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!
I found the same containers at Target for 99c. I use them for eyelash growth serum.
Something to think about: everything you put on your skin, ingest, or breathe in, has to be filtered by your liver. Your skin is the largest organ so be very careful about everything to which you expose yourself. Soap, lotion, cosmetics, etc.
The liver was never meant to be able to act as a filter to all the garbage we are exposed to nowadays. If the liver becomes toxic, overloaded with chemicals that it can’t filter, then we become ill and all of our other organs, immune system and hormones are affected. Be aware, read labels and make informed choices about what goes on your skin and in your body.
Baby oil seems innocuous. It’s made from crude oil. Vaseline..same thing. Coconut oil, Cocoa Butter, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar are very wise, and very healthful alternatives to many things that we pay much more for in our everyday lives.
Go Organic in everything you can. Google is your friend. <3
Thanks! So you make your own serum? I would love to find out about it – does it work for you? Thanks for the info. You are very right about it all.
Love therecommended oil companies,I use plant therapy and mountain herb and love the effects the oils have had over the years
Peppermint and eucalyptus are for use on children 10 years and older due to the ability to slow respiratory functions
Stumbling onto your post, I read what you wrote about terpentine oil ; ‘Who wants to put terpentine oil on a child anyway?’ I do!
But I am an aromatherapist and I know the difference betwen “Essential Oil of Terpentine” and “Terpentine oil”. Unfortunatelly, the english language put the same name on both, which induces a lot of confusion.
The “Essential Oil of Terpentine” had been part of the European pharmaceutical books for more than two centuries and is very effective in case of coughs and all the respiratory infections; It is safe and very usefull.
The “terpentine oil” is used for treating woods!!
If both come from the Pinus pinaster bark, the ‘Essential Oil of Terpentine” is made out of the sticky residu left over once all the esthers are gone, residu that contains the essential oils.
But I’ve never seen any “Essential Oil of Terpentine” in the US
You can use essential oil of Camphor in your Vapor Rub preparation without hesitation. And simply add your EO ( Eucalyptus, Ravintsare, Tea-tree, Manuka, Pine, Linanol Thyme, camphor …) on a vegetable oil (sesame, Wheat germs oil, …) or shea butter and put it on, it will work wonders. The EO do the work, not the carrier! But be carreful with spearmint as it has a cooling effect.
I agree about Petrolatum which is now forbidden in European Skin care.
I would add I do not agree with Palm oil or shortening ; look into the disasters that crop brings to underdevelopped countries because of unscrupulous multinationals. Plus the oil qualities are very disputable…
What do you think about the harmful effects it can have on the lungs? I assume you are talking about small uses?
Hi there,
We recently featured your article on a blog post titled ’top 31 amazing things to make with coconut oil’
Please share if it’s ok with you! I’ve also sent you an email about this via the contact page!
I don’t have any eucalyptic or peppermint essential oil( my son took it to his house). I do have peppermint extract for Christmas baking. Would this also work in my coconut oil?
I don’t know – but you could try. Can’t hurt :).
No, it won’t work>
The extract is an infusion of spearmint into a base, often an alcoholic base.
The Essential Oil comes from the distillation of the whole plant and contains all the active principle.
Nothing replace a true uncut EO
You mention in several of your responses that you were going to try a different recipe or rework this one. However, I do not see that update. Any more thoughts?
Thanks!
Haven’t done it but look one comment above :).
I work with aromatherapy. Be careful with Eucalyptus and children under 5. You can dilute it more or keep it on the feet. It can be too much for their lungs. Always read up on them(this is for all looking into aromatherapy). Young living is a great resource to learn about essential oils and cautions. Thank you for the recipe, I will be using it on my children.
Hi Danielle. Thanks for commenting. This is what Mr. Dean, the owner of Native American, has to say about eucalyptus:
Awesome post. We do something very similar. .45 oz Coconut oil, 1/8 tsp.(small pinch) camphor, 6 drops eucalyptus eo, 2 drops lemongrass eo, 2 drops lavender eo and 2 drops peppermint/tea tree eo <3
of course you do :).
Just a little note on using peppermint on kids. Be careful using Pepermint on children as it can be too strong and cause their throats to close if they are too young. Under 3 years old you should substitute spiramint.