DIY Eucalyptus Vapor Rub (Because Congestion Can Kindly Get Lost)
Let me set the scene: It’s 2 a.m., your kid can’t breathe through their nose, the dog is pacing the hallway, and you’re trying to remember if that ancient jar of Vicks is still in the back of the medicine cabinet from 2017. Sound familiar?
We’ve all been there—curled up in a blanket burrito, trying to rub the congestion away while the air feels like soup and your sinuses are staging a protest.
That’s exactly why I started making my own vapor rub.
Because I wanted something that actually works, doesn’t smell like a chemical spill, and won’t have me Googling “toxic ingredients in drugstore rubs” at 3 in the morning.
This DIY version is safe, effective, and smells like a spa. (If spas were also full of kids coughing and asking for snacks. But you get the vibe.)
What Makes This Rub So Magical?
Let’s break it down:
Eucalyptus essential oil: Known for clearing sinuses and reducing inflammation.
Coconut oil: Antimicrobial and super hydrating—plus it’s the base that holds it all together.
Shea butter: Rich and creamy, helps your skin stay soothed while the oils do their thing.
Peppermint oil (optional): Adds a nice cooling effect and further opens up airways.
Beeswax pellets (optional): Helps firm the rub if you want a more balm-like texture.
🌿 DIY Eucalyptus Vapor Rub Recipe
Ingredients
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 tablespoons shea butter
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil (optional)
1 tablespoon beeswax pellets (optional, for a firmer texture)
Instructions
In a double boiler (or a makeshift one—just a glass bowl over a saucepan), melt the coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax together over low heat. Stir gently.
Once everything is melted and fully combined, remove from heat.
Let it cool slightly (you don’t want to burn off the power of the essential oils), then stir in the eucalyptus and peppermint oils.
Pour the mixture into a small glass jar or metal tin.
Let it solidify at room temperature or pop it in the fridge to speed it up.
How to Use It
Rub a small amount on your chest, neck, or the soles of your feet (yes, it really helps!). Avoid putting it directly under your nose, especially with kids—it’s powerful stuff.
Store in a cool place, and use within a few months.
Why I Love It
I’ve used this on my kids, on myself, and even rubbed a little on a warm washcloth in the shower to create a mini steam room when I’m too congested to function.
It’s the kind of remedy that makes you feel like a capable, grounded, herbalist-level mom even when you’re wearing socks with holes and haven’t slept in days.
Want more DIY swaps like this that actually work?
Come hang out with me inside The Mental Mom Community—where we’re talking non-toxic living, practical wellness, and building a life that feels good from the inside out.
Because wellness doesn’t need to be expensive.
It just needs to be real.
