The first time I saw someone mixing Vaseline with cloves, I couldn’t understand why these two completely different things belonged in the same little jar. Vaseline is thick, smooth, and almost scentless, while cloves are intensely aromatic and usually live beside the cinnamon and pepper in the kitchen.
But the combination actually has a simple logic.
Petroleum jelly is one of the most effective everyday occlusive moisturizers. It forms a protective layer over the skin that dramatically reduces water loss. Cloves, meanwhile, contain aromatic plant compounds—most famously eugenol, which accounts for much of their characteristic fragrance.
Combine them carefully, and you get a rich, warming-feeling balm that can be useful for rough heels, dry hands, elbows, knees, cuticles, and massage.
Why Vaseline Works So Well on Very Dry Skin
Petroleum jelly doesn’t need dozens of vitamins or exotic botanical extracts to be useful.
Its strength is much simpler.
It forms a barrier.
Our skin constantly loses small amounts of water to the surrounding environment. When the protective skin barrier is compromised or the air becomes particularly dry, that water loss can become more noticeable.
The result?
Rough hands, flaky elbows, dry cuticles, and heels that feel like sandpaper.
Applying petroleum jelly over slightly damp skin helps trap that moisture, giving the outer skin time to soften.
That’s why a tiny jar can be surprisingly effective.
What Makes Cloves Interesting?
Cloves are dried flower buds from the clove tree.
Their unmistakable aroma comes largely from eugenol, an aromatic compound extensively studied for antioxidant, antimicrobial, and other biological properties in laboratory research.
Clove oil has also traditionally been used in preparations associated with temporary discomfort, which explains why cloves appear in so many old-fashioned massage balms.
But cloves are powerful.
Especially clove essential oil.
More isn’t better when something is being placed on the skin.
That’s why I prefer a mild infusion rather than pouring concentrated clove essential oil directly into a homemade balm.
1. The Overnight Heel Trick
This is probably where I’d use the mixture first.
Wash your feet and dry them thoroughly.
Then leave the heels just slightly hydrated—or apply the balm shortly after bathing.
Massage a very thin layer over rough heel skin.
Put on clean cotton socks and leave it overnight.
The socks keep the petroleum jelly against the skin instead of against your bedsheets.
By morning, rough surface skin can feel dramatically softer.
The main hero here is the petroleum jelly’s ability to reduce moisture loss.
2. Dry Cuticles
My second favorite use requires almost nothing.
Take the smallest amount imaginable and massage it around each nail.
Dry, ragged-looking cuticles immediately look smoother because the petroleum jelly coats the surface.
Repeated use at bedtime can be particularly helpful for hands constantly exposed to soap and water.
3. Rough Elbows
Elbows are almost designed to become dry.
They experience constant friction and are one of those areas we forget about until the skin becomes visibly rough.
Massage a tiny amount of the clove-infused petroleum jelly over the elbows after showering.
The slightly damp skin provides the water.
The petroleum jelly helps keep it there.
That’s a much better way to understand the treatment than imagining the balm somehow “feeds” water into the skin.
4. Dry Knees
The same technique works beautifully on rough knees.
I apply a thin layer rather than a thick coating.
After several nights, consistent moisturization can make the surface feel considerably smoother.
5. Dry Knuckles
Cold weather and repeated handwashing can make the knuckles particularly uncomfortable.
Instead of coating my entire hands during the daytime, I’d apply this balm specifically to the dry patches before bed.
A little goes an extremely long way.
6. A Rich Hand Treatment
For extremely dry-feeling hands, apply a very thin layer over slightly damp skin and put on cotton gloves.
Leave it for an hour or overnight.
This gives the petroleum jelly uninterrupted time to reduce water loss.
In the morning, wash away any excess.
It’s incredibly simple, but sometimes simplicity works best.
7. A Massage Balm
Cloves have that unmistakable warm, spicy aroma that immediately makes a homemade balm feel different from plain petroleum jelly.
A small amount can provide excellent slip for massaging tired hands or feet.
The physical massage itself is doing much of the relaxing work.
The clove aroma simply turns it into a more enjoyable ritual.
8. Dry Ankle Skin
This is one area I used to completely forget.
Socks and footwear constantly rub against the ankles, and the skin can become rough without us noticing.
Massage a small amount onto the area before bed.
Within a few applications, consistently moisturized skin often feels noticeably different.
My Two-Ingredient Clove Balm
You only need:
2 tablespoons petroleum jelly
3 whole cloves
That’s all.
I prefer whole cloves rather than concentrated clove essential oil because it’s easier to keep the preparation mild.
Place the petroleum jelly in a small heat-safe container.
Crush the cloves very lightly—just enough to break them open.
Warm the petroleum jelly gently using a double boiler until it becomes liquid. Don’t place petroleum jelly directly over a flame.
Add the cloves.
Keep the mixture gently warm for around 10–15 minutes, without allowing it to become excessively hot.
Remove it from the heat and let the cloves infuse briefly.
Then strain extremely well so no sharp clove fragments remain.
Pour the liquid back into a clean, dry container and allow it to cool.
It will return to its familiar balm-like consistency.
The Most Important Part: Keep It Mild
Cloves contain potent aromatic compounds, and concentrated clove preparations can irritate or even injure skin.
So I wouldn’t grind a huge handful of cloves into petroleum jelly and leave the particles rubbing against the skin.
And I definitely wouldn’t pour undiluted clove essential oil directly onto sensitive skin.
With this recipe, the idea is a mild aromatic infusion, not maximum concentration.
Test a tiny amount on a small patch of intact skin first.
Where I Wouldn’t Use It
I’d keep this particular homemade mixture away from the eyes, lips, inside the nose, genital area, freshly shaved skin, open wounds, and already irritated or inflamed skin.
For facial moisturizing, plain petroleum jelly is also much simpler than adding cloves.
This mixture makes the most sense on tougher, dry areas such as heels, elbows, knees, hands, and cuticles.
Why It Can Look Impressive After One Night
Here’s where the viral videos can actually capture something real.
Imagine an extremely dry heel.
Its surface is rough, pale, and covered with tiny lines.
Now moisturize that skin, coat it with an occlusive substance, cover it with a sock, and leave everything undisturbed for eight hours.
By morning, the outer layer contains more water.
The surface becomes softer.
Tiny dryness lines appear less pronounced.
The skin reflects light differently.
Visually, that can be a surprisingly large change.
But you haven’t removed toxins or rebuilt the foot overnight.
You’ve hydrated very dry skin effectively.
And that’s already useful enough.
Why I Don’t Add Ten More Ingredients
This is where homemade remedies often become unnecessarily complicated.
Someone starts with Vaseline and cloves.
Then they add cinnamon.
Then lemon.
Then baking soda.
Then vinegar.
Then three essential oils.
Suddenly a perfectly simple moisturizing balm has become a chemistry experiment.
I prefer keeping this one exactly as its name suggests:
Vaseline and cloves.
Nothing more.
The Little Jar That Earned Its Place in My Bathroom
After trying combinations like this, I’ve realized that the best homemade preparations aren’t necessarily the ones making the biggest promises.
They’re the ones I actually use again.
A tiny amount on dry heels before putting on socks.
A dab around neglected cuticles.
A thin coating over rough elbows.
A little balm for a relaxing hand massage.
Those are small things—but they’re practical.
And when extremely dry skin feels noticeably softer the following morning, I understand why someone might open that little jar again the next night.
Two ingredients. One tiny jar. And a surprisingly useful way to turn an ordinary moisturizer into a warm, clove-scented overnight balm.
For more amazing natural remedies, check out how to Mix CASTOR OIL and ROSEMARY to Treat 23 Health Issues! or discover what happens when you Put Olive Oil with Honey Only & Leave it for one Night & you won’t ignore it for your whole Life. You might also be surprised by these 13 Coconut Oil Uses Most People Don’t Know.
