DIY Natural Vapor Rub with Kid-Safe Version
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This Homemade Vapor Chest Rub is an affordable, easy recipe that's made with all natural ingredients.
It can help relieve discomfort associated with stuffy noses, coughs, and chest congestion, so you and your family can feel better fast and everyone can get a better night's sleep.
Also, I've put together a child-safe version so you can have confidence you're using a product that's gentler for young children when used properly.
Most of us remember the soothing smell of Vicks from when mom brought it out during cold and flu season. The menthol scent basically kind of makes you feel better just smelling it.
What you might not know, however, is that the ingredients in commercial vapor rubs, while not super toxic, are not the best.
Thankfully, this homemade vapor rub recipe works just as well as “the real thing” and it's made with only 100% clean ingredients.
Making your own natural products is great since you can customize them as needed while choosing better options for ingredients than what's used in most over the counter products.
Our DIY Chest Rub Experience
One night, our youngest son's nose was completely stuffed up. It was allergy season, so a bit of sniffling was normal, but a fully-clogged nose was not.
He was pretty miserable.
I reached for my trusted saline nasal spray and encouraged lots of nose blowing, but he still couldn't breathe well.
I quickly experimented, whipped up a batch of this rub and put some on my son's chest.
About ten minutes later, he was asleep.
Is Vicks Vapor Rub Safe?
The truth is, store bought Vapor Rub isn't great, but it's not worthy of a hazmat suit either.
Compared to spraying glyphosate on your weeds (that's been heavily linked to cancer) and using perfume-laden products Vicks Vapor Rub isn't that bad.
For example, one blogger refers to Vicks as “deadly vapor rub”, but really that's just way too harsh.
However, here are some ingredients in Vicks you might want to avoid by making your own homemade vapor rub instead.
Petrolatum – Derived from petroleum, which is known to be often contaminated with PAHs, which have been classified by the European Union as a carcinogen and are also linked to skin irritation and allergies.
Synthetic Essential Oils – Vicks clearly states that the camphor oil in their product is synthetic. While they claim it's just as effective as natural camphor, it's still, in my opinion, best to avoid that and use pure essential oils instead.
Ingredients
Here's a basic list of the simple ingredients used for this DIY Chest Rub. For the full details and measurements, see the recipe card below.
- carrier oil
- eucalyptus essential oil
- peppermint essential oil
- lavender essential oil
- rosemary essential oil
- tea tree essential oil
- beeswax (optional)
Instructions
Following are the basic instructions for making this chest rub. For more detailed information, see the recipe card below.
Melt the carrier oil, if needed.
Add essential oils and optional beeswax, and stir.
Store in a glass container.
Menthol Crystals and Camphor Oil
While I don't use them in this formula, there are some posts about DIY vapor rubs out there recommending the use of menthol crystals and camphor oil. While you can of course use either of these in your rub, here are a few things to consider.
Menthol crystals are very intense and some people have reported discomfort while using them. If you choose to try them, you would only need to use about 1/8 teaspoon of crystals for this formula. A little bit really goes a long way.
Note that camphor is toxic. Though it's truly only toxic in large amounts, it's still best to use caution, especially with children. You can read more about camphor toxicity here.
How to Use
Of course the typical use for a chest rub is–on your chest! Pretty clever, huh?
It's great to keep in your natural medicine cabinet to help open airways, address and more. However, vapor rub is also known for helping with sore muscles and joint pain, and even more. See this post for more alternative uses for vapor rub.
How to Make a Kid-Safe Chest Rub
Since you're likely going to be using this DIY chest rub on kids, it's crucial to know the following safety information about essential oils use for kids.
The type and concentration of the oils used makes a lot of difference.
Eucalyptus, peppermint, and rosemary are well known for respiratory support, but you have to be very careful using these around young children.
Eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint all contain 1,8, cineole, which can sometimes cause problems with the temperature receptors in kids' lungs leading to breathing difficulties. I could get into a lot more details, but here's some basic information.
Rosemary, isn't recommended for kids under 10.
Most forms of eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus and eucalyptus radiata) aren't considered to be safe for kids, however Eucalyptus Dives is fine, but is harder to find.
Peppermint is also problematic for the above reasons.
Thankfully there are other oils that support respiratory function that can be used for kids, some of which are lavender and lemon. I provided a kid-safe option in the recipe card, but you can make your own knowing the following basic math details.
There are 295 drops in a tablespoon. 3 drops of an essential oil in 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil (replacing the carrier oil) would be a 1% dilution. 6 drops would be a 2% dilution, and so on)
Here are the safe dilution details for different age groups.
Ages 2-5: 1%. Can use up to 3% for short periods of time
Ages 6-9: 2-3%. Can use up to 6% for short periods
Under Age 2: Diffuse only
Best Essential Oils for Vapor Rub
For adults, common options include eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, lavender, and tea tree. For kids, I prefer gentler oils like lavender, frankincense, lemon, and tea tree in a very low dilution.
Homemade Vapor Rub with Kid-safe Options
Equipment
- Small Jars
- Small Pan for heating
- stainless steel bowl
Ingredients
Older Child / Adult Version
- ⅛ cup coconut oil (see notes for alternatives)
- 4 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil
- 2 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 drops rosemary essential oil
- 2 drops tea tree essential oil
- 1/2 tablespoon beeswax (optional)
Kid-Safe Version (Ages 2+)
- ⅛ cup coconut oil (or other carrier oil)
- 2 drops lavender essential oil
- 1 drop frankincense essential oil
- 1 drop lemon essential oil
- 1 drop tea tree essential oil (optional)
- ½ tablespoon beeswax (optional)
Instructions
- Melt the coconut oil (or other solid carrier oil) in a small pan over low heat, if needed. If using shea butter, use a double boiler or alternative.
- Heat until just melted, then remove from heat.
- Allow mixture to cool for about 5 minutes so that it's still liquid, but not as warm. This will allow you to blend the essential oils into the mixture without damaging the oils' healing qualities.
- If using beeswax, stir into the rub after removing from heat.
- Add essential oils and blend well.
- Pour blend into a small glass jar.
- To use, rub mixture on chest or wherever needed.
- Store closed jar in a dark, cool place for up to 1 year.
Notes
- Essential Oil Safety: For children, always use essential oils with caution and proper dilution. This recipe includes a gentler version suitable for ages 2+, but avoid applying near the face, nose, or mouth. For children under 2, do not apply essential oils directly to the skin unless advised by a qualified professional.
- Dilution Guidelines: This recipe uses about 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. For a milder, kid-safe version, use fewer total drops of essential oil. Lower dilution is best for children, especially for short-term use.
- Kid-Safe Oils: Some essential oils commonly used for respiratory support—such as eucalyptus, peppermint, and rosemary—can be too strong for young children. For a gentler option, stick with oils like lavender, frankincense, lemon, and tea tree in small amounts.
- Texture Tips: Beeswax is optional but helps create a thicker, more traditional vapor rub texture. Without it, the mixture will remain softer and more like a balm.
- Storage: Store in a sealed container in a cool, dark place for up to 6–12 months.
I'd love to hear how this works for you!
Adrienne, I’m glad to see that you’re not using the OTC Vicks! Studies have shown that it can do more harm than good. Several years ago when my cat scan showed lung issues, the first thing the pulmonologist asked was “Have you been using Vicks Vapor Rub?” Apparently, Vicks contains petrolatum which can enter the lung and cause lung inflammation. (I hadn’t been using it so that wasn’t the problem.) I’ve also read a few problms associated with the camphor. So please check that out. It’s scary what’s in products now a days! A hope your son is feeling better.
Thanks for your comment! I am planning on a new version of this and it doesn’t contain camphor – glad to hear that information! I knew about issues w/ petrolatum, but didn’t know about it entering the lungs – scary!
Hi everyone i’am new to this site and also to making soap and lotion bars.I have started a small home based buisness for right now.I am looking for a easy receipe for lotion bars for the winter.using shea butter bees wax and vicks salve .My problem is i don’t know how much of each to use for making 4 or more 2 oz bars.can somebody please help thanks so much waiting reply
Hi Pam. I have been hoping to make these as well. I can’t promise how soon it will be, but with the weather getting cooler I will try to do it soon. Feel free to send me a reminder email via my Contact Me page if you don’t see the post in the near future :-).
Thanks for all of this, I have made a chest rub from
15 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
7 drops Peppermint essential oil
2 drops Cedarwood essential oil
in 2 tablespoons (30g) shea butter or virgin coconut oil
1/3 cup (75ml) jojoba or olive oil
While it is not too bad I find the smell is a bit mild when you are all snuffly so have bought some menthol ess. Oil to add into it for a try, it is a nice soft consistency. Vicks is also petroleum jelly based which is not a great thing.
Here is a quick recipe it is called un-petroleum jelly a safe alternative to Petroleum Jelly
2 oz of beeswax
10 oz of oil (I used a combination of skin nutrient oils)
Melt the beeswax slowly in the microwave or in a double boiler, Once melted slowly add the oil Castor oil is good (see note below:) and mix. Pour in sterile jars and let cool.
Note: I heat my oil before I mix it with the beeswax because of the higher temperature of the beeswax cause the whole mixture to cool before everything is mixed together.
You now have a very effective safe alternative to petroleum jelly
Anything you would have normally used petroleum jelly for use this instead.
This might help someone
Hi! Just popping in via dandelion house. I’ve been making our “vicks” for years. Here’s a link, if that’s ok— https://kimberlys-cup.blogspot.com/2009/10/homemade-vapor-rub.html
BTW-You might want to rethink refined shea butter. The chemicals they are using for the refining are pretty nasty. You can buy unrefined and then just melt and strain it yourself. 🙂 I was shocked when I found out about the shea bc I thought I was using the best possible stuff for all my body butters and lotions.
Thanks for the tip! Kimberly, can you tell me how to strain the shea butter? I would appreciate it a great deal. I haven’t made my own lotion bars yet w/ the shea butter that I bought, but I had heard from the owner of a lotion bar company that she recommended refined. I don’t recall now what her reasoning is. Thanks in advance!
Hi, just found you site, it is wonderful!!!
What a great idea!!! I had a similar issue with my 5 y.o. he had green ick in the corners of his eyes and coming from his nose in great quantity this winter and I did not have the resources for and had not thought of this treatment, but I had an old bottle of colloidal silver, and since I have been reading up on all the nasties involved with meds and antibiotics, and actually giving him some (that didn’t work, it came right back). I decided to try the Colloidal silver in his nose, I dropped 3 drops in his nose once a day for three days cleared it up completely, after he had had this going on for months.
Hi Anneke!
Thanks for stopping by!
I will say, that I am rethinking this “recipe”. It didn’t work after the first time when my son and I both had very bad sinus colds. I am experimenting now with a new kind of essential oils that is much more potent, so hopefully that will do the trick! Stay in touch!
That is a wonderful substitute for the commercial product.
I just placed my very first order with Mountain Rose…and it should arrive Monday, I got essential oil, Lavender and what do you know eucyliptus too…I’ll try a batch of this as my son gets bad stuffed noses..thanks for sharing….
Here’s the basic recipe for a bug repellant I came across last summer. It worked pretty well.
Mulu base (?), Citronella, Lavender, Cedarwood, Pennyroyal,
Lemongrass, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Catnip oil, and Vitamin E. Blessings!
Hmmmm…What is mulu?
We use the eucalyptus and chamomile in jojoba or sweet almond oil for a chest rub, and if they have a cough we will mix 1 drop of oil of oregano into some oil and rub on the soles of their feet – works like a charm – no more cough in about 10min!!
You can also put a vaporizer (even a bowl of hot water on the floor register) and put lavender, tea tree and eucalyptus in it for it to permeate the room.
Hi!
Here’s a link to the vapor rub I make w/oils and beeswax. 🙂 Works wonders!!!
Also, you should consider the unrefined shea butter as it is simply more natural. They do all sorts of things to the shea butter to “Purify” it including using all sorts of nasties. You can melt it at a low temp and strain it through a fine sieve if there are nut shell particles, etc. in it. Just my two cents worth. Plus, it smells so much better!
Thanks for the info!
I had actually heard from someone in the natural skin care business that refined was the way to go. I was hoping to try my hand at making homemade lotion bars with the shea butter and it just arrived the other day.
Can you tell me what they use to refine it? I was wondering the same about the refining process as well.
Also, I was previously using NOW brand’s shea butter and they changed the process. I can’t recall what the change was, but it used to be very easy to use and now it is much more difficult to apply. Where do you get yours from?
Thanks again!
You mentioned a link, but I don’t see it? can you post it again?