Why we don't ship in winter

From November 1 through about February 15, I stop shipping balms and oils. People ask why.

The problem is the wax. Working Hands, Sun-Worn, and Lip + Knuckle all have a beeswax-lanolin base that hardens at around 60°F. Below that, they crack in the tin. Above about 90°F, they soften and separate. In a truck driving across New Mexico in January at 4 AM, the temperature in the trailer hits 18°F. The balms arrive cracked and ugly.

I tried various 'thermal pouches' for two winters. They didn't work. I'd rather not ship a balm than ship one that arrived broken and apologize.

So from November through mid-February, all balms are storefront-only. Soaps still ship; they're stable across the temperature range. Oils ship; they're fluid all the way down to about 20°F.

If you need a balm in December, you have a few options: visit the shop in person, mail-order it for next-day Priority Mail (still risky), or wait until February. Most regulars wait.

Linden, November 2025.