The name comes down to what's actually in it, not just how it feels. A true ointment is an oil-and-wax-based balm with little to no water, which is why ours are made with a base of beeswax, shea butter, and infused oils rather than the water-and-emulsifier blend you'd find in a typical cream. That oil-rich base is what makes it sit on the skin and stay effective for longer.
The catch with oil-and-wax preparations on their own is that they don't always allow for maximum absorption into the skin. That's why we include aloe water in our formulas — it helps the ointment absorb more readily, so you get the full therapeutic benefit of the herbs. That's also what gives it the smooth, cream-like feel many customers notice — but structurally, and in how it works, it's an ointment through and through.