One of my favorite Spring smells is the fragrance of Cottonwood buds. As I walk River's edge, I look for branches that have fallen in Wind storms and harvest the sticky buds. I soak them for 8 weeks in organic olive oil, then turn them into healing salves and creams. 
 
Cottonwood Salve is great for use on skin irritations, minor wounds, bug bites, burns, and bruises. Cottonwood also has pain modualting and anti-inflammation properties, making it a good choice for sore muscles and rheumatic pain. Or, if you're like me, you might like to use it just for the heavenly smell.
 
Ingredients: Cottonwood buds, organic olive oil, organic beeswax