Teach Soap

Hi everybody! Back in September of last year I made a natural salve that was 1 cup of aloe oil infused with calendula over a double boiler for 2 hours, plus 1/4 cup of beeswax.

I poured most of it into a 4 oz glass jar with a rubber ring seal (for storage) and the rest of it into a 1 ounce stainless tin (for transportation and easy use). We have been using the salve in the tin quite a bit when ever we get a cut or a burn. Just the other day I noticed that at the bottom of the glass jar there is a strange color thing going on, and actually, it looks like mold.

How could that have gotten into the bottom of the salve and not the top? its been sealed up the whole time. Is there something I should do differently the next time I make a batch of salve?

I was hoping to use this salve a long time but I guess luckily the small portion is still OK. It does last a while, but quite a bummer to loose product like that.

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Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

Did you sterilize the jar before pouring in the salve? Could be that there we mold spores in the jar before you poured. You can either heat sterilize the jars or use a mild bleach (or other "chemical" sterilizer).

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Thanks Hetsey!

I did not think to do that. I purchased them from the goodwill, but the jars were all sealed up and still in the original cardboard packaging that they came in from where ever they were donated from.

I guess that is something that has to be done all the time. Makes sense too! (duh moment)

But, should I be thinking about using preservatives for salve on down the road? Is it recommended?

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Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

Aloe's a water product not an oil. So the aloe oil I'm assuming is another oil with aloe leaf extract in it. Since aloe is a water product, it really does require a preservative. Also if the calendula was not completely dry, it can hold moisture which will mold.

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Genny

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Slight thread hijack! Does an oil based salve need a preservative? EVOO based or coconut mixed with EVOO etc.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Well, I guess technically the Aloe Oil from Essential Oil Company here in Sellwood, Oregon. is aloe juice in soybean oil. Its definitely an oil though. It works great for sunburns and as a massage blend carrier oil.

So either my jar was tainted or somehow water got into the batch. I did do an infusion though, and strained the petals of the oil. I did not use the petals in the salve itself, so not sure how water got into it.

If oil based salves dont NEED a preservative, per sey, would it hurt to put one in anyway?

Thanks for all your advice!

_Kristen

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Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

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Genny