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The Best First Aid Ointments

We vetted first aid ointment against the Welpr Standard and here are our top picks.

Camille May

Cofounder & Product Curator

Olushola M. Awoyemi

Medical Reviewer, PhD

Here's what we look for:

Clean, purposeful formulations with herbal and natural antibacterial actives
Free from petroleum, parabens, synthetic dyes, and artificial fragrance
No harsh preservatives, only gentler options in minimal amounts
Transparent sourcing, ingredients, and manufacturing practices

The Best First Aid Ointments for Cleaner Wound Care

On Welpr, terms like "non-toxic," "safer," "cleaner," "healthier," and "vetted" are editorial labels based on our own standard for product assessment. They are not guarantees, certifications, or medical claims. Learn more.

Top Pick

Silver Miracles

Colloidal Silver Healing Salve

Highlights: Cruelty-free, Made in USA, Fragrance-free, For General purpose, Salve

8.7

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

Noticeably speeds up healing on scrapes, burns, and minor wounds; several people saw visible improvement within a couple of days.
Easy to apply and feels soothing on contact.
Versatile enough for sunburn, chafing, and dry or rough skin in addition to wounds.

Cons

The 1-ounce container is very small; multiple people were surprised by how little product they received.
The salve formula has a hard, waxy texture that requires scraping out of the jar and feels oily and sticky once it melts.

A beeswax-based salve infused with colloidal silver particles in a base of plant butters and oils. The silver is meant to provide a protective layer on the skin, while the rich base moisturizes and helps seal in moisture.
Unscented and free of added dyes, so it won't compete with or irritate sensitive skin. The texture is thick and balm-like, consistent with a beeswax salve rather than a lightweight lotion.
Commonly used on dry or cracked skin, minor cuts and scrapes, and fresh tattoos. If you're looking for a non-toxic first aid ointment that doubles as a heavy-duty moisturizer, this covers both uses.
Handmade in small batches in the U.S. using 99.99% pure silver converted into colloidal form. Silver Miracles keeps their ingredient lists intentionally short across their product line, letting the base ingredients and silver do the work.
Comes in a 1 oz jar, so it's compact enough for a first aid kit or travel bag but will run out quickly if you're using it as a daily full-body moisturizer.

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Budget Pick

Theriac

Advanced Manuka Honey Healing Ointment

Highlights: For Minor cuts & scrapes, Ointment, No antimicrobials

8.3

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

Thick ointment consistency stays in place on the wound until rubbed in, rather than sliding off.
Multiple people saw noticeable improvement on burns, blisters, and abrasions within one to two days.
Doesn't burn or itch on open wounds, and several people found it soothing on contact.
Smells like honey, which people found pleasant.

Cons

The tube is very small (about the length of a pinky finger), and several people felt they ran out quickly.
The thick formula can be hard to squeeze out of the tube.
Results varied; a few people found healing slower and less dramatic than expected.

Lanolin-based skin protectant meant for minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Instead of relying on antibiotics like most first aid ointments (Neosporin, Polysporin), it uses lanolin as the active ingredient to create a protective, moist healing environment over the wound.
The formula is built around a botanical blend that includes medical-grade manuka honey, which has a long history of use in wound care for its natural antimicrobial properties.
Comes in a small 0.5 oz tube, so it's more of a medicine cabinet or travel staple than something you'd use to cover large areas repeatedly.
Positioned as a non-toxic first aid ointment for people who want to avoid petroleum-based products and conventional antibiotics in their wound care routine.
Made by Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. manufacturer that also produces the product itself (not contracted out to a third party).

First Honey

Wound Healing Ointment

Highlights: For Burns, Ointment, No antimicrobials

8.5

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

Multiple people saw noticeable healing on cuts, burns, and surgical wounds within one to two days.
The thick texture stays in place and creates a barrier over the skin rather than sliding off.
Works well on persistent dry patches that didn't respond to regular moisturizers.

Cons

The tube is significantly larger than the amount of product inside; multiple people received tubes that were only about half full.
Texture is sticky, which is expected for a honey-based product but still messy during application.
The consistency is runny enough that it leaks out of the tube and is hard to control when dispensing.

The sole ingredient is medical-grade Manuka honey, sterilized and tubed for direct wound application. It works by creating a moist, high-viscosity barrier over cuts, burns, and scrapes; the honey's low pH and natural antibacterial compounds help inhibit microbial growth while supporting tissue repair.
Positioned as a non-toxic first aid ointment alternative to conventional antibiotic ointments like Neosporin. The FDA, CDC, and WHO have flagged antibiotic resistance from overuse of topical antibiotics, which is the problem First Honey is designed to sidestep.
Texture is thick and sticky, more like a dense honey than a typical petroleum-based ointment. You apply it directly to the wound and cover with a bandage; it's meant to be reapplied daily at dressing changes.
First Honey is a family-run operation in Masterton, New Zealand, founded by siblings Dan Watson and Sarah Scarlet. They own the bee farms, which are monofloral (only Manuka trees, no cross-pollination), and process the honey in their own ISO 13485-certified facility rather than sourcing from third-party beekeepers.
FSA and HSA eligible, so it can be purchased with pre-tax health spending accounts.

Thursday Plantation

Tea Tree and Manuka Honey Balm

Highlights: Cruelty-free, Recyclable packaging, For Minor cuts & scrapes, Balm

8.4

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

Versatile for a wide range of minor skin issues, from bug bites to blemishes to dry, irritated patches.
Has a cooling sensation on application that people find soothing.
Leaves skin feeling soft and noticeably helps with healing within a couple of days.
Works well as an overnight treatment on the face.

Cons

Texture is sticky, which can feel unpleasant during use.
The tea tree scent is strong; a few people found it off-putting, though it fades soon after application.

Combines two naturally antiseptic ingredients in a balm format that forms a protective barrier over minor wounds, cuts, and abrasions. The barrier shields broken skin from bacteria and environmental exposure while maintaining a moist, low-pH environment underneath to support healing.
Non-greasy texture in a small squeeze tube, so it's easy to apply a targeted layer without getting balm everywhere. The tube is compact enough to toss in a first aid kit, bag, or glove box.
As a non-toxic first aid ointment, it takes a different approach than petroleum-based options: the base is water and plant oils rather than mineral oil or petrolatum.
Thursday Plantation has been growing and distilling its own tea tree oil in northern New South Wales, Australia since 1976. They operate their own research lab on the farm and test each batch against Australian and international purity standards, which is unusual for a consumer brand in this category.

Defense Soap

Organic Tea Tree Ointment

Highlights: Hypoallergenic, Fragrance-free, Money-back guarantee, For Minor cuts & scrapes, Salve

8.4

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

Works well on cuts, mat burn, ingrown hairs, and bug bites, with noticeable results quickly.
Popular among combat sports athletes (BJJ, wrestling) for treating skin issues picked up on the mat.
No burning or itching on application, even on open or irritated skin.
Only a small amount is needed per application.

Cons

Leaves a greasy feel on the skin; you may need to blot the area with a towel after applying.

An herbal salve built around organic botanicals and essential oils, formulated to soothe minor scrapes, scratches, burns, and dry or damaged skin. You apply it directly from the jar as a thick, balm-like ointment.
Primarily marketed to wrestlers, jiu jitsu practitioners, and other contact sport athletes who deal with frequent skin irritation from mat contact and close physical engagement. That said, it functions as a general-purpose non-toxic first aid ointment for anyone dealing with minor skin issues.
Defense Soap was created by a longtime wrestling coach in Ohio after his youth team experienced nearly 100 cases of ringworm in a single season. The entire product line grew out of that problem, so the formulations are specifically oriented toward skin protection in high-contact environments.
The formula leans heavily on traditional herbal ingredients (think calendula, comfrey, chickweed) infused in carrier oils and bound with beeswax, rather than the petroleum-based approach you see in most conventional first aid ointments.
Sold in small jars rather than tubes, so application is a scoop-and-spread process. Expect a noticeable herbal and tea tree scent.

Organic Botanicals

Pure Organic Calendula Salve Healing Balm

Highlights: Made in USA, Fragrance-free, For Skin irritations, Salve

8.2

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

Noticeably helps with dry, cracked skin; multiple people saw real improvement with regular use.
Versatile enough to use on hands, face, and body for different concerns.
Keeps well in the fridge and lasts through frequent daily use across multiple jars.

Cons

Texture is grainy rather than smooth, which makes it harder to spread on skin.
Scent is not pleasant on its own; one person added lavender oil to compensate.

Calendula has a long history in herbal medicine as a vulnerary, meaning it's traditionally used to support wound healing and skin repair. This salve applies that in a simple balm format you use straight from the jar on cuts, scrapes, dry patches, or irritated skin.
Gentle enough for babies (it's a popular pick for diaper rash), which also makes it a reasonable non-toxic first aid ointment option for adults with reactive or sensitive skin, including those dealing with eczema or psoriasis.
The texture is rich and buttery but absorbs without leaving a greasy film. Scent-wise, expect a slightly smoky, earthy smell from the unrefined shea butter; nothing is added to mask or fragrance it.
Batch-to-batch variation in smell and texture is normal here since the ingredients are unrefined and undeodorized. If you're used to consistent commercial balms, that's worth knowing.
Made in small batches in Bellingham, Washington, using calendula flowers grown in the Pacific Northwest and infused in-house into carrier oils before being blended into the salve.

How to Swap to Non-Toxic first aid ointment:

Here's how to swap to non-toxic first aid ointment:

What to know about first aid ointment

First aid ointments are applied directly to broken or irritated skin, which means whatever is in the formula has a more direct path into the body than products used on intact skin. Welpr focuses on the ingredients and formulation of these ointments, including the base ingredients, added preservatives, and any unnecessary additives.

Ointments used on cuts, scrapes, and burns sit on damaged skin for extended periods, making the formulation especially important.
Products used on children or applied frequently deserve extra attention since exposure adds up over time.

Review what you already use

Gather the first aid ointments in your medicine cabinet or first aid kit and check what is in them. Use the Welpr Personal Care and Cosmetic Scanner to take a picture of the ingredient label and see if anything is flagged.

Start with the ointment you reach for most often or the one you use on your kids.
Check for added fragrances or synthetic dyes on the label — these are unnecessary in a product meant for open wounds.

Use your current ointment more carefully

If you are not ready to replace your current first aid ointment, you can still be more intentional about how you use it. Applying less product and using it only when truly needed can reduce unnecessary exposure.

Use a thin layer rather than a thick glob — a little goes a long way for keeping a wound moist.
For minor scrapes that are clean and dry, a clean bandage may be enough on its own.

Choose a cleaner replacement

Look for first aid ointments with simple, short ingredient lists and a clean oil base like beeswax or shea butter. Avoid products with added fragrances, synthetic dyes, or unnecessary preservatives.

Choose fragrance-free and dye-free options, and be cautious of vague claims like "natural" without clear ingredient transparency.
Click the button above to shop Welpr Approved first aid ointment.

Camille May

Cofounder & Product Curator

Camille May is the co-creator of Welpr and a guide for clean living. After selling her last company in the health food space, she went non-toxic while working to heal an autoimmune condition....

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Olushola M. Awoyemi

Medical Reviewer, PhD

Olushola M. Awoyemi (aka Shola) is a board-certified toxicologist and a research scientist with a PhD in Environmental Toxicology. Shola's long-term ambition is to be recognized as a world-renowned expert in toxicology,...

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