What’s in Our Balms?
handcrafted and batch-made with natural oils, botanical infusions & essential oils.
NATURAL OILS
Shea Butter (V. paradoxa)
The crown jewel of natural butters, expressed from the roasted nuts of the Karite tree indigenous to West Africa. A cornerstone of local economies, Shea Butter has been sourced for millennia for skin care and dietary needs. Rich, smooth and luxurious, with inherent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Replete with Vitamin E and A, Shea Butter provides a superior base for our Balms.
Sweet Almond Oil (P. dulcis)
A light, clean, gentle oil expressed from the fruit-seed of this flowering tree. Native to Asia, now heavily cultivated in California and the Mediterranean. Widely used in skin care preparations and the food industry, it has both emollient and emulsifying properties. Sweet Almond Oil is the extraction base for all of our batch-made botanical infusions.
Beeswax (C. alba)
Utilized by humans since the dawn of time, Beeswax is produced worldwide, most commonly from the comb of the Honeybee (A. mellifera). Rich in fatty esters, it has been attributed with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiperoxidative properties. With a distinct, lovely honey scent, it provides a firm but smooth tack to our balms.
BOTANICAL INFUSIONS
Batch-made, dried-plant extractions in a Sweet Almond Oil base.
Arnica Flower (A. montana)
Native to Europe and found in India and the Western United States. The whole flower is used for extraction. With inherent circulation-stimulating properties, Arnica has traditional uses as a topical analgesic and anti-inflammatory.
Calendula Flower (C. officinalis)
Native to parts of Europe and Asia, now cultivated in North America. Also known as Pot Marigold, it is the grand dame of botanical skin care. Extractions are made from the whole flower. With anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, Calendula is widely employed in topical preparations.
Comfrey (S. officinale)
A low-lying shrub typically found in the marshes and damp woodlands of Europe and the Eastern United States. Both leaf and root are employed for extraction. High in allantoin, it has traditional topical uses on wounds and musculoskeletal conditions.
German Chamomile Flower (M. recutita)
Native to Southern Europe and Western Asia, now naturalized in the Americas. A gentle and nurturing flower. Cultivated for millennia as a topical medicinal, it is a soothing anti-inflammatory with a distinct, lovely scent.
Plantain Leaf (P. major)
A common herb found in moist fields throughout Europe and the Americas. At times utilized in a poultice form, Plantain is a mucilaginous plant with soothing effects on burns and inflammation.
Vanilla Bean (V. planifolia)
Native to Mexico and the American tropics, now cultivated worldwide. The Vanilla “Bean” is the result of a laborious, multi-month curing of the plant’s unripened fruit. This fosters the enzymatic creation of Vanillin, the most commonly isolated fragrance molecule. Prized for its warm and delicate flavor profile, it is widely employed in culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal practices.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are a vast array of organic, volatile compounds expressed from natural plant matter.
Each particular plant species produce their own distinct aromatic molecular structure, which in turn determines the essential oil’s bio-activity.
Essential oils are typically extracted via steam distillation or cold pressing, with an active concentration of less than 1% each per Balm
Generally regarded as safe (GRAS) is a formal designation by the FDA indicating the good safety profile of a food or cosmetic ingredient.
Cypress (C. sempervirens)
As a conifer member of the Cupressaceae family, Cypress is native to the Mediterranean. A traditional topical antispasmodic, the essential oil is sourced from the tree’s needles and terminal branches making it rich in the molecule Pinene. Cypress has a low risk of irritation and sensitization. Risk increases with oxidation.
Cedarwood Atlas (C. atlantica)
A member of the Pinaceae family native to Northwest Africa, Cedarwood Atlas is a traditional anti-inflammatory. It carries a low risk of sensitization.
Frankincense (B. carterii)
Sourced from the resin of the tree native to arid areas of East Africa and the Middle East, Frankincense is rich in Pinene and Thujene. Traditionally, Frankincense is used for antiseptic, analgesic, and mood stabilizing properties. May sensitize if allowed to oxidize.
Black Pepper (P. nigrum)
Native to India and now cultivated worldwide, Black Pepper is traditionally prized for its flavor and analgesic properties. It is sourced from the plant’s dried fruit (seed) and rich in Limonene and Caryophyllene. May sensitize if oxidized. GRAS.
Ginger (Z. officinale)
A flowering perennial native to South Asia, Ginger contains inherent circulation-stimulating effects, and is a slightly warming topical. This essential oil is sourced from the dried Rhizome. Its largest constituent is Zingiberene. GRAS.
Roman Chamomile (A. nobilis)
A low-lying member of the Daisy family, Roman Chamomile has been used for millennia for medicinal and ritual purposes. Known for its calming effects, it is a traditional analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It has low risk of sensitization.
Helichrysum (H. italicum)
Native to the Mediterranean, named for its “Golden Sun” appearance, Helichrysum is a staple of many folk medicine traditions. It is utilized topically on wounds and scars to promote skin healing and rejuvenation. Helichrysum is sourced from the plant’s flower and rich in Neryl-acetate. GRAS.
Rosehip Seed (R. mosqueta)
An expressed oil sourced from the seed of the wild Rose bush. Rich in essential fatty acids, Rosehip Seed oil is a commonly used skin-care aid.
Rose Otto (R. damascena)
Native to East Asia, Rose Otto is now widely cultivated in Europe and the Mediterranean. Long prized for its delicate fragrance, Rose Otto is also a traditional antiseptic rich in Citronellol. Sourced directly from the flower, it requires around 5,000 lbs. of petals to make 1 lb. of essential oil. GRAS.
Lavender (L. angustifolia)
This is a widely cultivated flower with a distinct, herbaceous fragrance. A traditional antiseptic for wound care uses, the flower is rich in Linalool or Linalyl Acetate. It is considered low risk for sensitization. GRAS.
Geranium (P. graveolens)
Utilized by the ancient Egyptians for cosmetic skin care, the plant produces a delicate, edible flower with a Rose-like fragrance. Traditionally Geranium is used for its mood-enhancing and antimicrobial effects. It is high in Citronellol and has low risk of sensitization. GRAS.
Tea Tree (M. alternifolia)
This essential oil is native to the Australian continent with traditional antiseptic and antimicrobial uses. Sourced from the plant’s highly fragrant leaves. Tea Tree has a low risk of sensitization, risk increases with concentration.
Palmarosa (C. martinii)
A wetland grass native to India, Palmarosa is traditionally used for irritated skin care and as an antimicrobial. The oil is sourced from leaves of the plant. Rich in Geraniol, it has a low risk of sensitization. GRAS.
Oregano (O. vulgare)
Prized by the Greeks and Romans for its fragrance and flavor, Oregano is also a traditional immune booster and antimicrobial. Rich in Cavacrol, this oil has moderate risk of sensitization. GRAS.
Thyme (T. vulgaris)
A small evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean, Thyme is a common kitchen ingredient and traditional antimicrobial. The oil is rich in Thymol, and has a low risk of sensitization. Risk increases with oxidation. GRAS.
Orange (Cit. sinensis)
Native to Asia, now cultivated worldwide, Orange contains traditional carminative, antiseptic, and mood-elevating effects. Cold pressed from the rind of the fruit, Sweet Orange Oil is significantly less photo-toxic than the Bitter variety. It is high in Limonene, and its vulnerability to oxidation may increase risk of sensitization. GRAS.
Lemon (C. limon)
This fruit is native to India and widely cultivated in the subtropical climates of Europe and the Americas. Cold pressed from the fruit’s rind, this oil is utilized for its calming and cleansing properties. It has a low risk of sensitization with increased risk if oxidized. It is photo-toxic above a 2% concentration. GRAS.