Old City Apothecary

Old City Apothecary Small-batch herbal, mineral, and skincare goods made with intention. Ingredients matter. Handmade in Portsmouth, Ohio.
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Apparently I restocked Magnesium Butter earlier this week and forgot to tell the website.So if you’ve been looking for i...
06/19/2026

Apparently I restocked Magnesium Butter earlier this week and forgot to tell the website.

So if you’ve been looking for it and wondering why it was out of stock… it wasn’t.

Thank you to the customer who messaged me and accidentally became my inventory manager.

It’s back.

This is what community looks like. You can find a selection of Old City Apothecary products at the Red Door Bookstore & ...
06/19/2026

This is what community looks like.

You can find a selection of Old City Apothecary products at the Red Door Bookstore & Gifts in downtown Portsmouth, making it convenient for local customers while helping me reach people who may never have found my little business otherwise.

The best part? A percentage of every sale goes to Friends of Portsmouth, a local organization dedicated to improving and investing in our community.

Supporting local businesses. Supporting local organizations. Supporting our town.

That’s a win for everybody. ❤️

I’ve been pretty open about the fact that I don’t have a lot of blind trust in the medical system.That’s a story for ano...
06/18/2026

I’ve been pretty open about the fact that I don’t have a lot of blind trust in the medical system.

That’s a story for another day.

What I will say is that I’ve learned to ask questions, do my own research, and take responsibility for my health instead of handing it over to someone else.

Last year I dealt with a stubborn skin condition that took months to improve. Along the way I learned a lot. I learned to advocate for myself. I learned to pay attention to what my body was telling me. I genuinely believe things like my mineral soap, Sunveil, dietary changes, and eventually addressing an underlying dental issue all played a role in my healing.

So when my skin started acting up again I did what I always do. I paid attention. I documented it. I tried to understand what was happening.

I decided to go in and get another opinion before it got out of control.

What surprised me wasn’t that they had all the answers.

They didn’t.

What surprised me was how seriously they took my concerns.

This provider listened. She looked at the bigger picture instead of just the rash in front of her. She ordered labs. She started asking questions. She treated me like a person instead of a problem to solve in five minutes.

I left without answers.

But I also left feeling heard.

And honestly, that matters.

I still believe in herbs.
OBVIOUSLY!
I still believe in nutrition. I still believe we should take an active role in our own health.

But this week reminded me that there are good medical professionals out there too. People who listen. People who think critically. People who genuinely want to help.

I’ve learned enough over the years to know that wisdom can come from more than one place and I don't "know it all".

I didn’t create FrankinSalve because I wanted another product to sell.I created it because I was a mom trying to help my...
06/17/2026

I didn’t create FrankinSalve because I wanted another product to sell.

I created it because I was a mom trying to help my daughter’s skin during eczema flares.

At the time, I wasn’t thinking about labels, marketing, or whether anyone else would want it. I just wanted something gentle and nourishing that would help support her skin barrier when it needed a little extra care.

What started as something made for my family eventually found its way into homes all over the country.

Over the years, customers have told me they keep a jar in their medicine cabinet, on the vanity, in the diaper bag, and in the first aid kit. It’s become one of those products people reach for again and again.

But at its heart, FrankinSalve was never about creating a bestseller.

It was a mom’s solution to a real problem in her own home.

I’m grateful that something created out of love for my daughter has helped so many other families along the way.

❤️

This morning I sat here with my coffee, looking across the yard, and couldn’t help but smile.The elderberry shrub surpas...
06/16/2026

This morning I sat here with my coffee, looking across the yard, and couldn’t help but smile.

The elderberry shrub surpassed shrub status and is now identifying as a tree. The mullein is reaching for the sky. The bees are already hard at work. Everywhere I look are plants that started as tiny seeds, cuttings, or hopeful ideas.

Moments like this remind me that God built an incredible world.

He designed seeds to become flowers, flowers to feed pollinators, and gardens to feed both our bodies and our souls. The more time I spend outside, the harder it is not to notice His handiwork in all of it.

Gardens also remind me that growth isn’t always visible.

Roots grow long before blooms appear. Progress happens quietly beneath the surface. And sometimes God is doing His best work in our lives the same way… where nobody else can see it yet.

So today I’m sitting here, drinking my coffee, admiring the view, and feeling grateful.

Not just for the garden.

But for the One who made it possible.

You finally get in bed…And your brain is like:“Remember that embarrassing thing you said at the library during toddler s...
06/14/2026

You finally get in bed…

And your brain is like:

“Remember that embarrassing thing you said at the library during toddler story time in 2014?”

No.

“I do.”

And now you’re wide awake replaying the entire conversation.

Magnesium Body Butter can’t erase the memory…

But it might help you relax enough to stop a full on meltdown at 11:43 pm.

06/13/2026

Life is a lot like gardens... you don't need a complicated method. Hoeing around has worked for centuries and it works for me! How do you keep the weeds down?

After I shared the wellness planter I donated for a fundraiser, many of you asked if I would make them available for pur...
06/12/2026

After I shared the wellness planter I donated for a fundraiser, many of you asked if I would make them available for purchase.

So… I made a few.

Each Wellness Planter is built around a simple idea:

A warm bath.
A beautiful cup of tea.
A moment of quiet.

Inside you’ll find magnesium bath salts, magnesium body butter, FrankinSalve, artisan soap, a soap saver bag, and herbal tea enclosed in a textured glass tea mug with bamboo lid, accompanied by a gold tea infuser and matching spoon.

Each product supports rest and wellness, and when everything has been enjoyed, the planter remains… ready to be filled with herbs, flowers, keepsakes, or whatever brings you joy.

I haven’t added these to my website. Right now, I’m simply testing the idea to see if there’s enough interest to make them a regular offering.

$139

Very limited quantities are available. I honestly don’t know when I’ll make another round.

If you’d like one, send me a message.

Handmade still matters.In a world full of mass produced everything, there’s something special about holding something ma...
06/12/2026

Handmade still matters.

In a world full of mass produced everything, there’s something special about holding something made by a real person.

These solid wood planters were handcrafted by a local carpenter right here in our community. Every cut, every angle, every detail was shaped by hand.

They aren’t factory made and you won't find them anywhere else.

They’re better.

They’re unique.

And I can’t wait to show you what they’ll become.

Magnesium Body Butter is still my best selling product. After several years and several thousands of jars later, I’m sti...
06/11/2026

Magnesium Body Butter is still my best selling product.

After several years and several thousands of jars later, I’m still filling them one at a time with the same original formula.

If you’ve tried it, what did you start using it for?

Sleep?

Sore muscles?

Leg cramps?

Stress?

Something else?

I’d love to hear your story.

Address

Portsmouth, OH
45662

Telephone

+19892858208

Website

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