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The Daily Insight

How do you make Vicks Vapor Rub at home?

Author

Rachel Hernandez

Updated on April 17, 2026

Combine the olive oil & beeswax in a saucepan on medium heat & stir with a wooden spoon until the beeswax has melted. Turn off the heat, and stir in 25-30 drops of eucalyptus essential oil, 20-25 drops of rosemary essential oil, & 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil. Pour into your jars.

Similarly one may ask, how do you make homemade Vicks Vapor Rub?

Instructions

  1. Scoop 1 cup of coconut oil into a mixing bowl.
  2. Add 20 drops of Eucalyptus OIl and 10 drops of Peppermint Oil into the bowl.
  3. Mix well.
  4. Scoop the mixture into a container with an airtight lid for easy storage.
  5. Store in a cool, dry, space without direct heat or sunlight.
  6. Apply to chest and feet to as desired.

Beside above, why Vicks VapoRub is banned? The product was one of 344 drug combinations, including several antibiotics and analgesics, that India ordered to be prohibited, saying that a government-appointed panel of experts had found the combinations lacked “therapeutic justification”.

Hereof, what are the ingredients for Vicks VapoRub?

Procter & Gamble lists the following active ingredients in Vicks VapoRub: camphor (4.8 percent) menthol (2.6 percent) eucalyptus oil (1.2 percent)

It also contains several inactive ingredients that may be responsible for some of its popular uses:

  • cedarleaf oil.
  • nutmeg oil.
  • petrolatum.
  • thymol.
  • turpentine oil.

What essential oil is like Vicks?

Eucalyptus essential oil might be one of the most recognized scents of all the essential oils if, like me, you grew up being slathered with Vick's VapoRub at the first sign of a cold. I loved the smell of that stuff, and even today, the scent of eucalyptus takes me back to cold winter days at my Grandma's house.

Related Question Answers

Does Vicks have peppermint?

As pointed out, Vicks VapoRub does contain menthol and many Halls cough products also contain menthol and a case of urticaria and worsening asthma due to cherry flavored Halls Cough drops has been reported. While she can tolerate peppermint candies, not all menthol is made from peppermint.

Can I melt Vicks Vapor Rub?

A: No. You should not heat or microwave Vicks VapoRub. Do not add Vicks VapoRub to hot water or any container where heating water. Doing so may cause splattering and result in burns.

Is Vicks VapoRub safe?

It's unsafe for any use in children under 2 years old. In adults and children age 2 and older, use it only on the neck and chest. Swallowing a few teaspoons of camphor — one of the main ingredients in VapoRub and other topical medications, such as Campho-Phenique and Bengay — can cause deadly poisoning in toddlers.

Is Vicks VapoRub natural?

Vicks VapoRub is made from natural ingredients. However, even natural chemicals can be toxic if you get too much of them or use them incorrectly. Also, children and adults of any age should not place Vicks VapoRub under their nose or in their nostrils.

Can I rub my chest with eucalyptus oil?

Clear your chest

Eucalyptus oil can not only silence a cough, it can also help you get the mucus out of your chest. Inhaling vapor made with the essential oil can loosen mucus so that when you do cough, it's expelled. Using a rub containing eucalyptus oil will produce the same effect.

What can I use instead of baby Vicks?

If your baby is under the age of 2, you should never apply Vicks to their chest, nose, feet, or elsewhere. You could try special nonmedicated rub for babies 3 months and older. The blend is dubbed as a “soothing ointment” that contains fragrances of eucalyptus, rosemary, and lavender.

Is eucalyptus oil good for babies?

While Eucalyptus globulus is safe for adults, it should not be used on children under the age of 2. Contact your pediatrician before using eucalyptus to ease respiratory symptoms.

Can you add essential oils to Vicks humidifier?

Do not put essential oils in the tank of any humidifier as the oils can damage the humidifier and void the warranty. Only water should be put in the tank of the humidifier. As an alternative, use Vicks VapoPads and Vicks VapoSteam with select humidifiers to get soothing Vicks vapors.

Can Vicks hurt your lungs?

Vicks has been reported to cause inflammation in the eyes, mental status changes, lung inflammation, liver damage, constriction of airways and allergic reactions.

Can you put Vicks in your nose?

It's not safe to use Vicks VapoRub inside your nose as it can be absorbed into your body through the mucus membranes lining your nostrils. VVR contains camphor, which can have toxic effects if absorbed into your body. It can be especially dangerous for children if it's used inside their nasal passages.

How much does Vicks VapoRub cost?

Vicks VapoRub Original Cough Suppressant, Topical Analgesic Ointment, Best used for relief from cold symptoms, aches, and pains. 7.99$4.54 / oz.

Does Vicks Vapor Rub help inflammation?

Vicks has some anti-inflammatory properties that are great for achy muscles and arthritic joints. Just rub it in like you would body lotion into the affected spot and let it soak in.

What does Vicks do to your face?

According to Manway, Vicks VapoRub “isn't appropriate to be used on the face due to the thick, greasy vehicle that can easily clog pores and promote the cascade of further acne.” So, while using Vicks on a pimple likely isn't dangerous to your health, it could actually backfire and cause more acne.

Does Vicks Vapor Rub help with sore throat?

Menthol, the active ingredient in Vicks VapoDrops, has a cooling effect and also temporarily relieves cough. For your worst sore throat pain, try VapoCOOL SEVERE Drops. They soothe your sore throat pain with the trusted Vicks Vapors you know, in a powerful drop.

Does Vicks help with cough?

Vicks VapoRub contains 2.6% menthol to help stop constant coughing fast. Vicks VapoDrops are also an effective remedy for coughs. Allow 2 drops to dissolve slowly in your mouth to help stop constant coughing. Although Vicks products cannot cure a cough, they can help stop constant coughing.

Is Vicks a drug?

Vicks VapoRub is a mentholated topical ointment, part of the Vicks brand of over-the-counter medications owned by the American consumer goods company Procter & Gamble. VapoRub is intended for use on the chest, back and throat for cough suppression or on muscles and joints for minor aches and pains.

Can Vicks VapoRub cause pneumonia?

We report a case of exogenous lipoid pneumonia from chronic, extranasal use of petrolatum ointment (Vicks VapoRub in this case) for nasal decongestion in a young woman, presenting with cough, dyspnea and fever. Exogenous Lipoid pneumonia is a rare condition, underdiagnosed and is more prevalent in adults.

Does Vicks Vapor Rub help tinnitus?

Vicks VapoRub has been a household staple for many decades. It's meant to relieve symptoms of cough, congestion, and muscle aches. Bloggers tout it as a viable treatment for earaches, tinnitus, and earwax buildup.

Is Vicks VapoRub good for pneumonia?

A. We are impressed that Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet actually helped a serious cough that signaled pneumonia. We do NOT recommend toughing it out with a home remedy as long as your hubby did. Q.

What happens if you inhale too much Vicks?

There are calcium channels in cell membranes throughout our bodies, and that is why we can see systemic toxicity after swallowing or inhaling concentrated amounts of menthol. Serious effects include seizures, coma, and death. Menthol can cause eye and skin irritation.

Is Vicks candy harmful?

It's possible to overdose on cough drops containing menthol, but it is incredibly difficult. Most cases of menthol poisoning occur because of the ingestion of pure menthol. Over-the-counter cough drops don't contain pure menthol. The menthol is usually watered down and mixed with other ingredients.

Who is Vicks owned by?

Procter & Gamble

Is Vicks an Indian company?

Vicks was introduced in India in 1964, through a public limited company called Richardson Hindustan Limited (RHL). In the 1960s, RHL was one of many subsidiary companies selling Vicks across the world.

Does Vicks help with itching?

Other TRP channels respond to menthol and camphor, key ingredients in Vicks VapoRub (Neuropeptides, February 2010). This probably helps explain why Vicks eases the itch.

Can diffusing essential oils cause lung problems?

VOCs within the diffused oils can affect indoor air quality causing a similar pollutant effect as air fresheners, scented candles, and incense. Poor indoor air quality can worsen existing respiratory symptoms from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses.

What scent is Vicks VapoRub?

Apply VapoRub to your chest or neck and the cough relief starts working instantly. VapoRub Lemon Scent is the same Vicks VapoRub, enhanced with the refreshing scent of lemon. VapoRub Lemon Scent provides powerful cough relief for ages 2 and up.

What scent is Vicks?

VICKS VAPORUB LAVENDER SCENT (camphor- synthetic, eucalyptus oil, and menthol ointment.

Is camphor an essential oil?

Camphor, traditionally obtained through the distillation of the wood of the camphor tree, is a major essential oil component of many aromatic plant species, as it is biosynthetically synthesised; it can also be chemically synthesised using mainly turpentine as a starting material.