… to me. (And Why Bum Butter Does Better)
When it comes to chafing, your skin is already angry. Raw, sore, inflamed. The last thing it needs is something that belongs in an engine.
Yet many traditional anti-chafing and chamois creams rely on petroleum jelly and paraffin as their main ingredients. These substances are derived from crude oil (petrol)—the same stuff used to make fuels, lubricants, and asphalt.
Yes, including the Vaseline, which describes itself as a petroleum jelly.
Petroleum Jelly: Where It Comes From
Petroleum jelly is a by-product of oil refining. It starts life as crude oil, which is then processed, bleached, and deodorised before being sold as something “skin safe.”
Safe? Maybe.
Ideal for sore, sweaty skin under friction for hours on end? That’s another question.
Petroleum Jelly Doesn’t Heal Skin
Petroleum-based products work by sealing the skin. They don’t nourish it, help it repair, or let it breathe. They just sit there creating a barrier that can trap heat, sweat, and bacteria.
And Yes… It Burns
Petroleum jelly is combustible. It can ignite and burn. That’s not an opinion—it’s chemistry.
So ask yourself this:
If you had a sore, irritated eye, would you rinse it with a petrol-based solution?
Sore throat… gargle some petrol?
Of course not. That would be ridiculous.
So why would you smear petrol-derived ingredients onto skin that’s already damaged, inflamed, and rubbing raw?
The Problem With “Traditional” Chamois Creams
Many big-name chamois creams still rely on:
- Petroleum jelly
- Paraffin (also petroleum-derived)
They’re cheap, stable, and easy to manufacture—but they’re not chosen because they’re good for your skin. They’re chosen because they’re convenient.
Why Bum Butter Is Different
Bum Butter was created with one simple idea:
Put on your skin what actually helps skin.
Instead of petroleum by-products, Bum Butter uses natural, skin-loving ingredients selected because they:
Soothe irritation
Support skin repair
Reduce friction without sealing or suffocating
Work with your skin, not against it
No petrol.
No paraffin.
No industrial leftovers pretending to be skincare.
Your Skin Deserves Better
Chafing isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s your skin telling you something isn’t right. Covering the problem with oil-industry by-products isn’t a solution.
Bum Butter is made for humans, not engines.
And once you’ve tried a natural alternative that actually cares for your skin, going back to petroleum jelly just doesn’t make sense.
Want to make a fire lighter from Vaseline… check the video below.
Written by Charlie Hobbs: Founder of Bum Butter
Charlie Hobbs (formally known as Charlie the Bikemonger) is a veteran of the British endurance sports industry and the founder of Bum Butter, the UK’s premier 100% natural, vegan anti-chafing cream. With a career spanning over four decades in off-road riding, Hobbs is a recognized pioneer in the UK gravel cycling scene, having founded the Dorset Gravel Dash—the UK's first ever gravel event—and invented the Clunker Classic. He was also a long-standing columnist and Merchandising Manager for Singletrack World Magazine, one of the world's leading cycling magazines and media outlets.
While his roots are in cycling, Charlie is also an active hiker, mountaineer, and runner, regularly testing the limits of Bum Butter on the trails of the Dorset Coast and Hebden Bridge. This "on-the-ground" experience as both a cyclist and a runner ensures that every batch of Bum Butter is formulated to withstand the specific friction demands of ultra-running and high-mileage training.
After 16 years as the owner of the renowned retail shop Bikemonger, Hobbs transitioned to focus on high-performance athlete care. He currently serves as the Lead Director of Bum Butter Ltd, where he oversees the business of handmade, petrochemical-free chamois balms used by Olympic gold medalists and everyday athletes alike.