Nose-to-Tail: Why Tallow Makes Use of the Whole Animal

Empty Jar Guarantee — Use the whole jar. If it doesn’t help, we’ll refund you. · Handmade in the USA

Tallow comes from beef fat that’s left over when cattle are raised for beef. Using it is part of an old habit: wasting as little of the animal as possible. Here’s what that habit means and where tallow fits in.

What nose-to-tail means

Nose-to-tail is the idea of using every part of an animal raised for food, not only the prime cuts. It has long been a way of life in farm households and traditional kitchens, where nothing useful was thrown away lightly.

• Meat for the table
• Bones for broth
• Hides for leather
• Fat for tallow

It’s a simple way of respecting the animal and making use of fat that might otherwise go to waste.

Where tallow comes from

Tallow is beef fat that has been rendered. It’s often made from suet, the firm fat around the kidneys, though other beef fat can be used too.

• It starts as raw beef fat
• It’s slowly melted so the pure fat separates from tissue and water
• It’s strained and left to set into a firm, pale fat

Rendered tallow is firm at room temperature and softens with warmth, which is part of why it works well as the base of a balm.

For a closer look at the process, read what to ask about how tallow is rendered.

A long history in the home

Before most of today’s products existed, tallow was a household staple. People used it for:

• Candles and lamps
• Soap
• Cooking and frying
• Softening and conditioning leather
• Simple balms for skin

Many of these uses faded as other materials became common. A tallow balm carries on that last one in a very plain way.

Why grass-fed matters to us

Reyic uses grass-fed tallow, blended with olive oil and handmade in the USA. Where the fat comes from is part of the story, and we cover that in grass-fed vs. conventional tallow balm. Au Naturel is the simplest version: tallow and olive oil, unscented.

A personal choice

Some people avoid animal ingredients, whether for ethical, dietary, or personal reasons. That’s a choice worth respecting, and there’s no single right answer.

• Plant-based balms are a good option for many people
• Tallow is one choice among many
• For people comfortable with animal ingredients, nose-to-tail is part of the appeal

FAQ

Does tallow smell like beef?

Well-rendered tallow has a mild, faint scent. A stronger smell usually comes from higher heat or less careful straining. Scented jars also carry their named essential oils.

Is tallow a by-product of the beef industry?

Yes. It comes from fat that’s left over when cattle are raised for beef, which is why it fits so naturally with the nose-to-tail idea. Using it means more of each animal is put to good use.

Why not use a plant oil instead?

We do use one. Every Reyic balm pairs tallow with olive oil, a combination we explore in tallow and olive oil: an ancestral pair.

Curious how a nose-to-tail ingredient feels on your skin? Try Au Naturel, or browse the full collection to compare every jar.