Some of y’all may have been around for The Mentholatum Crisis of 2010, an absolutely harrowing time when our Walgreens and our Walmart stopped carrying my beloved Mentholatum, a product that I’ve depended on to soothe chapped lips and treat various other ailments since I was a child. Mentholatum is a tradition on my mama’s side of the family, and by my best estimation it has been used WITH ENTHUSIASM by at least four generations of Davises. In fact, the last time I saw my cousin Paige – who is Mama’s sister’s daughter – there was a jar of Mentholatum on her nightstand. Sister adheres to the same code. IT’S THE DAVIS WOMEN’S WAY.
And just in case you’re reading this and thinking, Yeah, right. No way is she that attached to some Vicks VapoRub-type product, let me just assure you that oh yes I most certainly am. Last year I was at .MOM, I think, when a bloggy friend saw me dig a jar of Mentholatum out of my purse, and she responded by saying, “Oh my goodness – you really do use it!” It made me laugh, because listen: if I were going to make up some details about my life, I’d come up with a mighty tall tale about how I’d actually gotten used to wearing size 4 blue jeans but now they’re all just entirely too big. I don’t really think that “borderline addiction to an over-the-counter vaporized ointment favored by nursing home residents” would necessarily be the story I would choose to invent.
(And also, just to be clear, MENTHOLATUM IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM VICKS. I’ll refrain from boring you with all the subtle nuances of Mentholatum, but if Vicks is a menthol train that barrels down the tracks, then Mentholatum is more of a lightly vapor-scented Volkswagen Bug that rarely speeds but honks occasionally just to say hey. It’s much milder. And friendlier.)
Fortunately, I guess, the 2010 Mentholatum shortage occurred a few weeks before my birthday, and as a result some of my friends and family members visited their various drugstores in their various towns and wrapped up boxes of Mentholatum as birthday presents. I don’t know when I’ve been more delighted, and by the middle of that October I had an impressive Mentholatum stockpile. I felt a little bit like those people who are fully prepared to go totally off the grid at any given moment, only instead of having hundreds of cases of water or a lifetime supply of canned goods, I was equipped to handle any lip care (or chest cold!) emergency that might come my way.
It’s not necessarily a recognized strategy for dealing with unexpected civil unrest, but I feel that it’s an important one.
That stockpile of Mentholatum lasted almost two years, and a couple of months ago, when I was at the Walgreens looking for something or other, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they were carrying Mentholatum again. I bought a box of it, mainly just to celebrate its reappearance, and for most of the summer I’ve held unswervingly to the promise of a fall and winter with a full-to-the-brim inventory of Mentholatum at our Walgreens.
But.
Today I ran in Walgeens to look for some mascara, and as I made my way over to the cashew / pistachio / smoked almonds portion of the store, I saw this sale tag. I was not even a little bit happy. I may have even trembled in my flip-flops.
WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES AMERICA’S COLD CARE INDUSTRY HAVE AGAINST ME?
WHAT IF I AM NOT EMOTIONALLY EQUIPPED TO HANDLE MY “LAST CHANCE” WITH THE MENTHOLATUM?
There were only three boxes on the shelf (not counting that one over to the right, which, just between us, was BROKE DOWN), so I had no choice but to start another stockpile.
I’m not normally so excessive with my sale purchases, but desperate times, etc. I just don’t have any way of knowing if they’ll ever start carrying the Mentholatum again, and when it comes to maintaining your lip care standards, there’s no such thing as being too prepared.
Amen.
And amen.
Girl, I will look and see if we have any in Indiana. Mercy! This has happened with some of my “care” products…and I have NOT been happy about it. I am with you. My college roommate got me stuck on Carmex in about 1991 and I’ve never been without it since!
Hi.
I totally understand about chapped lips. I was also a sufferer until my dermatologist recommended Neosporin night creme for lips. It comes in a mini tub, and it’s also kind of hard to find. I use it religiously at bedtime only and my lips are good all day. I love drugstore.com for all of my hard to find items. They may also have your Mentholatum.
Ali
You are completely right about the difference between M and V. I prefer M, but they didn’t carry it in the area I lived for so long.
You crack me up. So many good lines in this post! Wonderful!
All of this product stockpiling reminds me of a particular episode of “Seinfeld” (think Elaine). Also, I appreciate your love of this fine product. I have since moved on to different lip care; however, I had a long love affair with Mentholatum. In fact, it was a bit of a joke in my family. I clearly remember the day my mother said, “Heaven forbid a boy ever tries to kiss you. He’ll slide right off your face!”
Thanks so much for the heads up! I’m right there with you in my Mentholatum love and have nothing but disdain for Vicks. I’ll never understand why they have to toy with us so…Personally I don’t think you should tinker with the security of an item that has been trusted for 120 years.
http://www.drugstore.com/mentholatum-ointmenttopical-analgesicaromatic-vapors/qxp10382?catid=184163
You’re welcome ladies!
Of course the broke down box had to be the bonus size! A whole extra .75 ounces! What a waste, that’s a shame. I say hit up all the local Walgreen’s for that good deal though!
Bag Balm is my Mentholatum. Cringe if you must but it is magical in its lip and skin healing properties. I’ve gotten my 11-year-old hooked on it as well. Only at night, however. After all, no one wants to smell like Bag Balm in public. Chap Stick original scent takes over daytime duties.
I read daily but have only commented 2 times in all these years-but, felt like I must inform you I just checked amazon.com and they have only 14 left in stock-if you care to quickly add to your stockpile.
you are my mentholatum twin.
You are so right. Way better than Vicks! I use it under my nose when I’m all stopped up at night and trying to sleep! Works like a charm! You can always try Amazon too. Revlon has discontinued my all-time FAV lipstick and I was distraught! So I went to Amazon and bought like 4 tubes.
I feel ya!
OMGosh. I have used Mentholatum on my lips for 30+ years…got that skin care nugget from my late father-in-law who used it every day on his face AFTER HE SHAVED. I have two jars by my bedside…a small size almost gone and a LARGE jar I keep on reserve. The best stuff ever. My daughter is hooked on Carmex which will do in a pinch but it’s not the big-M.
WHAT?!?!?! I’m gonna have to start a stock pile of my own.
Hey cutie…I’m dying to see your newly painted cabinets. Share pics., please?!? :-)
I’m planning to hit up my own Walgreens. I’ve never tried the big M, but after hearing you blog about it several times I feel compelled to give it a go.
Maybe the manufacturer is going to redesign the packaging/container. I am just trying to give you some hope. Discontinuing my favorite products can put me in state of unbelief, as if I think they know me personally.
You make me laugh!!!! That is all!!!!!
Amazon has Mentholatum on subscribe and save.
http://www.amazon.com/Mentholatum-Ointment-3-Ounce-85-Pack/dp/B001FORLKM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344351327&sr=8-1&keywords=mentholatum
Dub—thanks for the heads up on this service from Amazon. the order is for a 4 pak, so 11 left would make 44 jars. and free shipping too!
You crack me up. Okay, I am going to all the local places and looking for this stuff. Today. If they have it, I’m buying. And if they have a-plenty, I’ll buy a few and send some to you. Thanks for making my day!
I have a friend addicted to M too and when
Sorry, continuation from abov
amen and amen and I’m headed to the store just to check cause winter’s coming. I do use it every night ALL year though.
Sorry, continuation from above. this friend couldnt find M and I suggested V she looked at me like I had 2 heads! She now has me addicted to M…and I’ll let you in on a secret I’ve discovered…most stores with a pharmacy have it behind the counter or they ca special order it for you! Hope this helps!
I live where it all began The building where M was invented is now a fun gourmet grocer/coffee shop. Come visit me and maybe we can get some vibes off the building that will fix you right up. Here’s a pic of the place:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/historian77/3901057087/
Shut UP! I’m going to the Walgreen’s NOW.
This is hysterical. I love the humor, the funny writings, the honest to goodness give me a laugh as I am reading moment. You are a comedian waiting for a job.
:o}
just keep it up…we all need this humor.
You never fail to make me laugh out loud…I’ve never tried M but I think I’ll head to the Walgreens tomorrow to pick some up!
You really need to switch to Vicks Salve. It is sooooo much better! Im so afraid for you. I think Mentholatum is going away. I can’t imagine what I would do if I couldn’t get Vicks Salve anymore.
You 100 % , completely , and even totally crack me up !! God bless you.
Oh no….it can’t be going away….I won’t be able to sleep ever again!!!!! And you are the one who got me hooked on the stuff!!!!!
I’m just like that about Tussy roll on deodorant…………you can’t find it easly anymore………….boo-hoo!
You always make me laugh! I completely agree with you and I loved reading your post.
Maybe it’s the last chance for the sale, not the product?
It just hollers to the sadness of our world that they want to get rid of something that has been trusted for 120 years. I mean, why do we think we have to get rid of something trustworthy just because it’s old? You know, like our constitution and stuff? *sigh*
My name is Kayla. I am addicted to lip balm. I love a product called Natural Ice. It is made by Mentholatum. Comes in a handy little tube, and even in cherry flavor (which I do not like but to each their own.) I can only get it at May’s Drug or Drug Warehouse. (Don’t know if you have those stores in your part of the country.) We don’t have one close, so everytime we visit my father-in-law I stock up! Love that stuff.
I’ve laughed over this post for days! So, I HAD to comment. I even had to try some Mentholatum since I had never used any on my lips and I have to say I liked it.
My Grandma always had Mentholatum at her house. I LOVED it and your post just gave me the happiest memory of my tiny, sassy little Grandma who’s been gone for many years now. I think I need to make a trip to Walgreens tomorrow. :)
I can’t remember the last time I bought in a stire. It was a staple in my house growing up as well. My husband and I cracked up when we received a 3 pack we ordered online (guess we didn’t read how big the jars were)–they were huge! So never fear, when in doubt, you can probably get it online!