The story behind Soypa calendula balm

Where I grew up in Croatia, foraging and drying herbs and other plants for winter is something people still do quite often. All kinds of goods that nature offers. Elderflowers, rosehips, mushrooms, blueberries, St. John's wort, whatever the season gives. Then they make jams, tinctures, macerate, and make simple handmade cosmetics. Calendula is one of the popular plants people collect, because it grows easily in almost any garden and holds its colour well once dried.

Macerating herbs in olive oil or making a balm at home from it is part of the same habit. Olive oil, dried calendula flowers, and time.

Maceration is a game of patience

To get what calendula has to offer, the flowers need to soak in the oil for several weeks, not just a few days. That's how it's traditionally done, and it's not a step you can rush. I macerate my calendula the same way, letting it sit for several weeks so the oil has time to take on the plant's colour and beneficial components properly.

When creating calendula balm, I wanted to embrace that traditional process, but with a few changes of my own. Beeswax is the classic choice for a balm like this, but I decided to make mine vegan, so I use candelilla wax instead. I also added chamomile extract, which isn't part of the traditional recipe but gives the balm a bit of extra care alongside the calendula.

The rest stays simple: jojoba oil and organic shea butter for extra nourishment, rosemary extract, and the macerated calendula oil at the base.

A bit of folklore

Calendula, or neven as it's called in Croatian, has its own place in old weather lore. There's a belief that if the flower is still closed by seven in the morning, it will rain that day. People used to look at it before heading out to the fields.

When people use it

It has multiple purposes. It's hydrating, soothing on dry patches, and good for calming skin that feels itchy or tight. A tiny bit is enough, and it absorbs fast. People reach for it after washing hands too many times in a day, on elbows or knuckles that feel dry, on lips when they're chapped, or as a small step before bed, working a bit into hands or feet. I don't leave the house without it. 

Why it matters to me

I wanted to keep this tradition alive, to cherish the way Balkan women have done it for generations. It mattered to me to pick ingredients that are gentle and nourishing for skin. Also, not using any animal ingredients was quite important, and candelilla wax is a perfect alternative with similar benefits to beeswax. My goal was to give people something for sensitive, dry skin that calms it down when it needs it.

You can find this balm and find the rest of the collection here.