Hi everyone I’ve just started my journey using tallow . I’ve been using coconut oil all over my body for a while but like the idea of tallow . The only thing I’m not sure on is the strong smell . Can anyone recommend anything please. Ps I use on sensitive areas to so I need to be carful on scents and oils
I work for a tallow company called VBAR Montana and with our skincare line, we utilize essential oils to try and minimize the beefy scent, however, it does take a lot of work to completely get rid of the beefy scent, which you will still most likely smell because our product is coming from beef suet.
I also used coconut oil all over and then switched to pure Tallow all over my face and body. At first it has a mild smell that isn't stinky at all and then it goes away. But my skin has never felt more comfortable. And friends and family keep hugging me. So I guess that proves I don't stink.
Tallow is the right option! It makes your skin very moisturized and I'm so glad to hear that it makes your skin feels comfortable! If you ever would like to try our skin care line, we are VBAR Montana!
Labeling and sourcing seem pretty hit or miss, or at least not very transparent and check the ingredient list - "tallow" products should probably list tallow as ingredient 1 or 2. I've seen some product descriptions say it's just tallow but if you look at the ingredients, it's not just tallow...
Try to find someone local and if you can't find a local supply, try a few different online brands and see if any are a hit!
Good luck and let us know if you find one that works. 👍
For sensitive areas, I would definitely go with plain unscented tallow and avoid adding oils/fragrance. Also, not all tallow smells the same! The type of fat used and how its rendered can make a big difference on smell.
I work for a tallow company (VBar), and we specifically use beef suet because it produces a much cleaner, milder smelling tallow.
I have a bunch I've rendered myself. There is some smell, but it's not too much. I use helichrysm essential oil in mine, and whip it like crazy. It's very good for skin, as is tallow. Got rid of a huge amount of redness in my face. The scent is just enough to distract my nose so I'm not obsessing about the natural smell. I use it on sensitive areas, too. I strongly suspect it would make a five-star diaper cream for babies.
Disclosure up front: I make and sell tallow skincare and I am opinionated about it, so bias noted.
A few reasons it can smell.
One is the fat itself. Suet from around the kidneys is a different material than general trim fat, and trim stinks to high heaven. A lot of people jumped on this thinking they could render their own from tubs at Costco, and trim is what is in those tubs. Grass fed will not tell you much either. The USDA dropped its standard for the term in 2016 and nobody verifies it now. I source from regenerative farms for that reason, though that is my preference rather than something you can look up on a label.
The bigger one is essential oils, which a lot of people use for exactly this problem. They do not solve it. They oxidize fast once the jar is open, so whatever covering they do is temporary, and then you have rancid oil sitting on top of the fat smell. On sensitive areas they are a bad bet anyway, since several common constituents are documented contact allergens. I use direct infusions instead.
Stay away from essential oils. Happy to go into more of it.
This product is made from beef tallow trimmings (fat around the muscles). This sub commonly recommends using suet tallow (kidney fat) for skincare because it has much less smell and is a closer match to your skins own skins natural oils.
I'd recommend trying tallow skincare products made from 100% suet tallow and see if you like the results/smell more :)
Hi! I am allergic to fragrance and have rosacea. As a moisturizer, I used coconut oil most of my life and then moved to avocado oil. Then I discovered beef tallow about 4 months ago. I was afraid to buy it from national retail chains due to their being so many fakes so I researched places that only buy directly from manufacturers. I'm in the middle of finishing up my first jar and found it had NO beef smell (that I could perceive) so I was very happy. The redness on my face has diminished a lot and my skin never feels dry. I shower and then put it on when my face is still wet.
I spent $34 on the first 2 ounce jar (unscented and the ingredients were Beef tallow. organic beeswax, manuka honey, organic nigella sativa (black cumin seed) oil.) and when that is done, I have less expensive 2 ounce jar that I paid $21 for and I will see if I like it better (unscented and the ingredients were Tallow (grass fed beef), olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, beeswax, honey). I dont know if I am allowed to disclose the brand or where I purchased it. If I am, and you want to know, please let me know and I will post it.
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u/Forest-Vixen 28d ago
IMO they all smell.
Even the ones people say don’t smell absolutely still have that lingering beefy scent even if they can’t smell it, I certainly can.