Still Resin — A Ritual of Resin, Roots & Repair
- Hugging Bubbles MT
- Nov 18
- 4 min read
There is a particular hush that lives in the Bitterroot Valley at dawn: wind through pines, low light on the river, hands bent over small things. Still Resin began in that hush — not as an experiment in speed or scale, but as a devotion to time, to material, and to practice. We wanted a shaving bar that was not merely functional, but redemptive: one that repairs skin, calms the senses, and honors the slow work of plants, resins, and craft.
The craft behind the bar
Every Still Resin bar is blended entirely by hand — no stick blender, no shortcuts. This deliberate pace preserves delicate actives and creates a dense, velvety cushion for the blade. Fresh, local goat milk adds creaminess; hempseed, avocado, castor, and olive oils rebuild and protect the skin’s barrier. We balance texture and slip with bentonite clay, soothe with finely ground oats, and root the aroma in sandalwood and resinous frankincense and cedarwood. The result is a silky lather that protects rather than strips, calms rather than irritates.
Why we chose these ingredients — careful selection, not a checklist
Each component of Still Resin was chosen for its character and its relationship to the skin:
Tamanu butter — the bar’s regenerative heart; prized across cultures for tissue repair and powerful anti‑inflammatory action.
Murumuru butter — lends luxurious slip and lasting moisture so the razor glides with minimal tug.
Grass‑fed tallow — a traditional soap base whose fatty profile closely mirrors human sebum, producing a stable, long‑lasting lather.
Ai Ye (mugwort) — steeped and powdered to give calming, circulation‑supporting botanicals drawn from TCM practice.
Frankincense & cedarwood resins — slow infusions that add grounding aromatics and gentle antiseptic support.
Bentonite clay, oats, sandalwood, aloe vera powder — combine to refine slip, soothe irritation, and hydrate.
These choices are intentional: each ingredient plays a purpose in the shave, the skin’s recovery, and the sensory narrative of the bar.
The slow infusion — time as an ingredient
We steep resins and Ai Ye in our oils for seven weeks. This long maceration is not a marketing flourish; it is method and medicine. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, slow decoctions and macerations are used to fully extract an herb’s character. Our seven‑week infusion is the soapmaker’s equivalent: time allows resinous phytochemicals to migrate into oil, producing an integrated, complex aroma and a deeper botanical profile than a fast fragrance addition ever could.
Think of it as a slow tea rather than a syrup — a drawn conversation between plant and oil. The result is a shaving bar where the warmth of Ai Ye, frankincense, and cedarwood is integrated, subtle, and therapeutic.
Hand blending — why we avoid the stick blender
Every bar is mixed by hand. Forgoing the stick blender preserves delicate actives and prevents over‑emulsification that can blunt nuance. Hand blending gives us control over texture, marbling, and the precise moment when oils and lye become soap — the point where chemistry becomes craft. It is slower and more exacting, and it is why each bar is slightly unique and the lather feels made, not manufactured.
This approach echoes Ayurvedic and TCM philosophies that value ritual and presence: the way something is made informs its effect.
A meeting of traditions — TCM, Ayurveda, and western craft
Still Resin sits at a crossroads of traditional knowledge. Ai Ye (mugwort) carries centuries of use in Chinese medicine as a warming, circulation‑supporting herb. Frankincense and sandalwood are staples in Ayurvedic and meditative practices for grounding and clarity. Coupled with old‑world tallow rendering and contemporary cold‑process soapmaking, the bar draws on systemized wisdom to create a balanced offering that respects lineage and place.
We do not make medical claims; we invoke the language of support, soothe, and restore — terms our teachers have long used to describe what good formulation and careful process can accomplish.
How to use — a simple, mindful ritual
Wet the bar and your brush (or your hands) with warm water.
Swirl gently to coax a dense, creamy lather — a little goes a long way.
Apply with intention, shave with the grain, rinse the blade often.
Finish with cool water, pat dry, and seal with a light oil or balm.
Storage tip: keep your bar on a slotted dish or wooden soap saver to extend life.
Who this is for
Still Resin is crafted for anyone seeking a restorative shave: people with sensitive or easily irritated skin, lovers of ritual, and those who prioritize provenance and craft over mass production. It’s coconut‑free and formulated to reduce redness and encourage healing — suitable for daily shaves and moments when skin needs extra care.
Small batch, honest provenance
We render our tallow locally from grass‑fed beef, harvest goat milk from our neighbors, and hand‑macerate botanicals and resins until their character unfurls. Small batches mean each bar bears slight variations in color or marbling — a mark of true artisanal work, not a defect.
A closing note
In an industry that prizes speed and scale, we have chosen slowness: the slow render, the seven‑week infusion, the patient hand blending. Those choices cost more; they demand more time and attention — and they shape the experience you feel on your skin.
Still Resin is our invitation: slow down, breathe, and let the shave be its own repair.
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