Organic Pain Relief Balm: What Organic Ingredients Really Mean on a Label

Search for an organic pain relief balm and you will find a lot of green labels. Some products are certified organic. Many are made with some organic ingredients. A few just use the word because it sells.

This guide explains the difference, shows you how to read an ingredient list in about a minute, and tells you exactly where Rematch stands. I am Cole Stegman, founder of Rematch, and accuracy on this one matters to me, because "organic" is a word people trust.

Three phrases that sound alike and mean different things

"Certified organic" (the product)

This means the finished product has been certified to an organic standard, which typically requires a high share of certified organic ingredients and a certified process. A product making this claim will usually show the certifier's seal.

"Made with organic ingredients" (some ingredients)

This means some ingredients are certified organic, but the finished product is not certified. The organic ingredients are usually marked on the ingredient list, often with an asterisk.

"Natural" or "plant-based" (descriptive)

These are descriptive words. They do not have a single legal definition on cosmetic or over-the-counter labels. They can be accurate and useful, but they are not a certification.

Where Rematch stands

Rematch is made with organic oils and butters. It is not a certified organic product, and we do not call it one.

In Rematch Balm, six of the seven inactive ingredients are certified organic:

• Organic beeswax
• Organic shea butter
• Organic hemp seed oil
• Organic coconut oil
• Organic peppermint oil
• Organic castor seed oil

The seventh inactive, vitamin E, is not marked organic. The two actives, camphor 6.5% and menthol 1.75%, are measured over-the-counter drug ingredients and are listed on the Drug Facts panel with their percentages.

You can see the full list on our ingredients page, or read the ingredient breakdown for what each one does.

How to read an ingredient list for organic claims

Pick up any balm and do this:

1. Find the inactive ingredients. On a camphor and menthol balm, they are at the bottom of the Drug Facts panel.
2. Look for the asterisks. Ingredients marked with an asterisk are usually the certified organic ones.
3. Read the footnote. The note at the end of the list ("*Certified organic ingredient" or "*Organic") tells you what the asterisk means.
4. Count. How many ingredients are marked? Is it the main base, or one ingredient used in a tiny amount?
5. Check the front. Does the front of the jar say "organic" in a way that matches what the back actually shows?

If the front says "organic" and the back shows one marked ingredient near the end of the list, that is worth noticing.

Why the base matters more than the buzzword

The base of a balm is most of what is in the jar. In many classic rubs, that base is petroleum, such as petrolatum or paraffin. In Rematch, it is organic coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter and plant oils.

That is the real difference you feel: a balm that melts at skin temperature and leaves hands conditioned rather than coated. "Made with organic oils" is a description of that base, and it is accurate.

Why most camphor and menthol balms are not certified organic

Camphor and menthol are drug actives, measured to a precise strength under the FDA external analgesic monograph. Certifying a finished over-the-counter drug product as organic is uncommon, and the requirements are designed for foods and personal care products rather than measured actives.

So for a topical analgesic, the useful question is not "is it certified organic?" but "which ingredients are organic, and what is the base?"

What else to look for

Organic oils are one sign of a thoughtful product. These matter too:

• Actives and percentages printed clearly, ideally on the front.
• No petroleum, no synthetic fragrance, no dyes.
• Where it is made. Rematch is handmade in small batches in Scottsdale, Arizona.
• A lot code and expiration on the label.

For more on that, read Handmade in the USA: why small batch balm beats mass market rubs.

Try a balm made with organic oils

Shop Rematch Balm: camphor 6.5% and menthol 1.75% in a base made with organic oils and butters. If you prefer no scent at all, Rematch Sensitive is a fragrance-free comfort balm with no camphor or menthol. Free US shipping over $35 and a 60-day guarantee.

For the temporary relief of minor aches and pains of muscles and joints. Use only as directed on the Drug Facts panel.

FAQ

Is Rematch certified organic?

No. Rematch is made with organic oils and butters, and six of the seven inactive ingredients in Rematch Balm are certified organic. The finished product itself is not certified organic.

What does the asterisk on an ingredient list mean?

On many labels, including ours, an asterisk marks an ingredient that is certified organic. The note at the end of the list explains it.

Can a camphor and menthol balm be certified organic?

It is uncommon. Camphor and menthol are measured drug actives, and certifying a finished over-the-counter product as organic involves requirements that most topical analgesics do not meet. Look at which ingredients are organic instead.

Is organic the same as natural or plant-based?

No. Organic refers to how an ingredient was grown and processed under a certification standard. Natural and plant-based are descriptive words without a single legal definition on cosmetic or OTC labels.

Which ingredients in Rematch are organic?

In Rematch Balm: beeswax, shea butter, hemp seed oil, coconut oil, peppermint oil and castor seed oil. Vitamin E and the two actives are not marked organic.