Easy DIY Menthol Vapor Rub
With cold and flu season right around the corner many of us will be reaching for that breath-opening menthol vapor rub for chest congestion. You know the one!
Wouldn’t it be great to make one of your own, free from petrolatum, and made from natural organic ingredients? Sounds hard? It’s not! Here’s a very simple and effective DIY menthol vapor rub recipe that you can make with 8 ingredients in under an hour.
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⭐️Menthol Vapor Rub Recipe
- 40 grams Jojoba oil/wax (Simmondsia chinensis)
- 5 grams Beeswax
- 1 gram Menthol crystals
- 7 drops Eucalyptus globulus essential oil
- 6 drops Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 5 drops Virginian Cedarwood essential oil (Juniperus virginiana)
- 3 drops Bergamot Mint essential oil (Mentha bergamia)
- 2 drops Rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis/Salvia rosmarinus)
Other Supplies Needed:
- small pot
- kitchen scale (weight in grams)
- medium glass beaker or 1-cup heat-safe liquid measuring cup
- small bowl or plate
- gloves for handling menthol crystals
- glass stir rod
- final storage container (I like a 2oz glass jar)
- indelible pen
- waterproof label.
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
How to Make Menthol Vapor Rub
- Add an inch or so of water to pot and heat to just steaming over medium heat on stove top.
- While water is heating, turn scale on, set measuring unit option to grams, place beaker on scale, and press Tare button to zero the weight.
- Measure 40 grams Jojoba oil/wax into beaker. Press Tare button to zero the weight.
- Into Jojoba measure 5 grams of Beeswax (do this slowly―5 grams isn’t a lot!).
- Transfer beaker to heated water. Make sure it will stand without tipping. (Note: If you are using a glass measuring cup, put the handle over the side of the pan so it doesn’t get too hot to handle.) Stir with glass stir rod occasionally to encourage melting.
- While Beeswax is melting, don your gloves, then place the small bowl/plate on the kitchen scale. Measure 1 gram of Menthol crystals. A standard kitchen scale is generally inaccurate for measurements this small so I don’t Tare it when measuring Menthol crystals. I just add crystals until the number on the scale increases by one gram.
- Once Beeswax is melted, remove from water bath and dry the outside of the beaker. Add Menthol crystals and stir until melted. This should take just a few moments.
- Add essential oils to final container.
- Pour liquid wax mixture into final container and stir to combine with essential oils.
- Place lid on jar to retain the volatile chemicals, but don’t seal it. Allow to cool to room temperature. Then close lid completely.
- Get creative and come up with a fun name for your menthol vapor rub! Then affix a label, including the date it was made and the best by date.
Use your new Menthol Vapor Rub to help ease chest congestion day or night. A little goes a long way, so start with a small amount and massage into chest and neck. Cover with a cloth if desired.
🔶️Special Safety Considerations
- Smell the vapor rub before applying to the chest. If breathing feels further constricted do not use as a chest rub. You could use it on your feet, however.
- This is not intended for use with children under 10 years old.
Why These Essential Oils?
Don’t be fooled by the gentle aroma, this Menthol Vapor Rub packs a powerful breath-opening punch.
Cooling = Soothing
Pure Menthol crystals are made from freezing the essential oil of Corn Mint (Mentha arvensis). As the oil approaches -20°C/-4°F the menthol crystalizes out producing smooth, creamy, oblong crystalline shards. Solid at room temperature, crystalized menthol melts at 42-44°C/107-111°F and easily combines with hot oils, melted waxes, and even hot water!
The cooling sensation you feel when you breathe in menthol vapor helps reduce the effort of breathing when you’re congested.(1)
Ease the Cough
Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Virginian Cedarwood essential oils work together in a vapor rub to enhance decongestion, thin mucous, and improve cough productivity.
Eucalyptus globulus essential oil has traditionally been used to ease respiratory tract infections. It contains significant concentrations of the phytochemical 1,8-cineole (sin-ee-ol), which, like menthol, has expectorant and mucolytic properties to help ease congestion.(2)
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is another traditional aromatherapy choice for respiratory support. For respiratory care, Rosemary essential oil provides a couple of options (chemotypes). One chemotype is rich in 1,8-cineole, and like Eucalyptus helps ease congestion.(2) The other chemotype is rich in camphor which helps thin thick mucus and ease deep coughing.
Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific Northwest have traditionally used Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana) for respiratory care and purification, making it a lovely grounding aroma to include in blends for chest congestion.
Rest Support
Bergamot Mint (Mentha citrata) and Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oils are rich in linalool and linalyl acetate. These phytochemicals are known for their antispasmodic effect, which can help with energy-depleting dry cough spasms. Both essential oils are calming and supportive. The help reduce tension and stress, and encourage the body to relax and heal.
Bedtime Tips
Having a cold or cough can be disruptive to sleep. Diffuse Lavender essential oil in your bedroom for 15 minutes before going to bed. This can help calm the mind and the cough so you can get some much needed rest.
In addition, I find it soothing to massage a small amount of Menthol Vapor Rub into my feet and slip on some fuzzy socks as I am getting ready for bed.
Need even more support for a nighttime cough that’s disturbing your sleep? Try this Nighttime Cough Inhaler.
☀️Research Spotlight: Lavender & Rosemary, Free Radical Scavengers!
When the upper respiratory tract becomes irritated, whether it’s from exposure to pollutants or an inflammatory response, oxidative stress takes place. Did you know that inhalation of Lavender and Rosemary essential oils can help reduce that oxidative stress by enhancing the body’s antioxidative system?
Learn more about the free radical scavenging activity of Rosemary and Lavender essential oils in this 2007 study.(3)
I hope you make this Menthol Chest Rub to have on hand the next time someone in your family has congestion!
References
- Nishino, T., Tagaito, Y., Sajurai, Y. (1997). Nasal inhalation of l-menthol reduces respiratory discomfort associated with loaded breathing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 156(1):309-13. https://www.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.156.1.9609059.
- Vecchio, M.G., Loganes, C., Minto, C. (2016). Beneficial and healthy properties of eucalyptus plants: a great potential use. Open Agric. J, 10(M3):52-7. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874331501610010052
- Atsumi, T., Tonosaki, K. (2007). Smelling lavender and rosemary increases free radical scavenging activity and decreases cortisol level in saliva. Psychiat Res, 150(1):89-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2005.12.012
Mom’s Recommended Suppliers
I generally rely on Amazon for my lab tools, glassware, and packaging. You can find the Kitchen Scale, Beakers, and Glass Stir Rods in Mom’s Favorite Kitchen Tools. The 2oz jars and the waterproof labels that fit the lids can be found in Mom’s Containers for Balms & Salves.
I’ve also put together a Cough & Cold Care list on Amazon where you’ll find all the ingredients to make your Menthol Vapor Chest Rub. Here are the specifics:
- Jojoba oil/wax (Simmondsia chinensis):
- Beeswax
- Meyer’s Beeswax, sourced in USA (on Amazon)
- Aromatics International.
- Menthol Crystals:
- Mountain Rose Herbs, organic & pure
- GreenHealth, pure (on Amazon).
- Bergamot Mint essential oil (Mentha citrata):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Plant Therapy, sustainable (Direct and Amazon).
- Eucalyptus globulus essential oil:
- Aromatics International, organic
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis / Salvia rosmarinus):
- Aromatics International, organic, Rosemary camphor and Rosemary verbenone
- Edens Garden, sustainable, “Spanish” Rosemary camphor (on Amazon)
- Plant Therapy, organic, Rosemary 1,8-cineole (Direct and Amazon).
- Virginian Cedarwood essential oil (Juniperus virginiana):
- Aromatics International, wildcrafted
- Plant Therapy, sustainable (Direct and Amazon).
- Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia):
- Aromatics International, organic artisan (grown and distilled in Montana)
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- TIP: Plant Therapy’s Lavender Hydrosol (Direct and Amazon) is lovely for skin care and general aromatherapy.
Preferred Essential Oil Suppliers
Each one of these favorite suppliers provides a wide selection of sustainable, therapeutic, beautifully aromatic, pure essential oils. Browse their inventory and imagine the aromatic possibilities!
- Aromatics International for ethically wildcrafted, organically sourced, and Certified Organic essential oils (Mom’s AI favorites)
- Plant Therapy for Certified Organic and sustainably sourced, conventional essential oils (Mom’s PT favorites)
- Also at Plant Therapy on Amazon
- Edens Garden (on Amazon) for sustainably sourced, conventional essential oils (Mom’s EG favorites)
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Chris P | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)
