Enhanced Arnica Cream in Cocoa Arnica Mint Scent

Description

This is the first arnica cream formula we discovered, manufactured just over the river from Vancouver in Portland, Oregon. Even though we were already producing Arnica lotions, we had to try this ready-to-label product. We loved it! This inspired our own journey to make enhanced arnica cream recipes in 2021.

This combination of cocoa, arnica and mint feels as delicious as it smells. Its fabulous scent is a natural by-product of using cocoa butter and peppermint in its formulation. The inclusion of arnica may also gently sooth away minor aches.

My Story

I first experienced the luxury of cocoa butter when we lived in Dominica. There, we learned how to make our own cocoa right from the cocoa fruits in our neighbor’s field surrounding our home.

Our greatest surprise was to learn that the fruity flesh surrounding the cocoa beans is an elixir on its own. It’s a white, juicy pulp that tastes like a strawberry lemon-limeade.

Dominican farmers cut the cocoa pods open with their machetes and scooped the seeds with their pulp in buckets. They allow these buckets to stand long enough for the juicy pulp to ferment and liquefy (about three to seven days). Then they spread the seeds out on screens to dry in the tropical sun.

From there, the beans are crushed to remove the papery shell. This is the stage at which they become cocoa nibs.

In Dominica, most farmers roast their own cocoa nibs and then grind them into a natural cocoa paste for use in cocoa tea—a milk drink with sugar added to sweeten. The aroma may be familiar, yet the flavor is undeniably unique.

Brisk Scent

I’ve loved chocolate and peppermint from the day I first had chocolate chip mint ice cream at Baskins and Robbins. They opened a store in Lodi, California, and our family went to check it out. Must have been in the late 60s or early 70s.

This combination is brisk, yet mellow—just perfect for starting your day.

If there’s a downside to this body cream, it’s the way the smell of chocolate makes me hungry. So I like to use it in the morning after my shower. By the time I’ve enjoyed my breakfast, I’m past craving a chocolate bar, and my skin feels great.

Soothing Properties*

To complement the aroma, this blend contains menthol, arnica and capsicum—ingredients many people find useful for soothing away stiffness.

* The FDA has not evaluated this product, and it makes no claims to treat or heal any disease. Please consult a doctor if you are experiencing symptoms that might be connected with a disease. Do not self-diagnose.