Selah is a word that appears dozens of times in the Psalms, and it’s usually read as a pause. We named this salve for that. It’s a cooling herbal salve meant for the end of the day, when you finally sit down and your shoulders or neck are asking for attention.
It’s made with three infused herbs, mullein, fleabane, and thyme, and finished with three essential oils: peppermint, eucalyptus, and rosemary. Here’s what each one brings to it.
The Herbs We Infuse
Mullein is a tall plant with large, soft, fuzzy leaves that feel a bit like flannel. It grows wild all over Iowa, and in folk herbalism the leaves and flowers have been used for generations in cold-season preparations. In a salve, it adds a soft, soothing quality.
Fleabane is a daisy-like wildflower that’s common across Midwest fields. The name comes from an old practice of using the dried plant to keep fleas away. It also has a history in traditional herbal use as an astringent plant, which makes it a good partner for mullein. We forage the mullein and fleabane for Selah on family land, 40 acres of timber and prairie where we know the ground is clean, and only take what we need.
Thyme is the same herb that’s in your kitchen. Herbalists have long reached for it in winter, and its aromatic compounds are part of why thyme is such a common ingredient in cold-season herbal preparations. All three are infused into organic sweet almond oil, which is then combined with pasture-raised pork tallow and local beeswax, the same base as every salve we make. You can read about that base in our guide to herbal salves.
The Essential Oils
Peppermint is what you feel first. Its menthol creates a cooling sensation on the skin. Eucalyptus gives the salve a clear, camphor-like scent, and rosemary adds a green, herbal note that rounds both of them out. Together they make Selah smell crisp rather than sweet, which is the opposite of most winter products. If you’d like to know why we use essential oils and not fragrance, we explain it in Understanding Fragrance vs. Essential Oils.
Where to Use It
Warm a small amount between your fingers and rub it into:
The back of your neck and your shoulders
Your chest
Your temples (stay well away from your eyes)
Your wrists, so you can breathe in the scent
Selah works best as an evening ritual. Put it on, take a few slow breaths, and let the scent do the rest. If you’re also using a body butter at night, apply Selah to the specific spots first and the butter over the rest.
Selah and Prairie Blend
People sometimes ask how Selah differs from Prairie Blend. Selah is cooling and aromatic, and it’s a good fit for tension and for the scent. Prairie Blend can feel soothing and warming, because it has cayenne in it, and it’s the one for sore muscles and stiff joints. Some people keep both and layer them together.
Before You Use It
Selah contains essential oils. If you are pregnant or nursing, or you’re buying it for a child under 2, check with your healthcare provider first. Keep it out of your eyes, and use it on the face only with care. Salves are for external use only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Selah smell like?
Cool and herbal. Peppermint and eucalyptus lead, with rosemary behind them.
Can I use it on my chest?
Yes. A small amount rubbed into the chest is one of the most popular ways to use it.
Is it part of a set?
Selah is one of the six products in our winter collection, which you can read about in The Winter Collection. All six are in the Frosted Meadow Set.
Our products are cosmetics and aren’t meant to diagnose, treat, or prevent any condition.