What's Inside Jinshu Balm

CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol) are non-intoxicating cannabinoids derived from hemp. We use isolate form, meaning each compound is refined to a high-purity crystalline powder before it reaches us. Every lot arrives with its own Certificate of Analysis, and we have it potency tested again ourselves.

CBG is sometimes called the "parent cannabinoid" because other cannabinoids are formed from its precursor acid, CBGA. While CBD is the better known of the two, CBG is gaining attention in cosmetic and botanical research.

Every finished batch of Jinshu is potency tested by an independent, accredited lab, and the results are published on our Lab Results page.

Jinshu's signature experience comes from a deliberately layered cooling-and-warming system, inspired by traditional Chinese balms that treated sensation as the heart of the ritual.

Menthol & Menthone Glycerin Acetal: The Cool

Menthol delivers the crisp, immediate chill you feel on contact. Menthone glycerin acetal is a near-odorless cooling agent that carries the cool on long after the scent has faded, so the sensation lasts without the smell of mint taking over.

Vanillyl Butyl Ether (VBE): The Warmth

VBE is a cosmetic warming agent derived from vanillin, the compound that gives vanilla beans their aroma. It creates a gentle warmth that builds slowly over a few minutes, without the sharp heat of capsaicin.

Each balm uses the system differently: Jade Mountain Cool leans fully into the cool, Imperial Gold is all slow warmth, and Phoenix Balance starts cool and turns warm.

Camphor and borneol are the classic aromatics of Chinese balm-making, the scent many people remember from the balms their grandparents kept on the shelf. Natural borneol, known in Chinese herbal tradition as Bing Pian (冰片, "ice flakes"), adds a clean, cool aromatic note and gives Jinshu its unmistakable balm character.

We use both in modest amounts, so the aroma reads as a traditional balm without lingering or clashing with your perfume or cologne.

Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) and myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) are aromatic tree resins that have been traded along ancient routes for thousands of years. In Chinese herbal tradition they are known as Ru Xiang (乳香) and Mo Yao (没药), and they are often paired together.

In Jinshu they form the quiet, grounding base note under the cooling and warming aromatics: warm, resinous and calm.

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)

PEA is a fatty acid amide the body produces naturally, also found in foods like egg yolk. It complements the cannabinoids in Jinshu's formula with a compound the skin already knows.

Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate

A skin-conditioning ingredient derived from licorice root, a staple of Chinese herbal tradition (Gan Cao, 甘草). It helps keep skin comfortable and conditioned while the sensory ingredients do their work.

Beta-caryophyllene is a terpene found naturally in black pepper, cloves, rosemary and hops. It adds a soft, peppery depth to the aromatic profile and pairs naturally with CBD and CBG.

Beeswax & Kokum Butter

Yellow beeswax gives the balm its firm, long-lasting body, the way balms and salves have been made for thousands of years. Kokum butter, from the seeds of the Garcinia indica tree, is a firm, non-greasy butter with a neutral scent that lets the aromatics come through.

Plant-Derived Emollients

Caprylic/capric triglyceride (from coconut), coco-caprylate/caprate and C12-15 alkyl benzoate give Jinshu its smooth glide. The balm melts on contact with warm skin and absorbs without a greasy feel. A touch of vitamin E (tocopherol) protects the oils, and the whole formula is anhydrous: no added water, no parabens.

Exactly as printed on each tin, in order from highest to lowest amount.

Imperial Gold 御金温暖

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Beeswax, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Seed Butter, Cannabidiol, Camphor, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Borneol, Palmitamide MEA, Boswellia Carterii Extract, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Caryophyllene, Cannabigerol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Tocopherol.

Jade Mountain Cool 玉山清凉

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Beeswax, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Seed Butter, Borneol, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Cannabidiol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Camphor, Menthol, Palmitamide MEA, Boswellia Carterii Extract, Caryophyllene, Cannabigerol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Tocopherol.

Phoenix Balance 凤凰调和

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Beeswax, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Seed Butter, Cannabidiol, Camphor, Borneol, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Palmitamide MEA, Menthol, Boswellia Carterii Extract, Caryophyllene, Cannabigerol, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Tocopherol.