How Jinshu Balm Works
A layered sensory system designed with intention
Jinshu isn't a single-note product. It's a layered sensory experience — designed so that each phase of application unfolds deliberately, the way traditional Chinese balm-makers intended. Here's what happens when you apply it, and the formulation science behind each layer.
Application — The Base Makes Contact
When you open the tin, the first thing you notice is the scent: a quiet blend of camphor, borneol and resin. The balm itself is firm but yields easily to body heat. As you press it between your fingers, the beeswax and kokum butter base softens into a smooth, non-greasy layer that spreads evenly across the skin.
The base isn't just a carrier. Kokum butter and plant-derived emollients let the balm melt on contact and glide on without a greasy feel, holding the CBD, CBG, PEA and botanical extracts in a base that sits comfortably on the skin.
The Cool — Menthol Arrives
Within moments of application, menthol creates a crisp, refreshing cooling sensation on the skin. A near-odorless cooling agent, menthone glycerin acetal, keeps the cool going long after the first rush, so the sensation lasts without the smell of mint taking over.
The cooling phase is most pronounced in the Jade Mountain Cool variant, which emphasizes menthol and herbal clarity. In Phoenix Balance, the cooling is present but calibrated to transition smoothly into the warming phase that follows. Imperial Gold has no cooling ingredients and goes straight to warmth.
The Transition — Cool Meets Warm
As the cooling begins to settle, a second sensation emerges: a gentle, building warmth from vanillyl butyl ether (VBE). VBE is a cosmetic warming agent derived from vanillin that creates a smooth, comfortable warmth, without the sharp heat of capsaicin.
This is the moment that defines Jinshu — the interplay between cooling and warming. Traditional Chinese balm-makers understood this duality intuitively. Modern cosmetic science gives us the tools to control it precisely. The transition window is where both sensations coexist, creating a layered experience that single-action products can't replicate.
The Settle — Deep & Sustained
The initial sensory peaks give way to a sustained, grounding warmth (in warming variants) or a lingering herbal freshness (in the cooling variant). This is the phase where the aromatics (frankincense and myrrh resin extracts, natural borneol and beta-caryophyllene) contribute their character most fully.
The Imperial Gold variant is designed to emphasize this phase: a deep, resinous warmth that builds slowly and stays. Imperial Gold leans on VBE and resinous frankincense and myrrh, creating an experience reminiscent of traditional Chinese warming balms.
Three Expressions, One Philosophy
Each Jinshu variant is a different balance point on the cooling-warming spectrum. Same cannabinoid potency, same lab-tested quality — different sensory emphasis.
How to Use
A little goes a long way. Start small, let each layer arrive, and add more only if you want it.
- 1
Start with clean, dry skin
Apply to intact skin that's clean and dry. Skip skin that's freshly shaved, scraped, sunburned or irritated.
- 2
Take a small amount
Glide a fingertip across the balm and pick up a pea-sized amount. It's a firm balm and softens quickly with the warmth of your skin.
- 3
Massage it in
Work it into the area with slow, steady pressure for 30 to 60 seconds until it's absorbed. Good spots: shoulders, neck (away from the face), back, hands, wrists, knees, calves and feet.
- 4
Give it a few minutes
With Jade Mountain Cool and Phoenix Balance, the cool arrives within a minute. With Imperial Gold and Phoenix Balance, the warmth builds over the next few minutes. Wait at least 5 minutes before deciding whether to add more.
- 5
Wash your hands
Wash with soap and water right after applying, before touching your eyes, face, contact lenses or other sensitive areas.
- 6
Reapply as you like
Add more whenever you want the sensation again. Always close the lid tightly after use.
Good to Know
- First time? Do a patch test: apply a small amount to the inside of your forearm and wait 24 hours before using it more widely.
- Choosing your balm: Jade Mountain Cool is all cool, Imperial Gold is all warmth, and Phoenix Balance starts cool and turns warm.
- Feels too strong? The sensation fades on its own. To ease it sooner, wipe the area with a little plain oil (olive or coconut), then wash with mild soap and cool water. Use a smaller amount next time.
- Scent: Imperial Gold is made to sit quietly under cologne or perfume. Jade Mountain Cool has the brightest mint and camphor scent.
Safety & Warnings
Please read before use. Your tin's label carries the short version.
For External Use Only
- Do not eat or swallow. If swallowed, contact Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) or get medical help right away.
- Avoid contact with the eyes, inside the nose and mouth, and other mucous membranes. If balm gets in your eyes, rinse thoroughly with cool water.
- Do not apply to the face, wounds, broken, irritated or damaged skin.
No Added Heat
- Do not use with a heating pad, heat wrap, hot tub, sauna or hot shower right after applying.
- Do not cover tightly with bandages or wraps.
- Warming and cooling ingredients combined with heat or tight wrapping can cause skin irritation or burns.
Stop Use If
- Redness, burning, itching, swelling, blistering or a rash develops.
- The sensation becomes uncomfortably strong.
- Wash the area with mild soap and cool water. If irritation continues, contact a healthcare provider.
Talk to a Physician First If You
- Are pregnant or nursing.
- Have a medical condition, sensitive skin, or a history of skin allergies.
- Take prescription medications.
- Are sensitive or allergic to any ingredient, including camphor, menthol, borneol, beeswax, licorice or resins like frankincense and myrrh. See the full ingredient list.
Children & Pets
- Keep out of reach of children and pets. Camphor can be harmful if swallowed, especially by small children.
- Do not let pets lick treated skin. Store the closed tin where pets can't get to it.
- Not for sale to persons under 21.
Hemp & Drug Testing
- Jinshu is made with hemp-derived CBD and CBG isolates and contains no more than 0.4 mg total THC per tin, the federal limit for hemp products.
- If you're subject to drug testing, talk to your employer or testing authority before using any hemp product.
Storage
- Store in a cool, dry place with the lid tightly closed, away from direct sunlight.
- Don't leave it in a hot car. The balm softens in heat and firms back up when cool, which doesn't affect quality.
- Use by the EXP date printed on the label.
Jinshu balms are cosmetics intended to provide a cooling or warming sensation. The FDA has not evaluated this product for safety or efficacy. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Questions? Contact us.
What's in Every 1 oz Tin
See the Full Ingredient Breakdown
Every ingredient in Jinshu — its origin, its role, and why it earned its place in the formula.