Learn how to easily make your own DIY essential oil chest rub! A DIY vapor rub is the perfect alternative to Vicks with safer ingredients and works just as well!

Chest rubs have been used for generations as a natural remedy to alleviate the discomforts of coughs, congestion, and colds.

However, a lot of the vapor rubs at stores are filled with unneeded chemicals that can harm your entire family.

We cannot live without a natural vapor rub, but it is usually pretty expensive to find a truly natural chest rub for coughs, so I decided to make my own!

This DIY Essential Oil Chest Rub combines the soothing properties of spearmint, coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, lavender essential oil, and pine essential oil to create an effective homemade chest rub for cough and congestion that is safe for your kids!

Here you will find this easy DIY chest rub with essential oils, along with the benefits for each ingredient and alternative essential oils to use if you don’t have the ones I used.

Why Make a Homemade Essential Oil Chest Rub?

A chest rub is so beneficial for coughs, colds, and congestion, especially in little ones. Here are a few of those benefits:

Alleviates Cough

A chest rub can help to alleviate cough by soothing the throat and reducing irritation. The essential oils in the rub can act as expectorants, helping to break down mucus and making it easier to expel.

Reduces Congestion

The menthol and other decongestant properties of the essential oils help to clear nasal passages, making it easier to breathe. This is particularly beneficial when congestion is making it difficult to sleep or carry out daily activities.

Promotes Relaxation

Applying a chest rub can have a calming effect, helping to reduce stress and promote better sleep. The act of massaging the rub onto the chest can also help to relax the muscles and provide comfort.

Safe Ingredients

When you make your own homemade essential oil vapor rub, you know exactly what goes into it. This also means you can make it kid-friendly and change it up to fit your needs exactly!

side view of vapor rub with essential oils

Benefits of Each Ingredient

Here are the benefits of each ingredient I use in my essential oil chest rub recipe:

Spearmint

Anti-inflammatory: Spearmint essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract, easing breathing.
Antibacterial: It possesses antibacterial properties that can help combat respiratory infections.
Decongestant: The menthol in spearmint provides a cooling sensation and helps to clear nasal passages, reducing congestion. Plus, it’s safe for younger kids too, unlike eucalyptus.

Coconut Oil

Moisturizing: Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer, helping to keep the skin soft and hydrated for this homemade vapor rub with coconut oil.
Antimicrobial: It has natural antimicrobial properties that can help prevent infections.
Carrier Oil: Coconut oil serves as a carrier oil, diluting essential oils and ensuring they are safe for application on the skin.

Shea Butter

Nourishing: Shea butter is rich in vitamins A and E, which nourish and rejuvenate the skin.
Anti-inflammatory: Its anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe irritated skin.
Skin Barrier: Shea butter helps to create a protective barrier on the skin, locking in moisture and enhancing the effects of other ingredients.

Beeswax

Protective Layer: Beeswax forms a protective barrier on the skin, preventing moisture loss and shielding the skin from environmental irritants.
Skin Softening: It softens and soothes the skin, making the chest rub more comfortable to apply.

Lavender Essential Oil

Relaxing: Lavender essential oil is renowned for its calming and relaxing properties, which can help promote better sleep.
Antiseptic: It has antiseptic properties that can help protect against infections.
Respiratory Support: Lavender helps to open up airways and reduce symptoms of respiratory issues.

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Pine Essential Oil

Expectorant: Pine essential oil acts as an expectorant, helping to loosen mucus and phlegm in the respiratory tract.
Anti-inflammatory: It reduces inflammation in the respiratory system, easing breathing difficulties.
Antibacterial: Pine oil has antibacterial properties that help to fight off respiratory infections.

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DIY Essential Oil Chest Rub Recipe

Now you know the benefits of each ingredient, here is how to make vapor rub for congestion! Following this recipe will make about one 4 oz tin.

Supplies

Spearmint leaves
1/3 cup coconut oil
2 tbsp. shea butter
2 tbsp. beeswax
6-10 drops of lavender and pine essential oils

Directions

Make your spearmint infused oil by adding the leaves to your coconut oil in a glass jar. Leave for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking every couple of days, then strain.

Pour the beeswax pellets into the coconut oil. Microwave for 30 seconds and then stir for 30 seconds. Repeat until all the pellets have melted.

Next, add in the shea butter and repeat until it has melted as well. Add in the drops of essential oils and stir until well mixed.

Pour the mixture into a tin or glass container.

Let it sit without the lid on for 4-5 hours or until it fully hardens. Once it is hard, then you can put the lid on.

Notes

You can use a carrier oil you prefer, such as jojoba oil, avocado oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, almond oil, etc. You can use infused herbal oils, but you don’t have to as well.
You can use other essential oils if you don’t want a kid-safe version. Eucalyptus and peppermint are the most common ones. Check down below for more kid-safe essential oils to make a more powerful chest rub!
If you want this to be a vegan recipe, swap out beeswax pellets for candelilla wax.
If you do not want to use the microwave, you can use the double boiler method to heat up the oil and beeswax.
Use more beeswax pellets if you want a harder ointment and less if you want a softer vapor rub. Because of the coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax, this is a little bit of a harder salve, but it still melts quickly when it comes into contact with your skin.
To help preserve the vapor rub, you can also add in a drop or two of vitamin e oil as well.
Keep it in a dark place without much humidity, and it can last up to a year.

Other Essential Oils for Homemade Chest Rub

There are plenty of great oils to use for a vapor rub. If you don’t want to use lavender or pine, here are a few other great ones to add to your essential oil chest rub for congestion.

Each of these are kid-safe for under five years old:

Essential Oil Chest Rub

Materials

Spearmint leaves
1/3 cup coconut oil
2 tbsp. shea butter
2 tbsp. beeswax
6-10 drops of lavender and pine essential oils

Instructions

Make your spearmint infused oil by adding the leaves to your coconut oil in a glass jar. Leave for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking every couple of days, then strain.
Pour the beeswax pellets into the coconut oil. Microwave for 30 seconds and then stir for 30 seconds. Repeat until all the pellets have melted.
Next, add in the shea butter and repeat until it has melted as well. Add in the drops of essential oils and stir until well mixed.
Pour the mixture into a tin or glass container.
Let it sit without the lid on for 4-5 hours or until it fully hardens. Once it is hard, then you can put the lid on.

Notes

You can use a carrier oil you prefer, such as jojoba oil, avocado oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, almond oil, etc. You can use infused herbal oils, but you don’t have to as well.
You can use other essential oils if you don’t want a kid-safe version. Eucalyptus and peppermint are the most common ones. Check down below for more kid-safe essential oils to make a more powerful chest rub!
If you want this to be a vegan recipe, swap out beeswax pellets for candelilla wax.
If you do not want to use the microwave, you can use the double boiler method to heat up the oil and beeswax.
Use more beeswax pellets if you want a harder ointment and less if you want a softer vapor rub. Because of the coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax, this is a little bit of a harder salve, but it still melts quickly when it comes into contact with your skin.
To help preserve the vapor rub, you can also add in a drop or two of vitamin e oil as well.
Keep it in a dark place without much humidity, and it can last up to a year.

DIY Essential Oil Chest Rub for Cough Wrap-Up

Incorporating this DIY Essential Oil Chest Rub into your routine can provide natural relief from the symptoms of coughs, congestion, and colds, especially for your little ones.

Keep your kids safe from harmful chemicals found in traditional chest rubs and enjoy the benefits of making your own DIY vapor rub today!

Kid Safe DIY Essential Oil Chest Rub Recipe