“Can You Make a Natural Vapor Rub?”

Hey friends! Stacie here. A few years ago, a customer at one of our craft shows asked me a question that completely changed our product line:

“Do you make a natural version of vapor rub? Something I can use on my kids without all the chemicals?”

I didn’t at the time. But I told her, “Let me look into it and see what we can do.”

That conversation led to one of my favorite products we make: Vapor Bear Balm. And along the way, I learned something really important about keeping kids safe that I want to share with you.

Down the Research Rabbit Hole

After that craft show, I went home and started researching. I found dozens of DIY vapor rub recipes online, and most of them had similar ingredients:

Coconut oil or another carrier oil
Beeswax for texture
Essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint
And rosemary essential oil

Rosemary kept showing up in recipe after recipe. Made sense - it’s known for respiratory support, smells great, and is a common essential oil.

So I was ready to order my ingredients and start testing batches.

Then I read something that stopped me cold.

The Rosemary Discovery That Changed Everything

Buried in a safety guide about essential oils for children, I found this:

“Rosemary essential oil is not recommended for children under 12 years old.”

Wait, what?

I dug deeper. Turns out, rosemary oil (specifically the 1,8-cineole chemotype, which is the most common) can cause respiratory issues in young children. The very thing I was trying to HELP with could potentially make things worse for little ones.

Here’s the thing: The customer who asked me to make this wanted it FOR HER KIDS. If I’d just followed those online recipes without digging into the safety research, I could have created something that wasn’t safe for the very people who needed it most.

That wasn’t going to fly in our family business.

Finding a Better Alternative: Scots Pine

So I went back to researching. I needed an essential oil that:

Was safe for young children
Had respiratory support properties
Smelled good (kids won’t use something that smells awful!)
Worked well with eucalyptus and peppermint

Enter: Scots pine essential oil.

Scots pine is: ✅ Safe for children when properly diluted ✅ Supports clear breathing ✅ Has a fresh, clean scent (not medicinal or overwhelming) ✅ Blends beautifully with eucalyptus and peppermint

This was our answer.

Why Coconut Oil Instead of Petroleum?

Now, about that base ingredient. Most commercial vapor rubs (you know the ones - the blue jar with the strong smell) use a petroleum jelly base.

We chose coconut oil instead. Here’s why:

1. It Actually Absorbs Into Your Skin

Petroleum jelly sits ON TOP of your skin. It’s occlusive - meaning it creates a barrier. That’s fine for some uses, but it also means:

It feels greasy and heavy
It doesn’t absorb
It can get on clothes, sheets, pillowcases
Kids (and adults!) hate the way it feels

Coconut oil absorbs. You massage it in, and within a few minutes, it’s worked into the skin. No greasy residue. No petroleum smell lingering on your hands.

2. It’s Natural and Gentle

Coconut oil is:

Naturally moisturizing
Gentle on sensitive skin
Something I’d be comfortable using on my own grandson
A real plant-based ingredient, not a petroleum byproduct

3. Our Grandson Was the Test Case

I’ll be honest: before we ever sold Vapor Bear Balm to a single customer, we used it on our grandson when he was a baby.

When he had his first cold and was all stuffed up, we tried our homemade batch. We rubbed a little on his chest and back before bed. Within minutes, you could hear his breathing get easier. He slept better. We slept better knowing we weren’t using harsh chemicals on him.

If it’s good enough for our grandson, it’s good enough for your family. That’s always been our standard.

What’s Actually in Vapor Bear Balm?

Let me break down exactly what we put in every tin:

Base:

Coconut oil - Absorbs into skin, naturally moisturizing
Olive oil - Gentle, nourishing, adds extra moisture
Beeswax - Gives it a balm texture (not too soft, not too hard)

Essential Oils (properly diluted for safety):

Scots pine essential oil - Safe for children, respiratory support, fresh scent
Eucalyptus essential oil - Supports clear breathing, opens airways
Peppermint essential oil - Cooling sensation, respiratory support

That’s it. No petroleum. No synthetic fragrances. No dyes. No mystery ingredients you can’t pronounce.

Just natural ingredients that actually work.

How We Use It (Real-Life Application)

For congestion and stuffiness:

Rub a small amount on chest and back
We also put a little under the nose (carefully!)
Use before bed for easier breathing at night

For our grandson:

We’ve been using it since he was a baby
Apply before naps and bedtime when he’s congested
Also works great during Pennsylvania’s cold, dry winters for general skin moisture + respiratory support

For adults:

Same application - chest, back, under nose
Some customers also use it on their feet and put on socks before bed (old remedy, but people swear by it!)

Pro tip: A little goes a long way. You don’t need to slather it on thick like petroleum-based products. A thin layer absorbs and works beautifully.

The Questions I Get at Craft Shows

“Is this safe for babies?”

We’ve used it on our grandson since he was a baby (always with proper dilution and application). That said, I always recommend:

Talk to your pediatrician first
Do a patch test on a small area
Use sparingly on very young babies
Every child is different

“Does it really work as well as the commercial stuff?”

In my experience (and based on customer feedback): Yes. The essential oils do the work. The coconut oil base actually absorbs so the oils can work effectively. And without petroleum, you’re not just masking the issue with a heavy coating.

“Can I use it for sore muscles?”

Absolutely! The peppermint and eucalyptus have a natural cooling effect. Many customers use it for:

Sore muscles after workouts
Tension headaches (on temples and neck)
General aches and pains

“How long does a tin last?”

With normal use (a few times a week during cold season), most families tell us one tin lasts 2-3 months. A little really does go a long way.

Why This Product Matters to Me

Look, I could have just followed those online recipes. I could have used rosemary oil like everyone else and never dug into the safety research.

But that’s not how we do things at Momma Bears Creations.

Every product we make, I think about our grandson. Would I use this on him? Would I feel good about Maddi using it on him? If the answer is no, we don’t make it.

That customer who asked for a natural vapor rub? She trusted me to create something safe for her kids. That’s not a responsibility I take lightly.

So yes, the research took longer. Yes, finding the right alternative to rosemary oil was extra work. But it was worth it - because now I can hand someone a tin of Vapor Bear Balm and know, with 100% certainty, that it’s safe for their family.

The Difference Between Mass-Market and Handmade

Here’s what you get with commercial vapor rubs:

Petroleum jelly base (greasy, doesn’t absorb)
Synthetic fragrances and additives
Made in massive batches in factories
Sits in warehouses for months before reaching stores

Here’s what you get with our Vapor Bear Balm:

Coconut oil and olive oil base (absorbs, moisturizes)
Real essential oils, carefully chosen for safety
Made in small batches in our Enola, PA home
Personally checked by me before it goes to you
Ingredients chosen with YOUR kids (and our grandson) in mind

You’re not just buying a product. You’re getting something made by a grandmother who actually cares about what goes on your family’s skin.

Where to Find Vapor Bear Balm

Shop in person:

Carlisle Creative Vibes (152 N Hanover St, Carlisle, PA 17013)
Come smell it, feel the texture, and ask me any questions!

Shop online:

Momma Bears at Carlisle Creative Vibes Online Store

Find us at events:

East Pennsboro Pumpkinfest (our favorite event!)
Other Central PA craft shows - follow us on Facebook for updates

From Our Family to Yours

That customer who asked me to make a natural vapor rub? She became a regular at our craft show booth. She tells her friends about us. And every time I see her, she tells me her kids are doing great and she’s so glad we make this product.

That’s why we do what we do.

Not for the profit (let’s be real, small batch products aren’t a get-rich-quick scheme!). But because when a mom tells me, “Thank you, this helped my baby sleep through the night for the first time in a week,” - that matters.

Every tin of Vapor Bear Balm we make, I think about that first customer. I think about our grandson. I think about YOUR family.

And I’m grateful we took the time to do it right.

— Stacie, Maddi & Scott (Momma Bears Creations, Enola, PA)

P.S. - If you’re dealing with Central PA winter colds right now, come see us at Carlisle Creative Vibes or order online. We always have Vapor Bear Balm in stock during cold and flu season. And if you have questions about using it safely for your little ones, just ask - I’m always happy to chat!

Vapor Bear Balm natural ingredients essential oils child safety coconut oil Enola PA customer requests

Why We Use Coconut Oil in Our Vapor Balm (Not Petroleum)