Balm of Gilead

About this formula

Balm of Gilead is one of the oldest skin balms in herbal tradition. The base is a slow infusion of balsam poplar buds — the sticky, fragrant buds that swell on the branches in early spring and ooze a resin so dense and aromatic that frontier herbalists called it liquid gold. We harvest the buds, infuse them into oil for weeks, and finish with beeswax for a balm that goes on warm and sinks deep into the skin.

This is a balm for skin that's been through it. Hands cracked from work. Elbows that have lost their softness. The spots on your body that get the least attention and the most wear.

Poplar Buds — the heart of the balm and where the name comes from. Poplar buds are heavy with a sticky, golden resin packed with aromatic plant compounds, including salicin — the same compound found in willow bark that eventually inspired modern aspirin. The resin gives this balm its distinctive warming feel and rich, balsamic smell. Generations of herbalists across nearly every culture that grows poplar trees have reached for these buds first when building a skin balm.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil — the carrier oil we infuse the poplar buds into. Olive oil is rich in oleic acid and naturally occurring antioxidants, which is why it spreads smoothly and feeds the skin barrier without leaving a heavy film.

Castor Oil — gives the balm extra slip and that characteristic warming pull on the skin. Castor has been used topically across many traditions for its dense, drawing quality.

Beeswax — the binder that turns infused oils into a balm. We use real, unbleached beeswax, which still carries trace amounts of propolis and pollen from the hive.

Vitamin E — keeps the oils stable and supports the skin barrier as the balm sits on the surface.

Essential Oils — a small blend chosen to complement the woodsy, resinous aroma of the poplar.

Every ingredient is either organic or wild-harvested. No petroleum, no fillers, no synthetic fragrance — just a balm built the way it was a hundred years ago.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.