The Botanical Lab · Herbal BLEND Bar

Nine different botanical infusions with limitless options.

The Herbal Blend Bar uses double-macerated oils, which are whole botanicals steeped in a carrier until the plant's compounds transfer into the oil.

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How it works

Choose from three different options for application. Blend it your way.

01 Browse the menu

All formulas are posted on the wall. Each of six options are built around a lead botanical with published evidence.

02 Choose your vessel

Pick from body oil, scrub, or salve. Each delivers the same botanical formula in a different texture and format.

03 Blend at the bench

Pump your chosen infused oils into the base. We walk you through the process and the science behind it.

04 Take it home

Labeled, sealed, and yours. Take it home with a formula card that tells you what is in it and why.

Choose your vessel

Select from three different formats. Same botanical formulas, but different textures and different uses.

Body Oil

Lightweight and fast-absorbing. The infused oils in their purest form. Best for daily skin application, massage, and post-shower use.

$22 Includes 2oz glass dropper bottle

Botanical Scrub

Blend in a salt, sugar, and shea base. Add your infused oil pumps and stir. This one exfoliates while delivering botanical benefits.

$26 Includes 4oz scrub base in glass jar

Botanical Salve

Whipped shea and beeswax base. Richer and longer-lasting than an oil. Best for targeted areas, dry patches, and barrier repair.

$28 Includes 2oz salve base in glass jar

Our scrub contains pure sea salt, organic sugar, pure shea butter, and the double-macerated botanical oils of your choice.

The formula menu

Six evidence-based herbal formulas.

Each formula is built around a lead botanical with published evidence for its primary indication. Full herb combinations and research references available at the bench.

Restore Skin repair · Barrier support

Calendula-forward, warm and golden

Soothe Inflammation · Reactive skin

Plantain-forward, green and grounding

Renew Antioxidant · Brightening

Hibiscus-forward, ruby and floral

Calm Stress · Nervous tension in the skin

Chamomile-forward, soft and apple-sweet

Revive Circulation · Muscle fatigue

Rosemary-forward, herbaceous and sharp

Energy Mental fatigue · Exhaustion

Lemon balm-forward, bright and herbal

Not sure which formula suits your skin? Ask. We can talk through the herbs, the evidence, and which format works best for how you want to use it.

Our salve base is creamy, plant-based. The scrub base is natural, gentle, and moisture-laden. Both are made in-house. You just add the botanical oil and make your own creation.

The infusion process

Slow-infused, double-macerated, and evidence-based

Infused oils are different from essential oils. These are carrier oils that have had whole botanical plant material steeped in them until the plant's phytochemicals transfer into the oil.. And then, because potency matters, we do it again for a double-maceration. The process matters as much as the plants.

The double maceration means that these carrier oils undergo two full slow-infusion exposures with fresh botanical material. The result is a noticeably darker, richer oil with a higher phytochemical load than a single infusion. Every batch is made on-site, dated, and labeled with the botanical source.

Dr. Cavanaugh's 25 years of botanical research inform every formula at the Herbal Blend Bar. The herbs were not chosen for tradition or trend. They were chosen because the evidence supports them for the indicated use.

Frequently asked

Questions about the Herbal Blend Bar

What is the difference between infused oils and essential oils?

Essential oils are steam-distilled volatile aromatic compounds. Infused oils are carrier oils with whole plant material steeped in them. The Herbal Blend Bar uses infused oils: the botanical's compounds are extracted into the carrier oil through heat and time, not distillation. Different chemistry, different application, different benefits from our Aroma Blend Bar.

Do I need a reservation?

Walk-ins are welcome during open hours. Groups of four or more should book in advance. No prepayment required. Choose your formula and vessel on arrival.

Are the products safe for sensitive skin?

Generally yes, and the Soothe formula is specifically formulated for reactive and sensitive skin. If you have known plant allergies, let us know when you arrive and we will help you identify any formulas to avoid.

Can I buy formulas without blending at the bench?

Since we're a research institute, we don't sell any finished products, as that would constitute a conflict of interest. However, we do sell our double-macerated oils, when available, for you to blend your own products at home.

How long do the products last?

Body oils and salves last 6 to 12 months stored away from heat and light. Every product leaves with a made-on date on the label.

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