There is a particular smell that stays with you.
For many Singaporeans, it is the familiar sharpness of medicated oil. Camphor, menthol, and herbs gently warming the air. It is the scent of childhood kitchens, grandparents’ drawers, and tired shoulders soothed at the end of long days. Stepping into our factory often brought those memories back instantly.
From 2002 to 2017, Fei Fah Singapore opened its doors to the public, welcoming visitors not just into a factory, but into a living chapter of local heritage. Tens of thousands of visitors walked through our doors over the years. Young adults, senior citizens, families, community groups, schools, and organisations all came together in a vibrant atmosphere filled with curiosity, laughter, and shared stories. It was always a joyful time for connection, a true feeling of kampong spirit. Seeing familiar faces and smiling faces became part of the tour’s charm.
A Walk Through Time and Tradition
A Fei Fah factory tour was never rushed.
Visitors were first welcomed and introduced to the wide range of Fei Fah products, many instantly recognisable. The green bottle. The familiar label. The balm that many remembered seeing at home growing up.
This was followed by a video presentation sharing the balm making process and Fei Fah’s journey since the 1960s, when we operated retail shops across Singapore. Our Electric Balm became so widely trusted that demand eventually outgrew our storefronts. Over time, Fei Fah transitioned fully into wholesale production, while keeping a small corner of direct sales at the factory for visitors who made the trip.
The Part Everyone Remembered
There was always laughter.
The live demonstration massage quickly became the highlight of every tour. Volunteers stepped forward as our balms and oils were applied, easing tired muscles and stiff joints. Visitors joked about aching backs, sore arms from carrying festive goodies, blocked noses, or stubborn headaches, and often left surprised by how familiar relief could feel.
After that, questions flowed easily. About ingredients. About formulation. About which balm worked best for which ache. Our staff answered them patiently, year after year.
Behind the Scenes
On selected days, visitors were able to glimpse the production line in action.
Waxes gently heated and melted. Oils blended with care. Bottles filled, capped, and labelled methodically. The process was quiet and deliberate, reflecting the care that went into every product.
Small Joys That Stayed With You
No tour ended without product sampling, exclusive factory discounts, or a lucky draw. Every visitor left with a goodie bag, something small to take home but meaningful all the same.
Many also discovered other parts of Fei Fah they had not known before, including our herbal teas traditionally used to support everyday wellness.
A Chapter Closed, A Legacy Carried Forward
The factory tour program officially ended in 2017, but its impact remains.
What stayed was not just the process or the products, but the conversations, the curiosity, and the shared memories. Tens of thousands of visitors created a vibrant community, a reminder of the joy of connection and the spirit of togetherness. It was a true kampong spirit in action, seeing familiar faces and smiling faces pass through our doors.
Though the tours are no longer running, the spirit behind them lives on in every bottle we produce today. Honest formulations. Practical relief. Quiet respect for tradition.
Some chapters end.
Our story continues.
