How to Make Homemade Cannabis Topicals
So you've mastered making homemade cannabutter, and you've got infusing olive oil down to fine art, so why not take the next step and make homemade cannabis topicals? Making your own can put your grow trim to good use and save you a small fortune in skin care products. These days, we can infuse cannabis oil into pretty much anything. From CBD face cream and CBD lip balm to hemp hair and body oil, there's a lot more to the cannabis plant than smoking a joint or baking a cake. You can use cannabis topicals for various things, from pain relief and skincare to the treatment of arthritis and muscle soreness.
How do you make cannabis topicals? Thankfully, ASC has a step-by-step guide. So, sit back, relax and get ready to learn how to make a homemade cannabis topical you'll never forget.
How to Make Homemade Cannabis Topicals
In this step-by-step guide, we're looking at how to make a homemade cannabis salve. A salve is a term used to describe a healing solution you apply to your skin as a cream, ointment or balm. Salves are relatively thick and self-stable, including carrier oil such as olive or coconut. Followed by butter or wax to bind them together.
Step 1: What you need
You need stuff to do stuff, so first up is gathering everything you need to make homemade cannabis topicals.
Base Ingredients:
- Cannabis trim: 1–2 cups (preferably sugar leaves and trim with plenty of trichomes)
- Carrier oil: 1-2 cups (coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil work well)
- Beeswax: 1/4 cup (for a firmer salve; omit for lotions)
- Essential oils (optional): 10–20 drops (lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, or tea tree)
- Shea butter or cocoa butter (optional): 1/4 cup (for added moisturising properties)
Kitchen bits:
- Double pan/steamer or slow cooker
- Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
- Glass jar or container for storage
- Mixing spoon or spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
Tip: Follow the guide and start small, increasing the amount you make as your knowledge increases.
Step 2: Infusing the Oil
If you've made cannabutter or infused cannabis oil into coconut or olive oil, then this next part will be familiar. And if not, we have each step below.
Decarboxylate the Cannabis Trim
- Preheat your oven to 240°F (115°C).
- Spread the cannabis trim evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 30–40 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating.
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Infuse the Oil
- Gently heat your carrier oil in a double boiler, slow cooker or heat-safe bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. The easiest way to do it is with the slow cooker. Set it to the lowest temperature, and you're away.
- Stir in the decarboxylated cannabis trim.
- Let the mixture simmer on low heat for 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally. Keep the heat low to prevent burning (the oil should not exceed 160°F or 70°C).
- Once infused, strain the mixture through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl. Squeeze the cheesecloth to extract as much oil as possible.
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Step 3: Make a Salve or Balm
- Melt the beeswax over low heat in a clean double boiler or saucepan.
- If using shea butter or cocoa butter, add it now and stir until melted.
- Slowly pour the cannabis-infused oil, stirring constantly to combine it with the melted beeswax.
- Once thoroughly combined, remove the mixture from heat and let it cool slightly.
- Add 10–20 drops of essential oils, depending on your preference. Lavender and eucalyptus are great for relaxation, while peppermint and tea tree can provide a cooling sensation.
Step 4: Pour into Containers
- While the mixture is still warm and liquid, pour it into glass jars, tins, or other storage containers.
- Allow it to cool and solidify at room temperature.
Additional Ingredients for Lotion:
- Aloe vera gel: 1/4 cup (for added hydration)
- Distilled water: 1/4 cup (for a lighter consistency)
- Emulsifying wax: 1–2 tablespoons (to help water and oil mix)
Steps:
- In a double boiler, mix the emulsifying wax with the infused oil.
- In a separate bowl, combine distilled water and aloe vera gel.
- Slowly pour the water mixture into the melted oil and wax mixture while stirring continuously. Use an immersion blender if you have one for a smooth texture.
- Once the mixture has cooled slightly, add your essential oils.
- Store the lotion in a clean pump bottle or jar.
Step 5: Store well
The last thing you want after putting in all the effort to make a cannabis topical is for it to go off in a matter of days. Ensure your homemade cannabis topicals are stored in a cool, dark place. This will preserve their potency. If stored properly, salves and balms can last up to a 1 year (but we suspect you'll go through them faster than that), and lotions, due to the presence of water, will only last 3-6 months.
Cannabis Topicals at Amsterdam Seed Center
We hope this step-by-step guide on how to make topicals is helpful; just remember to have fun. If this is your first time at home cannabis topicals, then it is all about learning. But if you're a few weeks away from having bags of trim and you want to grease your hands with some CBD hand cream. You're in luck because the Amsterdam Seed Center stocks a hefty range of CBD oil and Hemp products you can peruse here.
