Calendula & Chamomile oil infusion
Our signature calendula and chamomile oil infusion can be found in most of our oil based products and heres why
Calendula
Calendula (calendula officinalis) has been used since the middle ages, with herbal traditions recorded as far back as the 13th century. Prized for it’s use for various skin ailments, the flower can be made into infusions, poultices, oils, washes, creams and salves and applied to wounds, burns, irritated skin.
Rich in naturally occurring flavonoids, carotenoids and other botanical compounds, calendula is prized for its antioxidant and skin-soothing qualities. It has antioxidant activities, anti-microbial, anti-fungal & anti-inflammatory properties, meaning this bright orange flower packs an awfully powerful and comprehensive punch.
This is why its use has continued over centuries. Calendula preparations became a familiar part of traditional European herbal medicine, and were later used in balms and creams for wounds and inflammation, including during the American Civil War and World War I. Today, if you look closely, you will still find it as a hero ingredient in a few big box skincare brands. Oh what a beautiful thing to have this knowledge passed down through so many generations.
What we love about calendula is that its traditional use has always been wonderfully practical. In our signature infusion, dried calendula flowers are the first ingredient for this reason.
2. Chamomile Flowers
Chamomile is one of the oldest medicinal herbs in recorded history, with its use stretching back thousands of years to the ancient civilisations of Egypt, Greece and Rome. Even its name tells a story — derived from the Greek words for “ground apple”, a reference to the plant’s low-growing nature and the sweet, apple-like scent of its flowers.
Chamomile was valued as much for its use on the outside of the body as the inside. Ancient traditions used the flowers in preparations for the skin, while later European herbalists made chamomile into infusions, baths, compresses, oils and ointments to soothe wounds, burns, dryness and irritated skin.
By the medieval period, chamomile had become a well-established herb in European medicine. A 13th-century herbal from southern Italy even describes the flowers being boiled in olive oil and applied externally — a beautiful early example of the very same principle behind a botanical-infused oil.
Its reputation as a gentle, calming herb continued throughout the centuries, with chamomile becoming a familiar ingredient in traditional preparations for sensitive, inflamed and irritated skin.
We use chamomile alongside calendula in our signature herbal infusion, allowing both botanicals to slowly infuse into macadamia and coconut oils for six weeks. Chamomile brings its naturally calming and soothing qualities to the blend, complementing calendula’s long-standing tradition as a restorative skin herb.
Together, these two humble flowers form the botanical heart of our infusion — a process inspired by centuries of herbal tradition, but made our own through time, patience and a little bit of alchemy.
3. Macadamia oil
Macadamia oil is a wonderfully nourishing oil for the skin, with a fatty acid profile that makes it particularly well suited to natural skincare. It is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid and palmitoleic acid (omega-7), as well as smaller amounts of linoleic acid, phytosterols and naturally occurring vitamin E compounds. These lipids help soften and condition the skin, while supporting its natural moisture barrier and helping to reduce moisture loss.
One of the particularly interesting components of macadamia oil is palmitoleic acid, an omega-7 fatty acid that is also naturally present in human skin oils. As we age, the composition of our skin's natural oils changes, which is one reason oils with skin-compatible fatty acids can be valuable in moisturising and conditioning formulations. Macadamia oil also contains antioxidant compounds such as tocopherols and tocotrienols, which help protect oils and skin from oxidative stress.
Rather than simply sitting on the surface, a well-formulated facial or body oil can work alongside the skin's own lipid environment, helping leave it feeling softer, smoother and more supple. Research into topical macadamia oil formulations has found improvements in skin hydration, and studies have also demonstrated antioxidant activity associated with the oil.
This makes macadamia oil an ideal foundation for our signature herbal infusion.
4. Coconut oil
MCT oil, or medium-chain triglyceride oil, is a particularly versatile ingredient in skincare. Unlike traditional plant oils containing a broad mixture of fatty acids, MCT oil is made predominantly from two medium-chain fatty acids: caprylic acid (C8) and capric acid (C10). The result is an exceptionally light, silky oil that spreads easily across the skin without leaving the heavy or greasy feeling that some richer oils can.
MCT oil works as an emollient, helping to soften, smooth and condition the skin. It also helps support the skin's moisture barrier by forming a lightweight lipid layer that slows the loss of water from the skin. Studies of topical formulations containing caprylic/capric triglyceride have demonstrated increased skin hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss, supporting its role as a moisturising and barrier-supportive ingredient.
Another reason we love MCT oil is its versatility within a formulation. It helps create a smooth, silky application while also acting as a medium for oil-soluble botanical compounds. Its excellent oxidative stability makes it particularly well suited to oil-based skincare and long botanical infusions.
cold infused using time
For our signature infusion, MCT oil works alongside macadamia oil to create the foundation in which our calendula and chamomile flowers slowly infuse for six weeks. The MCT contributes a light, silky feel and helps condition the skin, while providing an effective oil medium for our botanicals. Together, the oils create a beautiful balance — nourishing without feeling heavy, and allowing our six-week herbal infusion to become an integral part of many of our formulations.
This oil is the strained and used as the base ingredient in a lot of our products including Lip Balm, Calming Cream, Poroporo Cream, Bite Me balm, Bite Me Oil and Perfume Balms.