The Apothecary
Body Care
Salves, whipped tallow, body oils, lip balms, and sugar scrubs, made by hand in Montana.
Featured Products
Handmade in small batches, this medicinal balm deeply nourishes and repairs skin irritations with a slow, low-heat double infusion of potent organic herbs.
Ingredients: Grass fed/finished beef tallow, Castor Oil*, Sodium Hydroxide (Lye), Reverse Osmosis Water. *=USDA Organic
Slow-infused comfrey salve made with grass-fed/finished tallow & USA-sourced yellow beeswax.
Every product in this category is made with low or no PUFA oils, organic oils and butters, and organically grown or wildcrafted herbs. Nothing contains added fragrance, parabens or other synthetic preservatives, titanium dioxide, dimethicone or other silicones, phthalates, or triclosan. Each recipe is written by a certified clinical herbalist and made in small batches at our workshop in Montana.
From the Herbalist
Why I Infuse Slowly
Most of the herbs in these products go in as a slow oil infusion. Dried plant material sits in oil at low heat for hours, or at room temperature for weeks, until the oil-soluble parts of the plant have moved into the oil. That oil carries the scent and the properties those plants are traditionally valued for in skin care, and it becomes the base of the salve, balm, or body oil.
The slow method takes far longer than a solvent extract. I use it because the plant never touches a solvent, so there is no residue to remove afterward and nothing in the jar but the oil, the herb, and whatever butter, wax, or lanolin the recipe calls for. Essential oils are used sparingly, at low percentages, and left out entirely where a product does not need scent.
How the Body Care Is Made
Hand-Rendered Montana Tallow
Tallow comes from a pasture-raised, regenerative farm here in Montana. The cattle are grass fed and grass finished, and I render the fat myself in small batches.
Oils and Butters
Carrier oils and butters are organic and cold-pressed, chosen for minimal processing and bought in glass or with the least plastic contact I can find. I am happy to tell you where a specific oil came from if you ask.
Solvent-Free, Traditional Extraction
Herbs are infused into oil by heat and time. No hexane, no alcohol, no isolates. The methods are the same ones herbalists have used for generations.
Unwashed Lanolin from Texas
A small amount of lanolin goes into some salves and lip balms as an occlusive that holds moisture in the skin. Mine comes from an organic farm in Texas that does not wash the lanolin with solvents or dip its sheep in pesticide, so the lanolin is free of those residues.
US-Based Suppliers
Herbs, oils, and supplies come from US suppliers vetted for sustainable and non-toxic practices, with Mountain Rose Herbs as the main source for dried plants.
Stainless, Wood, and Glass
Every pot, spoon, filter, and jar that touches a batch is stainless steel, wood, unbleached cheesecloth, or glass. Jars and bottles are washed in a plant-based detergent before filling.
Low-Plastic Packaging
Products ship in glass jars with metal lids, or glass bottles with droppers or pumps. Orders are packed in recycled materials where possible, or a new cardboard box with plastic-free padding and water-activated paper tape.
Small Batches
Each batch is infused, poured, and labeled by hand. Batches stay small so nothing sits in storage for long, and when one sells out the next is made fresh.
Caring for Your Products
These products contain no water, which is why they are made without preservatives. Keeping water out of the jar and heat away from it is what keeps them at their best.
- Store below 75°F and out of direct sun. Whipped tallow melts and loses its volume in a hot car or a sunny windowsill, and a melted jar can be set in the fridge to firm up again.
- Scoop with clean, dry fingers or a small spatula. Water in the jar is the one thing that lets bacteria grow in an oil-based product.
- Keep lids on tight between uses so the oils are not exposed to air.
- Use within 12 months of purchase. Tallow and infused oils slowly oxidize, and a stale or crayon-like smell means the jar is past its best.
- Patch test a small area on the inner arm before first use, and stop using any product that causes redness or irritation.
Body Care Questions
What is in these products?
Organic or wildcrafted herbs, organic cold-pressed oils and butters, grass-fed tallow, beeswax, a small amount of unwashed lanolin in some salves and lip balms, and sparing amounts of essential oil in scented items. The full ingredient list is on every product page.
What is left out?
Added fragrance, parabens and other synthetic preservatives, titanium dioxide, dimethicone and other silicones, phthalates, triclosan, and high-PUFA seed oils.
Why is there no preservative?
Preservatives are needed when a product contains water. These products are oil, butter, wax, and herb only, so there is no water for microbes to grow in. Keeping water out of the jar matters for the same reason.
Are the products fragrance free?
None contain synthetic fragrance. Some are scented with a low percentage of essential oil, and where an unscented option exists it is listed as a variant on the product page.
Where does the tallow come from?
A pasture-raised, regenerative farm in Montana. The cattle are grass fed and grass finished, and the fat is rendered by hand in our workshop.
Why lanolin, and where is it from?
Lanolin is the wax sheep produce to protect their wool, and in skin care it is used as an occlusive that holds moisture in. Ours comes from an organic farm in Texas that does not wash the lanolin with solvents or dip its sheep in pesticide, and it goes into some salves and lip balms in small amounts.
Can I return body care items?
Opened topical items cannot be returned. If an order arrives damaged or incorrect, contact the shop within 7 days for a replacement or refund. The full policy covers shipping costs and exceptions.
These are handmade cosmetic goods. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Fresh Off the Bench
New & Featured
Handmade in small batches. When a batch sells out, the next one is made fresh.
Net Wt. 50 g (1.76 oz)
🌞 Please be mindful of increased temperatures this summer. If your whipped tallow is exposed to heat, it will melt and lose some of its volume.