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The Best Chest Rub

Last updated on December 6, 2021

We looked at the top 12 Chest Rubs and dug through the reviews from 21 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Chest Rubs.

Best Chest Rub

Our Review Process

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Once cold and flu season arrives, you’ll want to have a few products on hand in case anyone in the family gets sick. One must-have item is a chest rub. Chest rubs are excellent for relieving nasal congestion, as well as for soothing chest aches and reducing coughs. When you’re ready to shop for the best chest rub, keep the following information in mind.

Choose a chest rub that meets the age requirements of the children in your home. While some rubs are safe for kids age 2 and up, others can be used in infants as young as 3 months.

Review the ingredients carefully before you choose a chest rub. Mentholatum Natural Congestion Ointment is made using 100% natural active ingredients, while all of the ingredients other rubs are free of parabens and artificial fragrances. You want to avoid using any chest rubs that contain harsh chemicals, as these can irritate the skin of sensitive individuals.

Look into the company that makes the chest rub to ensure its practices match your personal convictions. For example, some chest rubs are 100% cruelty-free and never tested on animals. Other companies choose to donate a portion of their sales to charity.

Our Picks For The Top Chest Rubs

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Best Overall

Vicks VapoRub Camphor Menthol Chest Rub

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Vicks

VapoRub Camphor Menthol Chest Rub

The next time you get a cold, reach for this trusted chest rub. It does an excellent job of calming coughs quickly, while also providing relief for up to 8 hours. The rub is even good to keep around as a topical analgesic, should you suffer from a few muscle aches and pains.

Overall Take

Pleasant Floral ScentThanks to its fresh lavender scent, you won't mind using this chest rub.

Pros
" Vicks kicked up their classic recipe with the addition of lavender, which will help you relax and fall asleep even with the worst cold systems."
 Nighttime Pick

Mentholatum Eucalyptus Oil Throat & Chest Rub

Mentholatum

Eucalyptus Oil Throat & Chest Rub

Keep coughs at bay for up to 8 hours when you opt for this all-natural chest rub. It's formulated using ingredients like menthol, camphor and eucalyptus oil, which are much more safe than some of the chemicals found in other rubs. The pleasant lavender scent not only smells delightful, but also helps promote a peaceful night's sleep.

Overall Take

Long-Lasting FormulaThis chest rub is designed for use on adults and children over the age of 2.

 Many Uses

Mentholatum Natural Chest Rub Congestion Ointment

Mentholatum

Natural Chest Rub Congestion Ointment

In addition to relieving cold symptoms, this chest rub also soothes minor muscle aches and joint pains. It's safe for children ages 2 and up and can be used as many as four times per day. It's important to note that while the active ingredients are natural, this remedy does contain chemicals, like fragrance, that may not be suitable for people with...

Overall Take

Natural Active IngredientsThis chest rub has many uses, including relieving sore muscles and opening up nasal passages.

 Economical Option

Solimo Topical Analgesic Chest Rub

Solimo

Topical Analgesic Chest Rub

You'll love that this chest rub was never tested on animals. It also has multiple uses. The salve can be rubbed over achy muscles for pain relief or massaged into your chest to stop tough coughs in their tracks.

Overall Take

Relieves Aches and PainsIf you're searching for a budget-friendly chest rub that's also high-quality, this model is your best bet.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
19

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the chest rubs available to purchase.
12

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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21

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Best Choice Reviews, The Baby Swag, Chill Mom Vibes, All Natural Mothering, Super Healthy Kids.

17,011

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 12 Chest Rubs and also dug through the reviews from 21 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Chest Rubs.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Bang For Your Buck

Solimo Topical Analgesic Chest Rub

User Summarized Score

9.2
1,334 user reviews

Our Take

You'll love that this chest rub was never tested on animals. It also has multiple uses. The salve can be rubbed over achy muscles for pain relief or massaged into your chest to stop tough coughs in their tracks.

What to Look For

  • Do not heat the chest rub up in a microwave or place it in hot water or you may suffer a burn.
  • Always store the chest rub where children and pets can’t get access to it, even if the ingredients are listed as all-natural.
  • Chest rubs are meant for external use only and should not be consumed or placed in one’s eyes, ears or nose.
  • It’s good practice to test the rub on a small area of your skin before you use it for the first time. This is the best way to determine if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.
  • When comparing chest rub prices, you’ll first need to take into consideration how many ounces are in each tub. As you compare similar-sized rubs, you’ll want to look at the ingredients. The higher the quality of ingredients, the higher you can expect the chest rub to cost.

Chest Rub Rankings

1. Vicks VapoRub Camphor Menthol Chest Rub

Overall Score: 9.6
Reviews Included: 4

2. Mentholatum Eucalyptus Oil Throat & Chest Rub

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 1

3. Mentholatum Natural Chest Rub Congestion Ointment

Overall Score: 9.3
Reviews Included: 3

4. Vicks VapoRub Medicated Chest Rub, 3-Pack

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 1

5. Solimo Topical Analgesic Chest Rub

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 1

6. Puriya Plant-Based Chest Rub

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 4

7. Maty’s All Natural Cold Relief Chest Rub

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 5

8. Maty’s All Natural Infant Chemical-Free Chest Rub

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 7

9. The Honest Company Essential Oil Chest Rub

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 7

10. Vicks VapoRub Medicated Chest Rub

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 3

11. Zarbee’s Naturals Sensitive Skin Chest Rub

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 6

12. Svasthya Body & Mind Moisturizing Chest Rub

Overall Score: 8.0
Reviews Included: 5

More to Explore

The two most commonly used ingredients in chest rubs are camphor oil and menthol. While you already know these elements aid in the relief of cold and flu symptoms, you may not be aware of their other lesser-known health benefits.

Camphor essential oil is a stimulant that improves circulation. It also assists in expelling gas, reduces inflammation and acts as a disinfectant to prevent infections.

Menthol oil calms the digestive system, relieves soreness from a cut or scrape by causing a cooling sensation on the skin, soothes muscle cramps and even deters pests from damaging plants.

More to explore