Rose Emulsified Ointment

Rose Rosa damascena oil: 10 drops

Filtered water (warmed): 7 ounces

Sweet almond oil: 1 ounce

Beeswax: ½ ounce (Or, you can use the vegan alternative called Candelilla.)

Preparing an emulsified ointment is a little like making mayonnaise if you are a cook. It is quite a delicate process, and the key points are the temperature of the oil/wax mixture and the water. They should both be lukewarm between 98- and 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The key is to have two thermometers one in the water and one in the oil to make sure both are at the same temperature. It is also important not to over-blend. As soon as emulsification begins, turn the immersion blender or blender off. If blending by hand, stop whisking.

Instructions

Melt the beeswax and almond oil over a water bath or in a double boiler. Never place on direct heat. *Take care that no water gets into the beeswax\oil mix while melting.

Remove the mixture from the heat, and allow to cool until lukewarm. Test the temperature by dipping a spoon into the mixture; it should just start to coat the spoon.

Warm the filtered water to about the same temperature as the oil\wax mix (they should be very close in temperature). Test the temperature of the filtered water by dropping on your inner wrist. It should feel slightly lukewarm.

Emulsification Procedure

Slowly but continuously add the warm, filtered water to the warm beeswax\oil mix while briskly beating continuously (manually with a whisk, but an immersion blender works much better; you can use a blender but on a very low setting). The emulsification process will take some time so be patient; but when it happens, it happens immediately.

STOP as soon as it starts to emulsify!

Add the rose essential oil and gently blend by hand with a spatula. STOP as soon it appears combined. *It is helpful to pre-measure the essential oil beforehand so you don’t have to count drops into the emulsified mixture.

Pour into jar(s), and let cool