Safety & Ingredients
We’ll tell you exactly what’s in it. Every time.
Introduction
We believe you should know exactly what you’re putting on your skin. Every Black Sapling Apothecary product is made from ingredients we can name, explain, and stand behind. No synthetic fragrances. No proprietary mystery blends. No ingredient lists designed to confuse you.
Below you’ll find our full ingredient glossary, our safety commitments, and answers to the most common questions about what’s in our products and how we make them.
Our Commitment
Every scent in our line is built from individual essential oils, resins, oleoresins, and botanical extracts. We formulate every blend ourselves. We do not buy pre-made fragrance oils. We do not use synthetic aroma chemicals. We do not use parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or artificial preservatives.
Every formula is versioned and documented. Every batch is tracked by lot number. If you ever have a question about what’s in a specific product, contact us with the lot code on your label and we can tell you exactly what went into that batch.
Base Ingredients
Goat Milk Melt and Pour Base
The foundation of our soap line. Goat milk is naturally rich in fatty acids and vitamins that help skin feel soft and conditioned. Our base is gentle and provides a creamy, luxurious lather.
Shea Butter
A skin-conditioning staple used across our soaps, deodorants, and salves. Helps skin feel soft, smooth, and comfortable with a non-greasy finish.
Beeswax
Provides structure to our deodorants and salves. Creates a gentle, breathable barrier on skin while allowing the product to hold its form. Sourced from natural apiaries.
Jojoba Oil
Technically a liquid wax, jojoba closely mimics the skin’s natural sebum. Used in nearly every product we make for moisture balance, smooth application, and as a carrier for our scent profiles.
Coconut Oil
A rich, conditioning oil used in our deodorants and salves for its smooth glide and skin-softening properties.
Arrowroot Powder
A natural starch that absorbs moisture and creates the dry, smooth finish in our deodorants. Gentle on skin, effective at keeping you dry.
Bentonite Clay
A natural volcanic clay used in select soaps and deodorants. Adds texture, slip, and an oil-absorbing feel without stripping skin.
Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
Used in our standard deodorant formula to help manage everyday odor. We keep our concentration moderate for comfort. If your skin does better with a gentler formula, ask us about our Gentle formula made with magnesium hydroxide instead.
Magnesium Hydroxide
A naturally occurring mineral used in our gentler deodorant formula. A milder alternative to baking soda that helps manage everyday odor with less chance of skin discomfort.
Activated Charcoal
Used in small amounts in our deodorants for additional odor absorption and its distinctive visual character. Natural, non-toxic, and effective.
Witch Hazel
The carrier base for our spray products. A natural astringent with mild preservative properties that helps our scent blends disperse evenly in water-based formulas.
Vegetable Glycerin
A plant-derived humectant used in our sprays. Helps scent adhere to fabrics and skin, and adds a subtle softness to spray applications.
Essential Oils & Botanicals
Our scent profiles are built from pure essential oils and botanical extracts including: cedarwood, sandalwood, lavender, rosemary, chamomile, geranium, bergamot, sweet orange, vetiver, patchouli, clary sage, benzoin resin, vanilla oleoresin, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, citronella, peppermint, spearmint, ylang ylang, neroli, petitgrain, litsea, cardamom, clove, and cinnamon.
Each product listing includes its specific scent ingredients. If you have a known sensitivity or allergy to any botanical, please review the individual product page or contact us before purchasing.
Allergen & Sensitivity Notice
While all of our products are made from natural ingredients, natural does not automatically mean safe for every person. Essential oils are potent compounds and some people may experience sensitivity or allergic reactions.
Common sensitivities to be aware of: tree nut allergies (shea butter is a tree nut product), bee product allergies (beeswax), citrus sensitivities (bergamot, orange, lemon), cinnamon and clove (mild skin warmth at higher concentrations), and lemongrass or citronella sensitivity.
If you experience any irritation, discontinue use and contact us. We take this seriously and want every customer to have a good experience with our products.
Functional Product Disclaimer
Our Swamp Slayer products contain essential oils with natural insect-repellent properties (lemon eucalyptus, citronella, lemongrass, catnip, geranium, peppermint, cedarwood). Our upcoming Smokehouse Field line will use similar functional botanicals in a cologne-forward blend. These are botanical formulations. They are not EPA-registered insect repellents and we make no medical or guaranteed protection claims. They are scented products made with ingredients traditionally used for outdoor comfort.
Pet Safety
Our human product formulations are designed for human use. Many essential oils that are safe for humans can be harmful to cats and other pets. Do not apply human Swamp Slayer products (or the future Smokehouse Field line) to animals. Our future companion balm line (SAL-PET) is formulated separately with pet-safe ingredients at pet-safe concentrations. When in doubt, consult your veterinarian.