Our Ingredients

Cayenne is the botanical source of capsaicin, one of the most well-known warming compounds in the plant world. Capsaicin interacts with TRPV1 heat receptors in the skin, creating the familiar warming sensation. This deep, sustained warmth is what has made cayenne one of the most historically valued topical herbs for centuries across cultures worldwide.

Chamomile is one of the most ancient and widely used herbs in the world, with a documented history spanning over 5,000 years across Egyptian, Greek, and Roman traditions. Its flower heads contain a rich blend of terpenoids and flavonoids — most notably bisabolol, chamazulene, and apigenin — that contribute to its gentle, skin-soothing character. Chamazulene, the compound responsible for chamomile essential oil's distinctive blue color, is one of the most studied botanical compounds in skin care.

Cilantro is the leafy herb form of the coriander plant, a member of the Apiaceae family with a history of culinary and traditional use spanning thousands of years across Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The leaves are rich in flavonoids, linalool, and camphor — compounds that contribute to its distinctive aromatic profile. In InVine's Florida garden, cilantro grows as a cool-season crop during the winter months, thriving in Tallahassee's mild winters when summer herbs go dormant.

Dandelion is one of the most nutritionally dense and botanically versatile plants on earth, used in traditional herbalism across every continent where it grows — which is nearly all of them. Every part of the plant is useful: the leaves are rich in vitamins A, C, and K; the roots contain inulin and taraxacin; and the flowers carry lutein and beta-carotene. Topically, dandelion has been valued for centuries in European and Chinese folk herbalism for its skin-soothing and conditioning qualities.

Dill is a tall, feathery annual in the Apiaceae family with a history of traditional use stretching back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Its primary compounds — carvone, limonene, and anethofuran — are found in both the leaves and seeds and contribute to its distinctive aromatic profile. In InVine's Florida garden, dill performs best in the cooler winter months before bolting in summer heat.

Echinacea purpurea is a striking native North American coneflower with a centuries-long history of use in indigenous herbal traditions, particularly among Plains tribes who valued it for skin care and general wellness. Its primary compounds — alkylamides, polysaccharides, and caffeic acid derivatives — contribute to its rich botanical profile. Both the aerial parts and roots carry botanical value, making echinacea one of the most versatile plants in the herbal garden.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is one of the most widely used botanical plants in European folk herbalism, documented in herbal texts from Hippocrates through the medieval period and still among the most researched botanicals today. The berries are rich in anthocyanins — particularly cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-sambubioside — potent antioxidants that contribute to its deep purple color and rich botanical profile. The flowers are equally valuable, containing flavonoids and triterpenes that have been used in topical skin care preparations for centuries.

Eucalyptus is one of the most studied aromatic trees, and its primary compound — 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) — is responsible for its powerful, refreshing scent that has made it one of the most recognized aromatic botanicals worldwide. Historically valued in traditional herbalism for centuries, eucalyptus is used as an essential oil in both Breathe Free and Muscle Revive Balms, where the volatile compound's refreshing aromatic character is maximized through inhalation and skin application.

Galangal is a rhizome in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) native to Southeast Asia, where it has been valued for over a thousand years in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese herbalism. Its root contains galangin, alpinetin, and acetoxychavicol acetate — compounds that contribute to its pronounced warming sensation. Closely related to ginger and turmeric, galangal brings a sharper, more peppery heat that feels deeply comforting when applied topically.

Garlic is arguably the most extensively studied botanical plant in the world, with over 5,000 peer-reviewed papers on its properties. Its primary compound, allicin, is produced when raw garlic is crushed or cut — triggering an enzymatic reaction between alliin and alliinase. Garlic has been valued in traditional herbalism for at least 5,000 years, from ancient Egyptian laborers to World War I field use.

Ginger is one of the most extensively studied botanical plants, with a documented traditional history in Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Arabian herbalism spanning over 5,000 years. Its primary compounds — gingerols (in fresh ginger) and shogaols (concentrated in dried ginger) — are what give ginger its characteristic warmth. Applied topically in an oil infusion, ginger creates a sustained warming sensation that feels deeply comforting on tired muscles.

Holy basil — known as tulsi in Ayurvedic tradition — is one of the most revered herbs in the world. Unlike its culinary cousins, Ocimum tenuiflorum is defined by its adaptogenic profile and rich content of ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, and eugenol. Its aroma is distinctly clove-like and slightly peppery, quite different from sweet or Thai basil. In both traditional Indian herbalism and modern herbal practice, it is valued for its skin-conditioning qualities and its long history as a botanical of great significance.

Horseradish is a bold, pungent root herb in the Brassicaceae family, native to southeastern Europe and western Asia. Its potency comes from sinigrin, a glucosinolate that converts to allyl isothiocyanate when the root is cut — the volatile compound responsible for its sharp, unmistakable heat. Topically, horseradish has been valued in traditional European herbalism as a warming herb.

Lavender is among the most widely studied aromatic plants, with extensive research on its primary compounds linalool and linalyl acetate. Its calming, soothing aromatic quality has made it one of the most valued botanicals in skin care for centuries. In Muscle Revive Balm, lavender serves the dual role of creating a calming aromatic experience and adding a skin-conditioning layer to the primary warming herbs.

Lemon balm is a perennial herb in the mint family with a documented history of traditional use stretching back over 2,000 years in Greek and Arab herbalism. Its leaves are rich in rosmarinic acid and flavonoids, making it one of the most historically valued herbs for soothing and conditioning skin. The name 'Melissa' is Greek for honeybee — ancient beekeepers rubbed it on hive entrances to attract swarms.

Monarda citriodora — known as lemon mint, lemon beebalm, or lemon horsemint — is a wildflower native to the central and southern United States, historically used by numerous Native American tribes for skin care and as an insect repellent. It belongs to the same aromatic family as oregano and thyme and is rich in thymol and carvacrol. The lemon-mint aroma is softer than peppermint, making it suitable for sensitive skin formulations.

Lemon thyme is a hybrid of common thyme and wild thyme with a pronounced citrus-herb aroma that distinguishes it from its culinary relatives. Like all thymes, it is rich in thymol and carvacrol — two of the most well-known phenolic compounds in the plant world. In European herbal tradition it has been valued specifically for its aromatic qualities, making it a natural fit in formulas where a fresh, herbal scent is desired.

Lemongrass is a tall tropical grass native to South and Southeast Asia, historically valued in Ayurvedic and traditional Thai herbalism. Its leaves are exceptionally rich in citral (60–80% of the essential oil fraction), the compound responsible for its sharp lemony aroma. Topically, citral produces a subtle cooling sensation, without the intensity of menthol.

Mexican tarragon — also known as Spanish tarragon or Mexican mint marigold — is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae family native to Mexico and Central America. Unlike French tarragon, which struggles in hot, humid climates, Tagetes lucida thrives in heat and produces a remarkably similar anise-like flavor and aroma. Its compounds include estragole, methyl eugenol, and flavonoids. The Aztecs used it ceremonially and in traditional herbalism for centuries before European contact.

Moringa is a fast-growing tropical tree native to the Indian subcontinent, often called the 'miracle tree' for the remarkable density of bioactive compounds in its leaves, seeds, and bark. The leaves contain over 90 nutrients and 46 antioxidants, including quercetin, kaempferol, chlorogenic acid, and zeatin. Moringa oil, pressed from its seeds, is exceptionally rich in behenic acid and oleic acid, giving it a penetration profile rivaling that of argan oil — deeply moisturizing and nourishing for the skin.

Oregano is one of the most botanically rich herbs in the Lamiaceae family, with an essential oil profile dominated by carvacrol and thymol — two of the most studied phenolic compounds in the plant world. Native to the Mediterranean but naturalized in warm climates worldwide, oregano has been valued in traditional herbalism for thousands of years. Its botanical depth far exceeds its culinary familiarity.

Parsley is far more than a garnish — it is one of the most nutrient-dense herbs in the garden, packed with vitamins K, C, and A, flavonoids including apigenin and luteolin, and volatile oils such as myristicin, limonene, and eugenol. In traditional herbalism from the Mediterranean to the Middle East, parsley has been valued for skin brightening and conditioning. Apigenin, one of parsley's primary flavonoids, has been studied extensively for its antioxidant activity.

Peppermint is a natural hybrid of watermint and spearmint, cultivated for at least 2,000 years and one of the most extensively studied aromatic herbs. Its menthol content (35–55% of the essential oil) produces a powerful cooling sensation on the skin without actually lowering tissue temperature. Historically valued in Western herbalism, peppermint is prized for its invigorating aroma and refreshing feel.

Purple basil is a striking ornamental variety of Ocimum basilicum, distinguished by its deep burgundy leaves, higher anthocyanin content, and a slightly spicier, more complex aromatic profile than sweet basil. The anthocyanins responsible for its color are potent antioxidants, layering additional skin-conditioning benefit on top of the eugenol and linalool shared with its green counterparts. Like all basils, purple basil thrives in the heat and humidity of Florida summers.

Rosemary is a woody Mediterranean perennial with one of the richest antioxidant profiles in the herb world, driven by carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid. Beyond its skin-conditioning role, rosemary acts as a natural preservative in infused oils: its antioxidant compounds help protect the carrier oil from oxidation, extending shelf life without synthetic additives. Historically valued in Mediterranean herbalism for centuries.

Sage is one of the pillars of European herbalism, with a name derived from the Latin 'salvere' — to be saved or to heal. Its leaves are rich in rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, thujone, and camphor — compounds that contribute to its powerful aromatic character and skin-conditioning qualities. Sage has been valued continuously in Western herbalism for over 2,000 years and was considered so important in medieval Europe that the saying went: 'Why should a man die whilst sage grows in his garden?'

Spearmint is one of the oldest cultivated mints, with traditional records dating to ancient Greece and Rome where it was valued for skin care, digestive comfort, and aromatic applications. Unlike peppermint, its primary aromatic compound is carvone rather than menthol, giving it a gentler, sweeter cooling effect that is less intense and better tolerated by children and sensitive skin. It offers a more rounded aromatic profile that blends smoothly with other herbs.

Stevia rebaudiana is a small perennial herb in the Asteraceae family, native to Paraguay and Brazil, where the Guarani people have used its leaves as a sweetener and herbal plant for centuries. Its extraordinary sweetness — 200-300 times sweeter than sucrose — comes from steviol glycosides that pass through the body without caloric impact. Beyond sweetening, stevia is rich in antioxidants and is one of the most vigorous warm-season producers in InVine's Florida garden.

Sweet basil is sacred in Ayurvedic tradition and has been valued in herbalism across South Asia, the Mediterranean, and Africa for centuries. Its leaves are rich in eugenol — the same aromatic compound found in cloves — as well as significant linalool, which contributes a calming, comforting quality to its aromatic profile.

Tea tree is native to coastal Australia and has been used traditionally by Aboriginal Australians for thousands of years, who crushed leaves and applied them directly to skin. Its primary compound, terpinen-4-ol, is one of the most studied botanical compounds for skin care applications. Used as a carefully dosed essential oil (not infused) in Bug Bite Balm, where its concentrated character is most efficiently delivered.

Thai basil is a distinct variety of Ocimum basilicum with a characteristically anise-like, slightly spicy aroma driven by estragole rather than the eugenol dominant in sweet basil — giving it a different yet complementary aromatic profile. It is a cornerstone herb in Southeast Asian cuisine and traditional herbalism, valued for its aromatic complexity and skin-conditioning qualities. Thai basil is notably more heat-tolerant than sweet basil, making it an ideal summer producer in Florida's intense growing season.

Turmeric has been central to Ayurvedic herbalism for over 4,000 years and is one of the most researched botanical ingredients in modern science. Curcumin is its primary bioactive compound, and the vibrant golden color of turmeric has made it one of the most recognizable herbs in the world. When combined with black pepper (as in Muscle Revive Balm), piperine enhances curcumin's bioavailability and dermal absorption — a pairing that traditional herbalists have valued for millennia.

White yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is one of the oldest herbs on record — its use has been documented for over 60,000 years, evidenced by yarrow pollen found with Neanderthal remains at a burial site in Shanidar Cave, Iraq. Named for Achilles, who legend holds used it for his soldiers, yarrow remains one of the most historically significant herbs in the botanical world. Its compounds — achillin, azulene, and flavonoids — contribute to its rich botanical profile.