7 Natural Vapor Rubs When Vicks Just Isn't Cutting It
The Best Chest Rubs & Balms
If you’re like us, you might have grown up with Vicks VapoRub in your bathroom cabinet, dabbing some on every winter. But most vapor rubs (including Vicks) include camphor, a synthetic ingredient. While it’s FDA-approved in the United States, camphor can be dangerous if swallowed, and some countries have banned it altogether.
Instead, we can turn to natural vapor rubs whenever we’re dealing with a cough or cold. The below brands use sustainable and organic alternatives—like eucalyptus, ginger, lavender, and peppermint—so we can breathe easy (okay, easier) knowing these chest rubs are as natural as possible.
Looking for more natural remedies? This winter, ward off congestion and sickness with these immunity boosts, including the power of elderberry and yoga poses that support our immune systems.
1. Babo Botanicals
Ingredients | Certified organic coconut oil, beeswax, seed & fruit oils, eucalyptus, tea tree oil
Ethics | Certified B Corp, USDA-certified organic ingredients, cruelty-free, sustainable practices & packaging
Ships To | US
Price | $12.99 for two oz
Congested noses and chests meet their match with Babo Botanicals’ Eucalyptus Remedy Organic Soothing Chest Rub. This family-owned brand knows what works best from experience, so they’ve sourced USDA-certified organic ingredients for every part of this effective formula. Free of camphor, petroleum, and preservatives, this all-natural balm has been pediatrician and dermatologist tested for immediate relief.
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2. Badger
Ingredients | Organic EVOO, essential oils, ginger & rosemary extracts
Ethics | Certified B Corp, USDA-certified organic ingredients, solar-powered workshop, made in the USA, eco-friendly packaging
Ships To | US
Price | $9.99 for two oz
Badger’s Aromatic Chest Balm is infused with eucalyptus, rosemary, ravintsara, and tea tree oils to tackle phlegm and congestion at the source. (The B Corp’s founders know it works because they created this formula for their own daughter!) Like all Badger balms, this is USDA-certified organic and free from artificial ingredients, petroleum, fragrances, and camphor. For a travel-friendly tin, try the 0.75 oz—you’ll be relaxed in no time.
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3. Farmaesthetics
Ingredients | Certified organic sweet almond & essential oils, ginger, rosemary, eucalyptus, beeswax, lavender
Ethics | Certified organic ingredients, sustainably sourced, eco-friendly packaging
Ships To | Contiguous US
Price | $30 for 1.5 oz
What’s more comforting than lavender alone? Farmaesthetics’ Deep Lavender Rub! This formula from Rhode Island was made to mimic the classic Vicks’ VapoRub, but with certified organic ingredients—all intentionally sourced from US farms. Let the lavender oil, certified organic beeswax and eucalyptus, and peppermint essential oil wash over you for easy breathing. You can apply liberally, but a little goes a long way.
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4. Jumby Beauty
Ingredients | Certified organic coconut oil, beeswax, orange peel, chamomile, & rosemary oils
Ethics | USDA-certified organic ingredients, certified gluten-free, eco-friendly packaging
Ships To | US
Price | $10.79 for two oz
Jumby Beauty’s Out of the Cold vapor balm will quiet coughs and soothe aches with its unique blend of orange peel, chamomile, and rosemary leaf oils. This dermatologist-tested formula can be used across your chest, throat, or upper back as often as you need because there aren’t any synthetics, parabens, or GMOs to worry about. Best for children ages six and up, this is a family-friendly pick everyone will love having on-hand—and chest.
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5. Erbaviva
Ingredients | Sunflower & seed oils, shea butter, beeswax, calendula, myrrh & rosemary extracts
Ethics | Certified B Corp, USDA-certified organic ingredients, cruelty-free, gives back
Ships To | US & Canada
Price | $20 for 1.75 oz
For any little ones experiencing cold and cough, check out Erbaviva’s Sniffles Baby Chest Balm. It’s thoughtfully crafted to provide both comfort and antivirals to keep your baby protected through the seasons, with ingredients like cypress, myrrh, and calendula. A little dab behind the ears or on the chest will make all the difference.
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6. Tubby Todd Bath Co
Ingredients | Certified organic coconut, sunflower, & olive oils, beeswax, shea butter, eucalyptus & tea tree oils
Ethics | Natural & certified organic ingredients, cruelty-free, made in the USA, eco-friendly packaging
Ships To | US & Canada
Price | $16 for two oz
Andrea Faulkner Williams launched Tubby Todd Bath Co to find a solution to her family’s sensitive skin, including eczema and dryness. Today, this line of body care basics is made with the whole family in mind, with natural and organic ingredients at the forefront. The Organic Chest Rub will clear up congestion quickly due to an effective blend of essential oils with eucalyptus and lavender.
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7. Little Green Radicals
Ingredients | Certified organic sunflower seed, lavender, mandarin peel, eucalyptus & rosemary leaf oils, beeswax
Ethics | Natural & certified organic ingredients, cruelty-free, made in the UK, eco-friendly packaging
Ships To | UK, US, & Canada
Price | £10.45 for 50 mL
Little Green Radicals is a UK brand offering sustainable baby basics, from apparel and bedding to the Organic Chest Rub. With 99.5 percent certified organic ingredients, this formula is made in Dorset using the fewest ingredients possible. The balm is free from parabens, mineral oils, synthetic fragrances, preservatives, and even plastic packaging! Slather it on whenever you’re feeling stuffy or achy. (We’re wishing you a quick recovery!)
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