full with water.
Place a glass pyrex bowl with a spout in the water and add your coconut oil, olive oil and beeswax.
Once beeswax is melted remove double boiler from heat and add essential oils.
While the mixture is still liquid pour in a 4 ounce jar.
Allow to cool.

You will have about an ounce left over. A lip balm tube, tin or jar is great for the excess so you can take it on the go! The vapor rub will not take long to harden but if you want to speed up the process you can put your jar in the fridge.

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DIY Vapor Rub

Yield: 4 oz

Unlike Mentholatum or Vick’s Vapor Rub, this recipe contains beeswax, not petrolatum or turpentine which is typically contaminated with PAHS (a highly toxic compound linked to cancer).

Ingredients

1/4 cup Coconut Oil
1/4 cup Olive Oil
1 heaping TBSP Beeswax
20 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
15 drops Peppermint essential oil
5 drops Rosemary Essential Oil or Pine Essential Oil (kid friendly)

Instructions

Fill a medium-sized pot 1/2 way full with water.
Place a glass pyrex bowl with a spout in the water and add your coconut oil, olive oil, and beeswax.
Once beeswax is melted remove double boiler from heat and add essential oils.
While the mixture is still liquid pour in a 4 ounce jar.
Allow to cool.