Vermont’s Original Bag Balm Releases Special-Edition Gold Tin to Celebrate 125th Anniversary

October 31, 2023

Saving skin since 1899 with a time-tested formula of simple ingredients

Lyndonville, Vermont (Oct. 31, 2023) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Much has changed in the world since 1899, but Bag Balm’s mission to soothe skin with simple, effective ingredients remains the same, because it works. To celebrate its 125th anniversary next year, the Vermont-based skincare brand is releasing its Original Skin Moisturizer in a special-edition gold tin, featuring udders and clovers from their earlier designs—a piece of Vermont history!

Made with petrolatum to moisturize and protect skin and lanolin to soothe and soften skin, the long-lasting rescue balm is highly effective for revitalizing severely dry skin that can crack, split, or chafe. The versatile formula soothes skin from head to toe, and has become a tried-and-true staple of every home.

A Brief History of Bag Balm

In 1899, a Vermont pharmacist created a balm to soothe cracked, dry cow udders. Word spread quickly, and nearby farmer John Norris bought the rights to market and sell the skin-saving salve. He launched the Dairy Association LLC and commissioned a green tin decorated with cows and red clovers, Vermont’s state flower.

Bag Balm quickly gained a reputation as a must-have on local dairy farms. To expand his line of farm-friendly products, John Norris launched Horse Tonic, Kow Kare, and other cattle cure-alls in the 1900s.

Admiral Richard Byrd supposedly brought Bag Balm on his expedition to the North Pole to help treat frostbite and chapping on his herd of cows. In a letter written July 3, 1936, the expedition’s herdsman noted: “Bag Balm was used on the Guernsey cows I had charge of for Admiral Byrd on his last expedition to the Antarctic. When one of our cows did receive a severe frostbite I healed it up entirely with Bag Balm.”

In the 1940s, during World War II, the Dairy Association company traded in Bag Balm’s signature green tin for waxed paper containers due to a national tin shortage. Legend has it that soldiers brought Bag Balm overseas to use the salve to protect their rifles from rust and corrosion.

For years Bag Balm was the best-kept secret of farmers and homesteaders, but it was too big to stay in the barn. In the 1960s, people caught on that this skin-saving salve wasn’t just for animals. The tins started showing up on the bathroom shelves and bedside tables nationwide.

The little green tin made national news in the 1990s when Grammy winner Shania Twain revealed Bag Balm was her beauty secret for soft skin and hair. After 9/11, the paws of rescue dogs were said to have been treated with Bag Balm to soothe burns, cracks, and abrasions.

In the 2010s, with so many people using Bag Balm, the company decided to discontinue its remaining livestock-specific products to focus on creating new moisturizing skincare products such as soap, lotion, lip balm, and more.

Next year, Bag Balm will celebrate 125 years in business. After all of this time, Bag Balm is still proudly made in Lyndonville, Vermont using simple, time-tested ingredients.

Bag Balm Today

From its humble beginnings as an udder salve, Bag Balm has come a long way from the farm, but they’ll never forget their roots. “It’s always a challenge for legacy and heritage brands to balance honoring their history while remaining relevant to today’s consumer,” says Libby Parent, president of Vermont’s Original Bag Balm. “We will continue to build on what made Bag Balm great back in 1899—simple, effective ingredients for soothing skin.”

While the goal hasn’t changed, Bag Balm’s number of tried and true uses has expanded exponentially over the years, leading to an unusual cast of fans. Hikers and runners swear by Bag Balm to prevent chafing, hotspots, and blisters. Cyclists have a new favorite chamois cream. Skiers and riders slather on the salve to help keep windburn at bay. Tattoo artists trust Bag Balm to keep fresh ink healthy and moisturized while it heals. Bag Balm is TikTok’s best-kept beauty secret for everything from taming eyebrows and flyaways to adding a glossy highlight to lips and cheekbones. Not just for humans, Bag Balm is still every pet’s best friend, from soothing dry dog paws and noses to protecting chicken combs and wattles. The list goes on!

“Many of our customers have been using Bag Balm for decades—even generations. In honor of these loyal fans, we brought back the udder and clover designs from our archival, original tins,” says Sarah Gibson, senior marketing and ecomm manager for Bag Balm. “We couldn’t have made it 125 years without the incredible support of our community!”

The new special-edition, 8-ounce gold tins ($11.49) is available on Bag Balm’s website and from select retailers now through 2024.

For more information, visit bagbalm.com or contact Hayden Carpenter at hc@pressforwardpr.com.

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About Vermont’s Original Bag Balm

Born in Vermont’s rugged Northeast Kingdom, Bag Balm is an iconic skincare brand trusted by farmers, beauty influencers, and athletes alike. Since 1899, their versatile balms, soaps, and lotions have been soothing, moisturizing, and reviving skin with a time-tested formula of simple ingredients.

A tried-and-true staple of every home, Bag Balm is ready to provide long-lasting relief for every cut, callus, cracked hand, chapped lip, blister, sunburn, saddle sore, patch of dry skin—you name it—on every member of the household, right down to the paws of the family dog.

Bag Balm is still proudly made in Vermont, U.S.A. For more information, visit bagbalm.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Hayden Carpenter

802-578-3455

hc@pressforwardpr.com