Why I Created StinkBalm as an ER Nurse

By Jennifer D, RN & Founder of StinkBalm

If you've ever worked a shift in an emergency room, you know the smells. They're part of the job. For years, I accepted that. But what I couldn't accept was the way we handled them.

The Problem with Existing Solutions

Back in 2018, I was working as an ER nurse when I noticed something that bothered me deeply: the way odor management was handled was embarrassing patients. Aerosol sprays were being used openly, making it obvious to everyone in the room (and sometimes even the hallway) that there was a problem. Menthol salves were messy, strong-smelling in their own right, and left residue on gloves and surfaces.

Patients in the ER are already vulnerable. They're scared, in pain, and often at their lowest. The last thing they need is to feel humiliated. I kept thinking: there has to be a better way.

Kitchen Experiments on My Days Off

So I started experimenting. On my days off the ones I wasn't spending recovering from long shifts I was in my kitchen, testing formulations. I tried dozens of combinations of natural fragrances, waxes, and other ingredients, looking for something that would actually neutralize odors without being overpowering itself.

The lip balm format came to me almost by accident. It was small, portable, easy to apply, and most importantly, completely discreet. A nurse could swipe it under their nose without drawing any attention. No spray cloud. No strong menthol smell announcing itself to the room. Just quiet, effective relief.

Testing Where It Mattered Most

I brought my early formulations to work and tested them during real shifts. My family, friends and nurse colleagues became my first focus group. Their feedback shaped every iteration: what smells were too strong, what wore off too quickly, what scents they'd like to have.

By the time I launched StinkBalm, it had been tested in the most demanding odor environments imaginable: a busy emergency room, subways, airplanes, and public bathrooms to name a few.

Nurse Inspired. Nurse Created. Nurse Owned.

StinkBalm was born from a real problem, solved by someone who lived it every day. It's not a product designed in a boardroom; it's a product that was designed at the bedside, with patient dignity at its core.

Every balm we make carries that original intention: help healthcare workers do their jobs with compassion, without compromising the dignity of the people in their care.

If you're a nurse, a paramedic, a CNA, or anyone who works in environments where odor is a daily challenge  StinkBalm was made for you. By one of you.

— Jennifer