When the first sniffles start to make their way around our home, one of the things I reach for is this homemade natural chest rub for congestion. It’s soothing, easy to make, and best of all completely free of petroleum and synthetic fragrance oils. This little jar of comfort has become a staple in our home during the colder months, and over the years I’ve given many as gifts to family and friends. The feedback has been so encouraging and everyone seems to love how effective it is and asks for the recipe.

Why Make Your Own Chest Rub?

If you’ve ever flipped over a jar of conventional vapour rub, you’ve likely seen ingredients like petrolatum (petroleum jelly) and fragrance. Petroleum is a by product of crude oil and doesn’t allow the skin to breathe or absorb beneficial ingredients. There are so many beautiful, natural alternatives available to recreate this winter wellness staple.

Fragrance oils are a sneaky culprit. Even when they smell pleasant, they can be made up of dozens of undisclosed synthetic chemicals. Many people (especially children) are sensitive to these, leading to headaches, respiratory irritation, and allergic reactions, the opposite of what we are wanting to achieve. In our home, we’ve learned that avoiding synthetic scents and sticking to pure essential oils makes a huge difference for both comfort and health.

Making your own natural chest rub for congestion puts you back in control of what goes on your skin and into your body. You can choose clean, nourishing ingredients that not only soothe congestion but also moisturize and protect the skin.

The Ingredients

The natural chest rub for congestion recipe uses a simple, time-tested blend of oils and beeswax as the base. Coconut oil and olive oil work together to create a creamy, spreadable texture. Coconut oil naturally contains antibacterial and antiviral properties, while olive oil is deeply moisturizing and gentle on sensitive skin.

Beeswax gives the rub its firmness, helping it stay solid at room temperature and melt softly when applied to warm skin. It also helps lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier. You’ll notice the recipe is more firm that what you are probably used to, so dig right in there!

Finally, a blend of essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint bring their natural decongestant and soothing properties to the natural chest rub for congestion. Eucalyptus and peppermint are both well known for helping to open the airways and ease breathing.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy & disclosure policy here.

How to Use

Rub a small amount on the chest, back, or the bottoms of the feet to help relieve congestion and soothe coughs. For children, I often use a slightly milder blend of essential oils or less overall to keep it gentle.

A Simple, Thoughtful Gift

These little jars make wonderful homemade gifts—especially during the winter months. I’ve gifted them to family, teachers, and friends, often paired with a jar of my natural toothpaste or deodorant, a baked treat and a candle. The feedback has been so positive that I now make a larger batch every year just for sharing. There’s something comforting about giving a remedy that’s been made with care and pure ingredients—it feels personal and intentional.

Closing Thoughts

This homemade natural chest rub is one of those simple recipes that reminds me why I started making things from scratch in the first place. It’s effective, affordable, and free from the unnecessary additives found in store-bought versions. You’ll love the way it smells, how it melts into the skin, and how well it works to ease those stuffy nights.

Once you make your own, you’ll never go back to the petroleum-based kind again. 🌿