Looking for a No-Sor Alternative? Here's What Former Users Are Switching To

If you've landed here, you're probably one of the many people who reached for No-Sor every time a cold hit — and just discovered it's been discontinued.

You're not alone. We've heard from dozens of customers in the same boat:

"Great replacement for No-Sor which I am no longer able to get. Will be buying more as my family have now taken the ones I purchased!" — Becky, verified buyer

"It's nice to have finally found an alternative to No-Sor as that has been discontinued. This works just as well and is more natural!" — Ryan, verified buyer

"We used to use No-Sore when we had colds, but since they are no longer, this is just as good, if not better as it comes in a more eco-friendly package." — Celeste, verified buyer

The good news: there's a UK-made, natural alternative that does the same job — and in many ways, does it better.

What was No-Sor, and why does it matter?

No-Sor (sometimes spelled "No-Sore") was a small balm sold in the UK for years, popular with people whose noses got raw, red and stinging from constant tissue-blowing during a cold or hayfever flare. It worked, it was cheap, and it had a loyal following.

When it was quietly discontinued, thousands of regular users were left searching for something that did the same job — without much luck. Most "nose balms" on the market are either:

- Allergen barrier balms (HayMax, Nuage) — designed to block pollen entering the nose, not to soothe an already-sore nose

- Heavy decongestants (Vicks-style) — strong, oily, not really meant as a skin balm

- Generic lip balms used off-label — pleasant but no decongestant action and not formulated for nose skin, makes nose shiny

What former No-Sor users actually want is the original combination: soothe the raw skin, smell pleasant, help you breathe a bit easier, no faff.

Meet Narwhal Nose Balm — the UK's natural No-Sor alternative

Narwhal Nose Balm is a hand-made, push-up balm stick designed for exactly the moment No-Sor used to fix:

- 😤 You've been blowing your nose for three days

- 😣 The skin around your nostrils is red, cracked, sore

- 🤧 Your nose is stuffy and you want to breathe again

- 🤲 You don't want to dip your fingers into a jar of greasy gunk

A swipe of Narwhal under and around your nose protects the skin, soothes the rawness, and the peppermint–eucalyptus–camphor blend gives you that "ahh, I can breathe" feeling that No-Sor users will recognise instantly.

How Narwhal compares to No-Sor

	No-Sor (discontinued)	Narwhal Nose Balm
Format	Small jar	Push-up cardboard stick — no dirty fingers
Decongestant fee	Yes	Yes — peppermint, eucalyptus, camphor
Soothes raw skin	Yes	Yes — beeswax, olive oil, vitamin E
Soothes raw skin	Yes	beeswax, olive oil, vitamin E
UK-made	Yes	Yes — hand-made in London
Packaging	Plastic	Recyclable cardboard tube
Sensitive option	No	Sensitive variant (less essential oil content, camphor-free)

"But is it actually any good?"

Honest answer: it's a small UK business, hand-made in small batches, with a few hundred reviews across our shop, Etsy and Amazon. The pattern is consistent — people who try it, come back for more, and most of them buy a second one for a family member or friend within weeks.

A few real reviews:

"My nose gets quite sore and flaky after the never-ending tissue use during a cold, but this helped massively! And smells lovely too."

"Suffering from a heavy cold and my nose was very sore from blowing it so much! This not only instantly soothed and smoothed, but unblocked my nose. It's magic!"

"Bought another for my mum as soon as it arrived as she loved it too."

Frequently asked questions

Is Narwhal Nose Balm exactly the same as No-Sor?

No — it's not a clone. The recipe is different (Narwhal uses beeswax, peppermint, eucalyptus, camphor and vitamin E; No-Sor's exact formula is no longer published). But it does the same job: soothe a raw, red nose and help you breathe a bit easier. Former No-Sor users routinely tell us it's "just as good, if not better."

Is there a version for sensitive skin?

Yes. The Sensitive variant skips the camphor and uses lower concentrations of essential oils — same soothing, milder scent.

Will the cardboard tube dry out before I use it up?

No. The balm is wax-based and stays stable inside the tube for the whole shelf life. Push it up only as much as you need each time and twist it back down — same as a lip balm stick.

Can I use it for hayfever / allergy season too?

Yes, many customers do. The balm soothes nose skin that's sore from frequent tissue use during a flare-up. And because the petrolatum and beeswax form a smooth layer around the nostril entrance, it may also help trap some pollen before it gets in — a happy side-effect of the formulation, though Narwhal isn't formally tested or sold as an allergen barrier balm. If pure pollen-blocking is your main need, brands like HayMax are dedicated to that. Lots of our customers wear Narwhal alongside or instead, because it does the soothing job a barrier balm doesn't.

Where is it made?

Hand-made in London by a small team. Not mass-produced.

Where can I buy it?

- 🟢 Direct from us (best price, free shipping on 2+) — narwhalbalm.co.uk

- 🟠 Amazon UK — search "Narwhal Nose Balm"

- 🟣 Etsy — Annavations shop