Pine Tar…stinky but amazing
What Pine Tar Is
Pine tar is a thick, dark, sticky substance made by slowly heating pine wood in a low-oxygen environment. This process pulls out the resins and oils from the wood, creating a tar that has been used historically for many purposes—from preserving wood and treating leather to caring for skin conditions.
In traditional herbal care, pine tar became valued because it has natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and helps protect the skin.
The Character of Pine Tar
One thing people always notice is the smell. Pine tar has a strong, smoky, woodsy scent that many people associate with old-time remedies and forest resins. For some, it smells like campfires and pine forests.
That scent is actually a sign of the natural resins and compounds in the tar that have made it useful for skin care for so long.
Pine Tar in a Drawing Salve
Pine tar drawing salve is a traditional herbal remedy that has been used for generations in folk medicine, especially in rural and Appalachian communities. It’s known for its strong scent, dark color, and its reputation for helping the skin deal with splinters, irritations, and minor infections.
What Makes It a “Drawing” Salve
A drawing salve is designed to help pull or “draw out” things from the skin. Traditionally, people used them for:
Splinters
Small embedded debris (like thorns)
Minor boils or irritated spots
Insect bites or stings
Small areas of infection
The thick texture of the salve helps keep the area covered and soft while the ingredients encourage the body to push the irritant toward the surface.
Pine tar works well in drawing salves because it is sticky, resinous, and protective, helping hold the salve in place and supporting the skin while it heals.
My experiences with this drawing salve have been with boils and hangnails. (this may get gross, lol) One time, my young nephew had a boil on his head that just wouldn’t go away. We put some salve on it, and the next day (after a few applications) pus started to come out (I warned you), and after more applications, the salve had done its job and drawn out the pus and junk and cleared it up. The same thing happened with the hangnail. My sister got one that was very sore and started to get infected and puffy. She applied Attagirl’s salve, and the next morning, pus started coming out- gross but magical! It does what it says, I guess- draws junk out!
What’s in Attagirl’s Pine Tar Drawing Salve
Pine tar – the main active ingredient
Candelilla wax – plant-derived wax, thickens the salve and protects the skin
Carrier oils (grapeseed and coconut oil) – nourish the skin and carry the ingredients
Charcoal – added for extra drawing power
Herbs calendula and yarrow – used traditionally to soothe skin
Essential oils (tea tree and lavender) – used to disinfect and soothe. Check out the benefits of tea tree oil here!
Each ingredient plays a role in softening skin, protecting the area, and supporting the body’s natural processes.
How It’s Traditionally Used
Clean the affected area with soap and water.
Pat the skin dry.
Apply a small amount of the salve to the area.
Cover with a clean bandage if needed.
Reapply a few times a day until the splinter or irritation resolves.
Many people apply it overnight, especially for splinters.
Why People Still Use It
Even today, pine tar drawing salve remains popular among people interested in:
herbal remedies
traditional medicine
homesteading and natural living
It’s valued because it’s simple, plant-based, and rooted in generations of practical knowledge.
Pine Tar Soap
While the drawing salve may be helpful for outside the shower uses, Attagirl’s Pine Tar soap can’t be beat for its cleansing, deodorizing, and grounding effects inside the shower. It’s such a great deodorizer and so good for the skin that I’ve always used it as a shampoo for my dog, too! Use this bar head to toe to help soothe irritated skin and scalp, or to simply stand in the shower and breathe in the scent of fresh pine trees; it is very grounding, especially in the wintertime when we can’t get outside!
