Bush Balm and Bite Balm are two different formulas for two different jobs. Bush Balm uses citronella, neem and lemon eucalyptus oils to help naturally deter insects. Bite Balm uses lavender, lemon eucalyptus and lemongrass to help calm and comfort irritated skin. Both use nourishing plant oils, butters and rice bran wax as their base.
Bush Balm vs Bite Balm ingredients at a glance
| Bush Balm | Bite Balm | |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | Helps naturally deter pesky insects | Helps calm and comfort irritated skin |
| Key oils | Citronella, neem, lemon eucalyptus | Lavender, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass |
| Nourishing base | Cocoa butter, shea butter and plant oils | Cocoa butter, shea butter and sunflower oil |
| Solid structure | Rice bran wax | Rice bran wax |
| Skin conditioning | Vitamin E | Vitamin E |
| Synthetic fragrance | No | No |
| Palm oil | No | No |
| Vegan | Yes | Yes |
What's in Bush Balm?
Bush Balm is built around citronella, neem and lemon eucalyptus oils, ingredients traditionally used as natural insect deterrents.
- Citronella, neem and lemon eucalyptus oils are included for their traditional use in natural insect deterrents and give Bush Balm its distinctive aromatic profile. Yes, it smells ah-mazing!
- Cocoa butter and shea butter create the nourishing base and help keep skin feeling conditioned.
- Olive, coconut and sunflower oils help the balm glide smoothly over the skin.
- Rice bran wax gives Bush Balm its solid structure, allowing it to work in a plastic free push up tube.
- Vitamin E and rosemary leaf extract help condition the skin and support the stability of the oils in the formula.
Full Bush Balm ingredient list
Cocoa butter, rice bran wax, shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, citronella oil, neem oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, vitamin E, rosemary leaf extract and sunflower oil.
What's in Bite Balm?
Bite Balm is a different formula for a different job.
- Lavender, lemon eucalyptus and lemongrass oils are used to help calm and comfort skin that's already irritated.
- Cocoa butter, shea butter and sunflower oil form the nourishing base.
- Rice bran wax provides the solid structure, while vitamin E and rosemary leaf extract help condition the skin and support the formula.
Full Bite Balm ingredient list
Cocoa butter, rice bran wax, shea butter, lavender oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, lemongrass oil, vitamin E, rosemary leaf extract and sunflower oil.
What's the difference between Bush Balm and Bite Balm?
The biggest difference is what they're designed to do.
- Bush Balm is the before balm. Citronella, neem and lemon eucalyptus oils are included to help naturally deter insects.
- Bite Balm is the after balm. Lavender, lemon eucalyptus and lemongrass are used to help calm and comfort irritated skin.
So Bite Balm isn't Bush Balm with a different label. It's a different formula built for a different moment.
Bush Balm before. Bite Balm after.
What's not in Bush Balm or Bite Balm?
Neither formula contains synthetic fragrance, parabens, sulphates, silicones or palm oil.Both are vegan and neither is tested on animals.
And there's no mystery "proprietary blend." Every ingredient is listed so you can see exactly what's in the product before putting it on your skin.
Why these ingredients?
We didn't add every essential oil associated with outdoor use just to make the ingredient list longer.
Bush Balm combines citronella, neem and lemon eucalyptus with a nourishing solid balm base to create a product that's practical to apply and pleasant to wear.
Bite Balm has a different purpose, so it has a different essential oil blend.
If you want to understand where natural insect care fits compared with conventional repellents, read Natural Bug Repellent That Actually Works or our direct comparison, Bush Balm vs DEET.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients are in Bush Balm?
Bush Balm contains cocoa butter, rice bran wax, shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, citronella oil, neem oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, vitamin E, rosemary leaf extract and sunflower oil.
What ingredients are in Bite Balm?
Bite Balm contains cocoa butter, rice bran wax, shea butter, lavender oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, lemongrass oil, vitamin E, rosemary leaf extract and sunflower oil.
Which ingredients in Bush Balm help deter insects?
Citronella, neem and lemon eucalyptus oils are included for their traditional use as natural insect deterrents.
Does Bite Balm contain citronella or neem?
No. Bite Balm uses lavender, lemon eucalyptus and lemongrass and is designed to help calm and comfort irritated skin rather than deter insects.
Do Bush Balm and Bite Balm contain synthetic fragrance?
No. Both are free from synthetic fragrance, parabens, sulphates, silicones and palm oil. Both formulas are also vegan.
Why are Bush Balm and Bite Balm solid?
Rice bran wax provides structure to both formulas, allowing them to work as solid balms in plastic free push up tubes.
The bottom line
Every ingredient in Bush Balm and Bite Balm is listed clearly so you know exactly what you're putting on your skin.
One helps naturally deter insects. The other helps calm and comfort skin afterwards.
Two different formulas. Two different jobs. No mystery ingredients.