This all natural homemade vapor rub with essential oils is safe for the whole family including children 2-10 years old.

Homemade Vapour Rub

What is the first thing you reach for when you have a stuffy nose?

Besides my Cold & Flu Busting Elixir Homemade Vapor rub is my go-to when anyone in the family has a cold, especially a stuffy nose.

I started adding essential oils to my basic body butter recipe during the winter to boost our immunity and wellness which after some tweaking led me to create this Homemade Vapor Rub with essential oils.

How does Vapor Rub work

The secret to vapor rubs is in the vapor. The aromatic ingredients have long been used as inhalations for their decongestant and soothing effect so that when you breathe in the vapour it helps relieve a blocked nose.

Where to apply Homemade Vapor Rub

On your chest
On your back
On your throat

Do not apply any kind of Vapor Rub in your nostrils! There have been cases reported and studies that have proven that even putting Vicks VapoRub directly under the nose can lead to respiratory distress or difficulty breathing.

Child Friendly Vapor Rub

There are many essential oils which should not be used on children, so to ensure this Homemade Vapor Rub recipe is safe for young ones I have used essential oils from the KidSafe line of Plant Therapy and Edens Garden ‘Ok for Kids’ line of essential oil blends.

These lines of pre-blended 100% pure, undiluted essential oils has been specifically developed with essential oils which are safe and effective for kids 2 to 10 years old.

Essential Oils for Homemade Vapor Rub

For children 2 to 10 years old choose from

Plant Therapy KidSafe Immune Boom

Edens Garden Sniffles & Sneezes

For children over 10 years old use a mix of

Eucalyptus essential oil

Peppermint essential oil

Lavender essential oil

How to make Vapor Rub

This homemade vapor rub is essentially a balm / body butter as a base with therapeutic essential oils. See the recipe card below for full instructions.

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4.25 from 4 votes

Homemade Vapor Rub

This Homemade Vapor Rub is the first thing I reach for when anyone in the family has a cold, especially a stuffy nose. It's safe for the whole family including children 2-10 years old.

Keyword homemade vapor rub

Prep Time 15 minutes

Author Krystal

Ingredients

30 grams shea butter
20 grams coconut oil
20 grams sweet almond oil
10 grams beeswax

Essential oils for child friendly Vapor Rub (choose one or the other)

30 drops Plant Therapy KidSafe Immune Boom
30 drops Edens Garden Sniffles & Sneezes

Essential oils for adult Vapor Rub

Instructions

Place a heat safe bowl on top of a saucepan partially filled with water over medium heat
Add shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax to the heat safe bowl
Once the solid ingredients are melted, mix to combine and remove from the heat
Mix in liquid sweet almond oil and essential oils
Transfer the mixture to a small glass or metal container with a tight fitting lid

Tried this recipe?Mention @dishingupbalance or tag #dishingupbalance