Helianthus Botanicals is proud to announce we've acquired the formulas for Old World Salve*, Remove, and XZema. As with any business transaction, you can expect some changes. Most changes are for legal purposes and expected. More about those changes below.

But first, a bit of history...

In late 2023, Nicole Eagan of Smiling Sun Herbals, producer of the Old World line of salves, decided to close doors for good which meant no more Old World salves - ever!

This line of salves, which debuted in 1999, has a dedicated following. It was originally developed by Vickie Fiorini, an RN with extensive experience in wound care, who integrated her medical knowledge with her passion for herbal remedies.

Initially, Vickie introduced Salve*, a versatile first aid ointment that supported the body's healing of scrapes, cuts, burns, even mild athlete's foot.

Over time, she developed additional formulas, including XTract, which alleviates the pain of insect bites and stings, and XZema, which soothes and heals the discomfort of eczema, psoriasis, and similar conditions. Remove, a powerful salve, is effective in drawing out skin toxins associated with acne, boils, cysts, and infected wounds.

Together, Vickie and her husband Russ Fiorini built a trusted brand over a 20 year period, establishing partnerships with supplement stores, larger outlets, and online retailers. They frequently educated the public at local farmers’ markets about the efficacy of their products.

Sadly, Vickie fell ill with cancer in 2020 and has since passed on. Before her death, she and Russ sold the formulas to Nicole Eagan, who continued producing these cherished salves until November 2023.

Enter Helianthus Botanicals

At this point, Helianthus Botanicals steps in. Cheryl Hines, our founder, learned of Nicole's intention to cease operations and reached out to continue producing some of the most popular formulas. We are now proud to offer Vickie’s original herbal formulas alongside our own line of premium oils, salves, and butters.

It should be noted that as of this writing we don't own the other original formulas for the other 6 skin balms, namely: Renew, Relief, XTract, Happy Feet, Calendula, and Fabulous Skin. Cheryl has been researching and formulating similar formulas based on the ingredients. These new formulations will differ from the originals, but Cheryl’s expertise in herbal remedies assures their quality. We value your feedback, so please share your thoughts with us.

Expect some changes

Change is often uncomfortable. We totally get it. But some changes are for the good in the long run.

Logo and branding - The first obvious change is the branding! Of course we are putting our bright sunflower logo on the label.

More potent - Next change is that we will be producing a more potent finished product. We will maintain the original herbal ingredients in the same proportions but we are effectively doubling the amount (for Salve, Remove, and X-Zema). The original formulas simply didn't contain traditional herbalists' standard amount of herb to oil ratio.

An alcohol intermediary step has been added to the process, as well. That simply means we add just enough 95% ethyl alcohol to the freshly ground dried herb to moisten it. This rests for a brief period so the alcohol extracts more of the active constituents in the herb to release into the carrier oil.

The end result? Vickie's brilliant formulas just got better! Customers get more bang for the buck!

Richer, greener salves - Consequently, our products will now appear richer and more vibrant in color, ranging from deep green to golden green.

Label language - Regulatory updates have necessitated changes in our product descriptions. Due to FDA regulations, we must avoid implying any medicinal benefits. Therefore, terms like "salve" and "ointment" are being replaced with "skin conditioner" and "lip balm" respectively. For example, XZema is now marketed as "Deeply moisturizing," and Remove as "Supports healthy skin function."

Price - One thing that won't change for the near future is the price!!

Our hope is that all changes are good for all: you, us, and the planet.