HERBAL BALMS FROM ŠIPOVO REACH AS FAR AS AUSTRALIA

For more than a decade, Bojana Arambašić from Šipovo has been crafting natural herbal balms based on pure beeswax sourced from her family’s own apiary, following recipes passed down through generations.

Arambašić, whose husband Čedomir serves as a priest at the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Šipovo, says her journey began about fifteen years ago when she created her first balms for personal use.

“The idea had been there for a long time, but at one point I decided to provide my family with homemade, natural skincare products. I started making balms, and soon I began sharing them with friends. That’s how production gradually expanded, eventually leading to sales,” Arambašić told Srna news agency.

Carefully Selected Natural Ingredients

Together with her husband, Arambašić is also engaged in beekeeping, which allows her to use wax from their own bees. She sources olive oil from Dalmatia, while fir resin and medicinal herbs are collected from the sunny Janj plateau at altitudes between 900 and 1,500 meters, as well as from other untouched natural areas in the region.

She emphasizes that all ingredients used in her products are natural, locally sourced, and thoroughly tested.

“I work as much as I can, but I dedicate time to making balms only after completing my other responsibilities. First and foremost, I am a mother, wife, priest’s wife, and grandmother—only then do my balms come,” she said.

A Family Tradition

According to Arambašić, the tradition of balm-making runs deep in her family. Both her mother and mother-in-law made similar remedies, though typically only one type, which they would give away when needed.

“My mother had a skin balm that included elder bark and other ingredients I carefully wrote down. My mother-in-law made a balm for burns using fir resin, and I still follow her recipe today,” she explained.

She also incorporated some recipes shared by a friend of her daughter who studied microbiology, further enriching her product range.

“What started out of curiosity and necessity for my family developed naturally. I began packaging the products, investing in attractive containers and labels—and that’s how it all took off,” she added.

Expanding the Product Line

In addition to various balms, Arambašić produces herbal and propolis drops, herbal throat sprays, and cough syrup made from young pine shoots and honey. More recently, she has also ventured into natural cosmetics.

“Everything I make is first tested on myself, my daughters, and close friends. Only after they confirm its quality and positive effects on the skin do I offer it to others. I never work blindly,” she said.

Nature as an Untapped Resource

Arambašić highlights the richness of local nature, noting that only a small portion of its potential is currently being used.

“Our natural environment is incredible, yet people use barely five percent of what it offers. It has remained clean and should be utilized to the fullest,” she stressed.

Although she does not actively advertise her products, demand has spread far beyond local borders—even reaching customers in distant Australia.

When time allows, Arambašić showcases her products at local fairs and events in Šipovo and nearby municipalities, continuing to grow her small, family-rooted business organically.