Herbal Ingredients & Aromatics Guide

Creation Farm has worked with whole plants since 1982. Over these years, certain herbs and oils have become faithful companions in our soaps, salves, creams, and serums. This guide offers a simple, non-medical overview of some of the botanicals and aromatics you may see on our labels.

We describe them in three ways:

• Traditional qualities – warming or cooling, moistening or drying, soothing or stimulating.
• Topical focus – what kinds of skin situations they tend to “like.”
• Usage notes – how we usually work with them in topical products.

Core Herbal Allies

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Traditional qualities: gently warming, moistening, and soothing to the “edges” of the body.

Topical focus: often used for skin that has been stressed by weather, washing, or frequent contact; likes dry, chapped, or frequently washed areas.

Usage at Creation Farm: infused into oils and used in salves and creams, especially in our Calendula salves and soaps.

Notes: generally well-tolerated; patch test if you have plant or pollen allergies.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Traditional qualities: moistening and “knitting,” used historically as a plant that helps the body remember its own way of mending.

Topical focus: often chosen for rough, gardened, or overworked skin and joints.

Usage at Creation Farm: herbal oil infusions and salves, frequently paired with calendula.

Notes: used topically only; we do not formulate for internal use.

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)

Traditional qualities: cooling and moistening, a classic friend of summer and the woods.

Topical focus: traditionally used as an outdoor companion for skin that has met plants, bugs, and heat; likes hot, humid, summer situations.

Usage at Creation Farm: aqueous extracts and salves in our Jewelweed line.

Notes: external use only; patch test on very sensitive skin.

Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)

Traditional qualities: gently warming and supportive, often associated with transitions and the middle years of life.

Topical focus: commonly chosen for mid-life and post-menopausal skin comfort, especially in cooler, drier seasons.

Usage at Creation Farm: topical creams and extracts, especially in our Wild Yam Cream.

Notes: non-hormonal, topical-only formulations; not a drug or hormone replacement.

Plantain (Plantago major / P. lanceolata)

Traditional qualities: cooling, drawing, and comforting to the surface.

Topical focus: often used for skin that has been outdoors, worked hard, or bothered by the small annoyances of nature.

Usage at Creation Farm: infused oils and salves, often in outdoor and foot-care formulas.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Traditional qualities: warming at the core, cooling at the edges; associated with boundaries and circulation.

Topical focus: historically used for skin that needs clear edges and gentle strength.

Usage at Creation Farm: selected salves and body care formulas, sometimes paired with other circulatory herbs.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita / Anthemis nobilis)

Traditional qualities: cooling, calming, and softening.

Topical focus: often chosen for delicate, easily bothered skin and for people who appreciate its soft aroma.

Usage at Creation Farm: hydrosols, infused oils, and carefully diluted essential oils in creams and serums.

Notes: people with ragweed-family allergies should patch test, as chamomile is in the same plant family.

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Traditional qualities: warming, sun-kissed, and associated with nerves at the surface of the body.

Topical focus: commonly used for areas that feel as if nerves are closer to the skin.

Usage at Creation Farm: infused oils and salves, especially in comforting body-care formulas.

Notes: we use it topically only; internal use may have interactions with medications and is outside the scope of our products.

Carrier Oils & Butters

Olive Oil (Olea europaea)

Traditional qualities: nutritive, stable, and gently warming.

Topical focus: supports dry or weathered skin; a classic soap and salve base.

Usage at Creation Farm: core base oil in many soaps, salves, and body oils.

Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis)

Traditional qualities: balancing, wax-like, closely resembling the skin’s own sebum.

Topical focus: often loved by combination or mature skin; sinks in without heaviness.

Usage at Creation Farm: facial serums, creams, and some body oils.

Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera)

Traditional qualities: solid at cool room temperature, light and cleansing when melted.

Topical focus: used in soaps and some salves where firmness and cleansing are desired.

Usage at Creation Farm: soapmaking, selected salves, and cast-iron care products.

Shea Butter (Vitellaria paradoxa)

Traditional qualities: rich, protective, and slow-melting.

Topical focus: comforts very dry, wind-exposed, or winter-chapped skin.

Usage at Creation Farm: body butters, creams, and heavier salves for the driest areas.

Key Aromatic Allies (Essential Oils)

We use essential oils in conservative, topical dilutions. Below are a few you may recognize in our blends:

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Traditional qualities: cooling, calming, and gently balancing.

Topical focus: often chosen for everyday skin comfort and a soft, herbal floral aroma.

Usage at Creation Farm: soaps, creams, mists, and synergy blends, always in topical-safe dilutions.

Frankincense (Boswellia spp.)

Traditional qualities: centering, resinous, and associated with ritual and reflection.

Topical focus: commonly used in mature-skin products and in grounding aromatic blends.

Usage at Creation Farm: serums, creams, and diffusing blends.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Traditional qualities: warming, uplifting, and clearing.

Topical focus: used in invigorating soaps, hair care, and body products for those who enjoy its aroma.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

Traditional qualities: cooling and awakening.

Topical focus: often used sparingly for a refreshing feel in soaps and foot care.

Usage at Creation Farm: soaps, foot salves, and select blends at careful, skin-aware levels.

Conifer Oils (Pine, Spruce, Fir)

Traditional qualities: refreshing, clearing, and forest-like.

Topical focus: often used in soaps, balms, and diffusing blends for people who love woodland aromas.

How to Use This Guide

This guide is descriptive, not diagnostic. It is meant to help you:

• Recognize the plants and oils on your labels.
• Understand why certain herbs appear in certain kinds of products.
• Have better conversations with your own body and, when needed, your health practitioner.

Creation Farm does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Our products are traditional, plant-based topical preparations meant to support daily skincare and simple home rituals.