Review: Momotaro Apotheca Salve

You know how they say bad things happen for a reason? Well I don’t really believe that, but I do have one such example. I had just turned 18 and a month after my birthday was Melbourne’s biannual sex convention. I knew next to nothing about sex toys, asides from the fact that I wanted them, and embarrassingly picked out a few options from a popular “$10 or less” stand. I saved them for an upcoming trip away with my ex and was so excited to try them out on that first night, yet as soon as I did I felt some of the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. It felt like my vagina was literally on fire, but being young and in an unfamiliar area, we didn’t seek help. At the time I thought it must be my problem, and I continued thinking that way until I finally decided I needed answers. I learned about the dangers of unsafe sex toys and how my experience was extremely common yet unspoken. With that, I knew I wanted to dedicate myself to helping to spread awareness, and shortly after I started Princess Previews.

So, what does this all have to do with today’s review? Well, I thought of this story because it was a time when I would have done anything for a product like the Momotaro Apotheca Salve. In the days that followed my first experience with a jelly dildo, the discomfort and itching was so bad I could barely function. I vividly remember trying to explore the area we were staying, only to have to constantly stop at every public bathroom we could find just so I could scratch. Even when we cut the trip short and went home so I could seek medical assistance (this was also during a time when my mum would always come in with me, so I wasn’t even able to tell the doctor what had happened), things only slowly began to improve. That was 8 years ago, yet every now and then I still itch. Is it related? Probably not. But it makes me think of it every time. It’s also made me extra cautious about my vaginal health and every little thing that goes near it, which can sometimes be tricky to navigate with my line of work, and I often wonder if I should be doing something more for it.

Product Description

On that note, let’s talk about the Momotaro Apotheca Salve! With a pot smaller than my pinky finger, it certainly doesn’t look like much, but this little pot of magic has actually been on my radar for some time after seeing rave reviews of it online. With a plant-based formula, Salve is a soothing and cooling balm that is designed to instantly address vulvovaginal dryness, itching and irritation. Recommended as part of a daily routine, it works with your body to help balance pH levels and support natural healing abilities without disrupting hormones, pheromones, or medication. Plus, the vitamin-rich ingredients, which are listed on Nudie Co’s website, come together to bring you a range of other benefits, for instance coconut and jojoba oil to protect your skin’s natural moisture barrier from everyday stressors and general irritation, and goldenseal, echinacea and calendula for their anti-inflammatory properties to help relieve symptoms of yeast and bacterial infections. In addition, the Momotaro Salve can also be used post grooming to avoid redness and razor burn, as a lip balm, nipple cream, and so much more.

The Brand

Since it’s my first time reviewing one of their products, let me also introduce Momotaro Apotheca, who are a US-based wellness company with a focus on vaginal health. Staying true to their brand ethos of “The vagina is complex; we keep it simple”, their line of certified organic and cruelty-free vulvovaginal care products work to support your body’s natural ability to heal. They aim to not only provide education, but address both the physiological and psychological challenges that affect people regarding sexual and reproductive health, and offer this in a way that is free of gendered assumptions and language. In addition to the Salve, which is their signature product, they also sell a range of complimentary products, from their Tonic and Body Oil, to their Hydrosol. For those unsure of which to choose, they offer bundles, as well as an in-depth and informative quiz on their website, which will build you a recommended routine based around their products.

Packaging

The Momotaro Apotheca Salve was sent to me by Nudie Co on the 17th of February and I promptly received it the very next day on the 18th, which was fantastic! The package was then fully discreet, with no mention of the sender or what was inside, and as with my recent review of the Snail Vibe, everything was beautifully gift-wrapped alongside a sweet thank-you card and dried flowers. The Salve itself was then protected in some recyclable packaging paper, and opening this up revealed its box. No effort here has been made to avoid showing how small the product is (avoiding waste, plus how annoying is it when you buy something for the actual product to be half the size?), yet the packaging is somehow still both minimal and informative. Instructions rest alongside the brand’s vision and certifications, whilst a list of ingredients is provided on the bottom. Inside this you’ll find the Salve’s glass jar, and this is clear apart from its white plastic lid, which just features the product’s name and weight. The only other piece of information on the jar are then some words written in white around its circumference, which I soon realised were the ingredients. I’m not sure if they needed to be listed again here since they’re already on the packaging (I certainly have plenty of items that don’t include them in both places), but I love this addition and have already found myself referring to them during application. In addition to its trendy design, it’s also worth noting just how discreet the Salve is, and, of course, gender neutral. Finally, my Nudie Co order also came with a Momotaro sticker sheet, which I love, and a small guide to Momotaro’s products.

First Impressions

While my past experiences have made me overly cautious, I feel very lucky to say that my vulva and vagina are generally free from irritation and discomfort. I do occasionally feel some itching, but it’s been a long time since it’s gotten to the point where I actually need to do something about it. While I may not necessarily be looking for the kind of instant relief the Salve is praised for, however, I was still eager to include it in my routine, since I do put my poor vagina through quite a lot with my work. With this in mind, I quickly found a place for it at night after my daily shower, so that it could stay on for as long as possible. It might just be because it is the scent I am most familiar with in the Salve’s ingredients list, but during application it has a very strong smell of tea tree oil. I regularly use this for cleaning, so it unfortunately does mean that to me my vulva ends up smelling like a cleaning product, but it’s not exactly unpleasant, just an association I need to get my head around. I do find that as time goes on though the smell changes, and when I wake up the next morning it’s very different. While not quite my natural scent, it doesn’t make me think of tea tree oil either (or anything else, for that matter), and I suppose is just a unique mix between the two. As for the consistency, I do feel this changes a little depending on the weather. Right now it’s 28°C / 74°F inside and the Salve is very soft, whereas a few days ago when it was cooler it had more of a grainy consistency. Regardless of this though, a little goes a long way, and having the pot open fully helps you to not grab too much. Once applied, it definitely gives off a cooling sensation, and while it’s not as intense as some cooling stimulators I’ve used, it can absolutely be felt, kind of like when you eat a mint. This then lasts for a couple of minutes, but otherwise I just go on with my regular business.

My Experience

I’ve now been using the Momotaro Apotheca Salve every day for a week, and have noticed some subtle differences. While it is too soon to say definitively, I do feel like my itching (which, I suppose almost luckily, had been bugging me right up till when I started using the Salve) has stopped. I should also point out that I have been experiencing more discharge / am just generally wetter down there, but this was something that was also occurring before I started using the Salve (I just recently came off my birth control whilst I switch medical providers), so there is a good chance this is somewhat unrelated. More than anything else though, I have just really enjoyed including my vulva as part of my nightly routine and taking the time to be present with it and really consider how it is feeling. In addition, I have also quickly taken to using the Salve on my chaffing and areas where I usually experience razor burn. This has seemed to make a real difference, taking my bikini line from chickenpox realness to the smooth skin I’ve always dreamed of. Plus, my lips are always thankful for anything moisturising, and so it has also been great for them, especially right before bed.

Final Thoughts

Momotaro Apotheca Salve is the sort of product I feel like everyone could use a jar of. It’s long-lasting but doesn’t take up too much space, looks beautiful while remaining completely neutral, and its organic plant-based formula can be used in a number of ways without having to worry about any nasty chemicals that might just make problems worse. While my short testing period and generally unirritated vulva means that it’s hard for me to give my full support, I’ve certainly enjoyed using it, and the improvements to my razor prone skin are indisputable. I do think that if you suffer from issues such as frequent urinary tract infections, yeast infections, or bacterial vaginosis, this is definitely a product to consider, as the reviews on both Momotaro’s and Nudie Co’s websites really speak for themselves. As for me, I’ll be continuing my use of the Salve after this review, so keep an eye on my social media for updates on my journey!

You can get the Momotaro Apotheca Salve from Nudie Co for just $59 AUD / $43 USD, plus use my code GRACE10 to get 10% OFF your total order!

This post was sponsored by Nudie Co, but as always, all opinions are my own.