Botanical Ingredient

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis

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.

Skin-soothing (rich in rosmarinic acid)Rich in flavonoidsAntioxidantCalming aromaticGentle and comforting

Infused into 2 InVine formulas

Lemon balm leaves with serrated edges on a garden plant

Traditional Uses

Traditionally used for soothing skin after insect bites
Historically valued in European herbal skin care
Traditionally used as a calming herb
Historically valued for relaxation (internal use)
Traditionally used for comfort and ease

Key Properties

Skin-soothing (rich in rosmarinic acid)Rich in flavonoidsAntioxidantCalming aromaticGentle and comforting

Did You Know

Lemon balm was listed in the 14th-century herbal reference 'Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum' as a traditional herb for bug stings — one of the earliest written endorsements of a use it is still valued for today.

Our Sourcing

Lemon balm is grown in InVine's own botanical garden in Tallahassee, where it flourishes through Florida's long growing season. We harvest the leaves just before the plant flowers — the point of peak aromatic compound concentration — then dry and slow-infuse them in cold-extracted organic oils for eight full weeks to draw out the full depth of rosmarinic acid and flavonoids.

Why We Use It

Lemon balm was one of the first herbs I reached for when developing the Bug Bite Balm. I had seen its comforting effect on my children — rubbing a fresh leaf on a sting brought calm almost immediately. Its rich rosmarinic acid content is part of what makes this herb so valued in traditional herbalism, and that traditional wisdom matched what I had always observed. It also appears in Breathe Free Balm for its calming, grounding quality — a gentle anchor that keeps the formula from feeling sharp or overwhelming alongside the more intense mints.