Fire & Balsam: Nature’s Warming & Cooling Balms

What is Fire & Balsam?

Fire & Balsam is a set of two handcrafted balms made with wild‑harvested botanicals from British Columbia. One balm offers a cozy, warming sensation, while the other feels fresh and cooling on the skin, giving you two different ways to enjoy your daily body‑care rituals.

I'm Sarah, and the Balm of Gilead oil in both of these salves comes from cottonwood buds I gathered from windfall trees along Kootenay riverbanks. The forest gives generously when we listen. Every batch is made by hand in my Fruitvale kitchen, honoring what The Glade taught me about taking only what we need.

Fire & Balsam: Nature’s Warming & Cooling Balms

Wild‑Harvested Botanical Blends from British Columbia

This duo is inspired by traditional herbal practices—one balm with a gentle warming feel, one with a refreshing, cooling feel. Both are made with wild‑harvested snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus) and Balm of Gilead (Populus balsamifera) from BC forests.

• Fire Balm – A warming blend infused with forest botanicals, ideal for a cozy, post‑outdoor‑adventure self‑massage or evening wind‑down routine.
• Balsam Balm – A cooling, aromatic balm with herbs often used in traditional body‑care preparations, perfect for a refreshing, end‑of‑day ritual.

Rooted in the rhythms of the land, these balms invite you to slow down and connect with nature as part of your everyday skin‑care practice.

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Fire Balm (Warming)

A Traditional‑Style Warming Herbal Salve

Ingredients:

• Organic olive oil (slow‑infused with wildcrafted BC snowbrush for 12 weeks)
• Beeswax
• Grass‑fed tallow
• Wildcrafted BC Balm of Gilead (poplar bud infused oil)
• Copaiba resin
• Cayenne‑infused olive oil
• Essential oils of black spruce, ginger, and juniper

Traditional Context of Key Ingredients:

• Snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus) – Mentioned in traditional herbal practices for various topical preparations.
• Balm of Gilead (Poplar Buds) – Resinous buds historically gathered for their rich aroma and use in salve‑making.
• Copaiba & Cayenne – Known in herbalism for their warming sensation on the skin.
• Black Spruce & Ginger – Forest botanicals appreciated for their grounding, invigorating scents.

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Balsam Balm (Cooling)

A Traditional‑Style Cooling Herbal Salve

Ingredients:

• Organic olive oil (slow‑infused with wildcrafted BC snowbrush)
• Shea butter
• Beeswax
• Wildcrafted BC Balm of Gilead (poplar bud infused oil)
• Rosehip seed oil
• Essential oils of peppermint, wintergreen, and lavender

Traditional Context of Key Ingredients:

• Snowbrush & Balm of Gilead – Wild‑harvested botanicals that appear in traditional salve recipes.
• Peppermint & Wintergreen – Cooling herbs long valued for their refreshing feel and scent.
• Rosehip Seed Oil – A nourishing oil used historically in skin‑care preparations.
• Lavender – A beloved aromatic herb, often included for its calming scent.

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From Forest to Body‑Care

Learn how I harvest cottonwood buds from windfall trees each February, and why I never take from living trees. Read: The Smell of Spring →

The Wisdom of Wildcrafted Botanicals

These balms are crafted with deep respect for traditional herbal knowledge, using:

• Wild‑harvested snowbrush & Balm of Gilead – Sustainably gathered from BC forests.
• Slow‑infused oils – Prepared with patience to honour the plants.
• Forest‑inspired essential oils – Chosen for their aromatic qualities and traditional uses in body‑care.

Whether you gravitate toward warmth or cooling freshness, Fire & Balsam offers a plant‑based ritual rooted in nature’s rhythms.

The Glade Taught Me This

Every forest is irreplaceable. The Glade, a meadow on HooDoo Mountain where I learned to read the forest’s language, was logged when I was young. I wildcraft now with that loss in my heart—taking only what I need, protecting what remains. 10% of every purchase supports the Canadian Ancient Forest Alliance. Read The Glade story →

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Disclaimer:
These balms are traditional herbal body‑care preparations for topical use only. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always perform a patch test before full application.