Scented or Unscented Tallow Balm: How to Choose

Both jars start from the same base, so this is not a question of which one is better. It is a question of which one is yours. Pick a scented jar if you like a moisturizer that smells like something, because scent is a big part of whether a jar stays in your routine. Pick unscented if you would rather keep fragrance out of it, whether that is for a scent-free workplace or simply because that is what you prefer. That is the whole decision in one line.

Everything below is the detail behind that one line. If you already know you want a scent, our Lemon + Lavender Whipped Tallow is a bright, clean place to start. If you would rather go fragrance-free, our Unscented Whipped Tallow is grass-fed tallow and organic coconut oil, and nothing else. Same base either way, whipped in the same kitchen.

What's actually different between scented and unscented tallow balm?

The base is identical. Same grass-fed tallow, same organic coconut oil, same whipping process in our small Loomis kitchen. The scented jars add organic essential oils on top of that same base.

Lemon and lavender in one. Vanilla and mint in another. Patchouli, palo santo and cardamom in the third, which is the one people either love immediately or hand to their husband.

So it isn't a better-or-worse question, it's a preference question. Some people want their moisturizer to smell like lemon and lavender. Some people want it to smell like nothing at all. Both are whipped from the same grass-fed base in the same small kitchen, and both do the same job on skin.

Worth saying plainly: only the Unscented jar is a two-ingredient product. The scented ones add essential oils, and we're not going to pretend otherwise.

Who tends to reach for unscented?

A short list, from the situations that come up most:

• Anyone who already knows they prefer fragrance-free everything
• Anyone shopping for a child. We will not tell you a balm is safe for a baby, so ask your pediatrician before you put anything new on one.
• Anything going on the face, and especially near the eyes
• Anyone who can't smell like lavender at work. Nurses, cooks, people in scent-free offices.
• Anyone doing an elimination-style reset who wants one less variable in the mix

None of that makes a scented jar the riskier buy. It is a list of situations where people simply want fragrance out of the picture. If you already know you are fragrance-sensitive, patch testing a new product is the straightforward way to see how your own skin feels about it, and MedlinePlus explains how skin and patch testing works (MedlinePlus, NIH).

If fragrance-free is your preference Unscented Whipped Tallow Two ingredients and no added scent, for anyone who wants their moisturizer to smell like nothing at all. Get my unscented jar Know you want a scent? Lemon + Lavender is the same base with two essential oils.

When does a scented tallow balm make more sense?

When you like putting it on. That sounds flippant, but it's the honest answer. The best moisturizer is the one that's still in your rotation in six weeks, and scent is a big part of whether a jar gets used or shoved to the back of a drawer.

Lemon and lavender is the one we reach for in the evening. Vanilla and mint has real vanilla specks in it and tends to be the morning one. Patchouli, palo santo and cardamom is warmer and earthier, and it's the warmest of the three.

Scented also makes sense when you're already using unscented on your face and want something different for hands, elbows and feet. Same base, different experience.

How do I test a new balm if my skin is picky?

Patch test. It takes four days and almost nobody does it, which is a shame, because it's the cheapest way to avoid a bad week.

1. Put a small dab on the inside of your forearm.
2. Leave it alone. Don't wash that spot for 24 hours if you can help it.
3. Check at 24 and 48 hours for redness, bumps or itch.
4. If nothing happens, move to a small area of your face or wherever you actually want to use it, and give it another two days.

And here's the honest limit. Tallow isn't for everyone. If your skin runs oily or you're acne-prone, a rich balm may feel like too much, and no amount of "but it's natural" changes that. Some people do better with it on the body and not the face. If you're managing a diagnosed skin condition, that's a conversation for your dermatologist, not a blog post (MedlinePlus, NIH).

Can I just use both?

Plenty of people do. Unscented lives in the bathroom for faces. A scented jar lives in the kitchen or by the bed for hands and feet. If you're building a routine from scratch, our beginner's guide to using tallow balm covers how much to use and when, and how to layer tallow covers where it fits with everything else you already own.

If what's actually holding you back is the smell of the tallow itself rather than the essential oils, we wrote an honest answer to that one too: does tallow skincare smell like beef?

So which one should you buy?

If you want your skincare to smell like something you look forward to, buy the scent you would actually reach for. If you would rather keep fragrance out of your routine, buy unscented. Neither one is the consolation prize, and plenty of people end up with both.

Every jar is whipped in small batches by Megan and Jeremie here in Loomis, California, from tallow rendered off grass-fed cattle. Same base in every jar. The only question is what, if anything, goes in with it.

Browse the full whipped tallow lineup and pick the one that sounds like you.

This article is educational and not medical advice. Pure Lifestyle products are cosmetics made to support the look and feel of healthy, comfortable skin. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent eczema, psoriasis, or any medical condition. If you're managing a skin condition, we recommend working with your healthcare provider.

By the Pure Lifestyle Team